Graduates from the Exhibition DesignprogramofCAA’sSchool of Communication & Design, Shen Kaiyi, Chen Yueran, and Liu Xinyi, collaboratively created the piece“Sheep, Humans, and Machines: The Progeny”, which won the Gold Award. This work, themed around the textile industry, constructs a unique narrative framework.

Each purchase, selection, and production by humans, along with technological advancements in machinery, has propelled the industry's development. Through the continuous process involving sheep, humans, and machines, a qualified product is born. The work uses a narrative approach to deeply analyze the historical context of the textile industry, constructing a content narrative framework centered on sheep (resources), humans (producers and users), and machines. These three elements intertwine, weaving a multidimensional picture from the source of products to resource recycling, from the product network to daily use.

During the creation process, the artists delved into Tongxiang, JiaxingCityin Zhejiang Province, a place renowned for its woolen sweater production. They gathered extensive information, learning about the production process of woolen sweaters from the procurement of raw materials to the final sales live streaming. Throughout these stages, the graduates captured the crucial step of computer trace printing, dissecting the various parts of the woolen sweater through color code language and organizing them into a visual piece.

This design work uses the common woolen sweater as a starting point, rooted in the history of industrial technology, and connects various aspects to present a comprehensive social network of the textile industry. Through this piece, the creators hope to prompt viewers to reexamine every“object” in their lives, tracing back its story to uncover another aspect of the world. They aspire to advance the woolen sweater industry through their work and traditional narrative, helping people understand the industry and technology behind woolen sweaters and acknowledging those who contribute to it.

Sheep, Humans, and Machines: The Progeny

Artist: Shen Kaiyi, Chen Yueran, Liu Xinyi (School of Communication & Design)

Instructor: Liu Yihong, Dong Qi