Held in Light
Category: Interior
Competitions: Home Competition 2026
Held in Light is a handwoven textile piece inspired by sustainability and the natural spectrum of color. The project began with a series of natural dye experiments using traditional Chinese medicinal herbs and plant materials. I explored around ten different natural dye sources, including ones like Gardenia fruit, Pomegranate peel, Phellodendron bark, and Black soybean skin. Together, they created a wide range of colors found in nature. I wanted to encourage people to appreciate the colors that nature produces and to accept the way they change over time. Rather than seeing fading as a flaw, I see it as part of the beauty of natural materials. Undyed cotton yarn is woven alongside naturally dyed yarns to celebrate both naturally derived color and the original color of cotton itself. The semi-transparent quality of the textile was intentionally designed. By carefully calculating the thickness and spacing of the weft yarns, I created a balance between visibility and concealment. As people move behind the fabric, their silhouettes gradually appear and disappear through the woven surface. This interaction brings a human presence into the work and creates a quiet connection between the viewer, the material, and the surrounding space.A very small amount of 0.2 mm silver-colored copper wire is incorporated as a subtle visual detail. Through natural dyeing and handweaving, Held in Light reflects on slower ways of making and invites people to build a closer relationship with natural materials and the changing colors of the natural world.
