Y Yumei Ouyang
Completed Woven Tension copper and brass basket flower objectBrass flower arrangement detailCircular woven copper basket textureFlat chased copper basket sectionCurved chased copper basket section

Why it matters

Hard metal.
Living memory.

Traditional making carries knowledge through touch, repetition and time. Woven Tension asks how Chinese bamboo-weaving memory can remain visible to a contemporary audience without simply copying its original form. Hammering, chasing, twisting and weaving translate that labour into copper and brass, allowing rigid material to behave more like textile and plant matter.

Research · Direction

Repetition, memory
and material.

Woven Tension concept statement
Concept · repetition, memory and material
Woven vessel and botanical form research
Form and structure research

Making · Detail

Letting process
remain visible.

Translating bamboo weaving into metal
Translating bamboo weaving into metal
Annealing and vessel formation
Annealing and vessel formation
Copper vessel construction stages
Constructing the vessel
Constructing the brass flower forms
Constructing the flowers
Flower support system development
Flower support system
Final Woven Tension copper and brass object
Final object · copper, brass and visible handwork
HAMMERCHASEFORMWEAVE
01

Chased surface

Repeated marks preserve the force and time of making.

02

Woven structure

Metal wire shifts from rigid line to flexible surface.

03

Organic contrast

Brass flowers interrupt the dark copper with moments of light.