Yahan Xing

My 21 year old comfort toy XiaoMi

Intriguingly, my design studies and artistic endeavors has consistently intertwined with drama shows and movies. My undergraduate capstone project, “Embodied Motherhood,” drew its inspiration from the Korean Drama, Birthcare Center. I find these TV shows help me narrowing down all the key elements during the beginning phase of a design project.

Transitioning into this last prompt of the semester, the catalyst for it was derived from the a Korean drama called Hospital Playlist. Specifically, an episode delving into the poignant experience of a woman going through a miscarriage was inspiring to me. This narrative prompted contemplation on the connection between knitting and the loss of a baby. The act of expectant mothers knitting baby clothes, steeped in anticipation, takes on a complex dimension when confronted with an unexpected miscarriage.

Last week I called my mom and introduced my ongoing projects and asked about her engagement with knitting, particularly during her gestational period. This dialogue unexpectedly transitioned into a emotional terrain. She told me about the miscarriage that she experienced when she got pregnant for the first time. She said she tried knitting during that time but after losing the baby, the emotional struggle led her to stow away the yarn and materials, seeking solace from constant reminders of the painful experience.

These findings have coalesced, propelling me towards the aspiration of designing knitted toys that resonate with the intricate tapestry of human emotions, particularly in the context of maternal loss.

I came across this book while doing my research and I found it extremely helpful and inspiring. “Designing Motherhood: Things That Make and Break Our Births” is a comprehensive exploration of the designs and technologies that have shaped the experience of motherhood over time. This book delves into a range of topics, including maternity and postpartum fashion, the evolution of the baby bottle, and the development of prenatal and neonatal healthcare technologies.

By examining various objects, garments, and medical devices, the book highlights how design has influenced the cultural, political, and personal aspects of pregnancy, childbirth, and mothering. This multidisciplinary approach offers a unique perspective on motherhood, revealing how design choices can reflect societal attitudes and impact maternal and infant health and well-being.

The examples that the reading provides are so powerful and inspiring that I decided to use knitting and fabric to create a dialogue or conversation with the author and the book. I started by pulling out all the materials that I thought was relative. I made a collage using the ones that I thought was interesting to work with. Then I sorted out my yarn color palette. There are ten of them, in different weights, elasticities, and materials.

I did not sketch out a plan of what I wanted to make. For most knitters, this would be the wrong thing to do. However, the conversation I want to have was not explicit or well prepared. So I just started making. I brought my first piece to Cameron and we had a conversation about how to link the piece with the reading. I decided to select quotes from the reading and put them together with my making.

https://ani-liu.com/untitled-labor-of-love

Image credit D Peterschmidt for Science Friday. https://ani-liu.com/untitled-labor-of-love

Ani Liu’s “Ecologies of Care” is an art exhibition that delves into the complex and often unseen aspects of care in our society. This exhibition employs a multidisciplinary approach, integrating art, science, and technology to explore how care is given, received, and perceived in various contexts.

Key themes in “Ecologies of Care” include the examination of emotional labor, the dynamics of caregiving relationships, and the societal and cultural factors that shape our understanding of care. Liu’s work often challenges viewers to think deeply about the roles and responsibilities associated with caregiving, whether in personal, medical, or environmental contexts.

Two weeks ago, I decided to explore the art of knitting as part of my material study prompt. Armed with a variety of yarns and knitting needles, I began experimenting with different stitches and patterns. For the first week, I dived into a new technique each day, from basic garter to the intricacies of cable and mending techniques which fix broken knitted swatches.

Then I experimented with larger needles and different weights of yarn in order to test out how they work with each other. I tried to use yarns that had different levels of elasticity, then mixing wool and mohair in some rows… After testing this for a few days, I started to notice that the swatch has turned into a scarf. This scarf seamlessly combined all the various stitches and yarns I had been experimenting with, becoming a tangible result that I did not expect.