Quilted Planes

Repurposed climbing rope donated by National Geographic Explorers, paracord, steel

6 x 24 x 1 ft

Commissioned by National Geographic and installed in Washington D.C. in 2018

Creating Quilted Planes

The Quilted Planes (2018) sculptures are geometric abstractions of natural forms: mountain peaks, valleys, and waves. Like real-world landscapes, the kaleidoscopic vistas change as the viewer moves around and under the pieces. Indeed, the viewer’s changing perspective is required to complete the work. Quilted Planes also resembles 3D quilts, not only in their patterns of cubes but in the way they were constructed simultaneously by a team of individuals each responsible for their own squares. In the same way that quilts make use of fabric scraps with past lives, the works benefit from ropes donated by National Geographic Explorers such as Conrad Anker and have been used in descents into live volcanoes, to study tree canopies, and on polar ice expeditions—precious materials the artist was honored to use.

CREDITS

Artist: Windy Chien
Studio Windy Chien Team
Frame Engineering & Fabrication: Hickok Cole
Photography: Windy Chien, Garrett Rowland