Xiaoyang Gui
Flowing Strength
I am inspired by the traditional calligraphy of my Chinese heritage. It embodies a strong and poetic dynamic, and I wanted to capture this spirit in my collection. I used contrasting elements to express both the power and the flow embedded in calligraphy: solid stiff fabrics create shapes with volume, while soft shear fabrics result in rhythmic movement.
When the ink dries, it shines like a stone; when it is diffused with water and applied to paper, it turns to matte. So I chose black silk satin to represent the strokes, and white chiffon tie-dyed in black to imitate the flowing ink wash. Since silk organza and gazar have similar features to paper, I used them to hold the sculptural silhouette.
