‘皮肤’— 河久儿
In East Asian cultural memory, the color of soil and the color of human skin often appear along the same visual spectrum, functioning as a kind of spiritual source. The hue of earth becomes an “origin tone,” a reminder of belonging and of the intimate bond between body and ground. Skin is handwoven with hemp thread and plant fibers, forming a surface reminiscent of an opened layer of skin. The cascading cords resemble exposed strata of earth, translating the notion of “the skin of soil” into a tactile form. The raw yet warm texture evokes a sense of kinship between the human body and the land. Returning to this earthy surface becomes a way of locating an origin, a method of stitching together experience from a position of displacement.
River was born in Chongqing, China. She graduated from Zhejiang University of Media and Communications with a bachelor's degree and from the Bergen Academy of Arts in Norway with a master's degree. She currently resides in Bergen, Norway. Using photography and textiles as her primary mediums, she focuses on the perceptual relationship between natural elements and the body, as well as the flow of energy on both material and spiritual levels. She uses "thread" as a vehicle for thought and emotion, exploring the inherent tension between "connection" and "distance" through the layers, gaps, and extensions of fabric. Her work lies between figuration and abstraction, transforming natural elements such as water, wood, fire, and earth into a visual language about memory, belonging, and existence. Her practice is deeply influenced by the natural environment and her personal state of mind, constantly forming a self - dialogue through the inspiration of nature, responding to the rhythm and changes of the external world through her work.
