PEI YANG

Cluster Crafts Exhibitor | Young Talent Spotlight | 2024

“When I began crafting ceramics, I discovered a similarity between clay and knitting—they are both soft and malleable. As my hands threw the clay on the wheel, I became engrossed, feeling my body and mind were no longer my own. Time seemed to stand still as I continuously repeated the motions of my hands. It felt like a unique dialogue between the clay and my hands. It continually comforts me, guiding me into realms of self-awareness, and allowing me to reconnect with the most primal, tranquil energies. I attempt to deconstruct the sensations it brings me using the language of my expertise in textiles, then transform them into visual, tactile, and interactive experiences.”

— Pei Yang

Pei Yang was born in Sichuan, China, where her innate talent for female craftsmanship emerged from an early age. In 2020, she embarked on her journey of studying Textile Design at Chelsea College of Arts. Throughout her studies, she delved deeply into the intricacies of knitting techniques and experimented with combining textiles with various materials to spark new innovations. In her third year of university, she discovered the therapeutic nature of ceramics. She began learning in the university's ceramics studio under the guidance of a technician, continuously practicing from simple hand-building techniques to more challenging throwing methods. In two projects during her third year, she explored different possibilities of combining knitting and ceramics, while also considering ways to create interactive experiences between her artwork and the audience.