Domestic Spinner

This rocking chair, designed for yarn spinning by the simple act of rocking, draws inspiration from a familial tale involving Yibing's great-grandmother, a domestic spinner. The family cultivated cotton, and the spinning wheel she used was crafted by her great-grandfather.

In her exploration, Yibing discerned intriguing links between the spinning tool and the spinner's body. This tool, in its various interactions, could roll against a leg or fall from the spinner’s grasp. Some women even employed their waist or head to support the spindle. Within the framework of the cottage industry and the historical role of women in textiles, spinning emerges as both a work and manual labor. Yibing's body of work, with a focus on the female form intertwined with these domestic spinning tools, reveals how the art of spinning once resonated with the rhythm of women's household duties.

Elizabeth Barber, a textiles scholar, once noted, "If one is accountable for numerous tasks like food preparation, child care, and housekeeping, tasks that can be paused and resumed seamlessly are invaluable, as they culminate in a practical end product."

For this project, Yibing creatively repurposed various household items and second-hand clothing, introducing a vibrant blend of color, material, and rhythm. These materials are reconstructed in a whimsically mechanical manner, enabling interaction with the human form to facilitate seemingly aimless and repetitive spinning actions.

Throughout her creations, Yibing presents an artistry that melds a light-hearted touch with a grave theme: the domestic labor, historically at times compelled, associated with spinning and producing yarn, thread, and woven lines.