Growing -
Side table
We are captivated by the random growth patterns of natural vines and aim to convey the fleeting moments of their growth process through our work, expressing our reverence for the forces of nature. The work mimics the free-growing process of vine plants through techniques such as intertwining, bundling, and winding. Growth is full of energy, symbolizing the vitality of life and the marks of time. This series transforms the visually soft forms of growth into powerful supporting structures. The uncertainty in the creation process ensures that each piece is unique, making the experience of using and viewing it exclusive and intriguing.
In Gu Fanqi’s Growth series, the texture of materials becomes a crucial vehicle for conceptual expression. Through a process of plastification and shaping, the artist transforms soft, shapeless textile fibers into rigid, self-supporting structures. This act of material translation creates a dissonance between visual and tactile perception. At first glance, viewers are drawn to the intricate, interwoven forms, mistaking them for the pliable softness of fabric. Yet upon closer inspection—or touch—they discover that these forms have become hard and unyielding, mirroring the botanical process through which climbing vines gradually lignify as they grow and attach themselves.
The notion of “growth” in this series does not suggest the chaotic proliferation of nature, but rather a restructured order—stability and internal tension revealed through material reformation. This “haptic paradox” introduces a subtle uncertainty, intensifying the perceptual tension within the works. By defying the viewer’s assumptions about fabric’s inherent softness, the plastified surfaces disrupt the conventional sensory experience, prompting a reevaluation of material qualities and their symbolic implications.
This material experiment not only extends the logic of natural growth from the supple state of new life to a stable, supportive form but also resonates with the concept of form shaped by time in the natural world. Just as plants harden over time in response to their environments, adapting to new modes of existence, Gu Fanqi’s works recreate this dynamic process through artificial means，embedding temporality as an intrinsic dimension of the pieces
Work：Growing side table
Size: L:500mm / W:500mm / H:550mm
Material: Resin, cloth, aluminum, glass
Edition: Unique
Years：2024
We are captivated by the random growth patterns of natural vines and aim to convey the fleeting moments of their growth process through our work, expressing our reverence for the forces of nature. The work mimics the free-growing process of vine plants through techniques such as intertwining, bundling, and winding. Growth is full of energy, symbolizing the vitality of life and the marks of time. This series transforms the visually soft forms of growth into powerful supporting structures. The uncertainty in the creation process ensures that each piece is unique, making the experience of using and viewing it exclusive and intriguing.
In Gu Fanqi’s Growth series, the texture of materials becomes a crucial vehicle for conceptual expression. Through a process of plastification and shaping, the artist transforms soft, shapeless textile fibers into rigid, self-supporting structures. This act of material translation creates a dissonance between visual and tactile perception. At first glance, viewers are drawn to the intricate, interwoven forms, mistaking them for the pliable softness of fabric. Yet upon closer inspection—or touch—they discover that these forms have become hard and unyielding, mirroring the botanical process through which climbing vines gradually lignify as they grow and attach themselves.
The notion of “growth” in this series does not suggest the chaotic proliferation of nature, but rather a restructured order—stability and internal tension revealed through material reformation. This “haptic paradox” introduces a subtle uncertainty, intensifying the perceptual tension within the works. By defying the viewer’s assumptions about fabric’s inherent softness, the plastified surfaces disrupt the conventional sensory experience, prompting a reevaluation of material qualities and their symbolic implications.
This material experiment not only extends the logic of natural growth from the supple state of new life to a stable, supportive form but also resonates with the concept of form shaped by time in the natural world. Just as plants harden over time in response to their environments, adapting to new modes of existence, Gu Fanqi’s works recreate this dynamic process through artificial means，embedding temporality as an intrinsic dimension of the pieces
Work：Growing side table
Size: L:500mm / W:500mm / H:550mm
Material: Resin, cloth, aluminum, glass
Edition: Unique
Years：2024