Xingyi Zhao


Master of Fine Arts in Studio, Fiber and Material Studies

I draw pictures, print impressions, trace marks; I weave images, wind yarns, tie knots; I take daily notes; I observe, I collect, I rearrange.

My images refer to a variety of places: the history of textiles, language of materials, diagrams of how-to’s like how to tie a knot or how to knit. I enjoy the idea of the grid paper to provide a place for process to develop, the action of planning and making in textiles like weaving drafts, knitting diagrams, quilting, and architectural blueprints – referencing something in construction, or the unfinished and will progress in the future.

My process is open and intuitive. The straight lines provide me with a structure and a sense of control – coloring the grid is something to hold on to. It makes me feel safe. Through the juxtaposition of structure and spontaneity, my work emerges as an interplay between control and chaos.