Nuwa Mends the Sky (2023)

This diptych was inspired by a creation myth by the same title, from a matriarchal period in Chinese history. I was drawn to the story as an eco-feminist parable, upholding notions of care: in the story, the goddess Nuwa molds the first humans from river clay, and when ecological disaster occurs (the pillar holding up the sky is broken by two battling gods), she responds with compassion and mercy to the people's suffering, and mends the sky.

Mimicking the stone carvings of Beilin, Xi'an, the linocut blocks are mounted on an inclined wood base, like a fallen stele. The carved image was then printed onto fabric, using a modified stone rubbing technique. In addition to exploring gendered ideas around land-use, the story serves as both an apocalypse and creation narrative, offering a lens to think about moments of crisis and rebirth.