soft and heavy

soft and heavy, 2026

wearable sculpture - yarn, acrylic beads, archival family photographs printed on cotton fabric and stuffed

soft and heavy is a wearable sculpture built from tufted red yarn, inspired by a traditional practice and foundational aesthetic of Iu Mien women. Archival family portraits printed on fabric and stuffed hang from silver bead strands, becoming something that my body must carry in addition to the mass of yarn on my shoulders, covering my chest and upper back, reminiscent of a mantle armor piece. The title I’ve chosen names the tension within my relationship to my culture and my family – soft and familiar in some ways, yet heavy to wear, protective yet burdensome.