qīqíqǐqì Studio is a platform for research and creation, positioned at the intersection of material experimentation and critical cultural inquiry.
By combining natural lacquer with textiles, we focus on the agency of materials, expressed through their fluidity and instability, and extend this inquiry to the reconstruction of aesthetic norms, hierarchies, and narrative frameworks.
Our practice encompasses material experiments, publications, and design prototypes, emphasising process and openness while seeking to activate new modes of perception and narration.
We have tested varying proportions of natural lacquer on different types of paper and fabric, observing the differences in absorbency, hardening effects, and surface texture.
Through these experiments, we aim to explore the limits and potential of materials under the influence of lacquer, seeking new ways for fibres and lacquer
to interact, and laying the foundation for future artistic creation and functional transformation.
The writing and publishing practice of qīqíqǐqì revolves around natural lacquer, documenting and reflecting on our work from multiple perspectives. The content includes stories behind the making of lacquer, artists’ journals, compilations of material experiments, and critical reflections on cultural roots and craft orthodoxy. These texts serve as immediate records of our ongoing research and will also form part of future publications.
We are currently preparing a comprehensive publication that explores natural lacquer from multiple viewpoints. While tracing its historical contexts, we also respond to its redefinition and potential in the contemporary era.
The publication is scheduled for release in June 2026.
Alongside our publications, this section also includes selected press releases and media coverage related to our studio practice.
The design prototypes of qīqíqǐqì originate from an ongoing exploration of materials and processes. These works often emerge in an experimental state: by kneading, wrapping, and compressing paper and fabric, then fixing the forms with multiple layers of natural lacquer, allowing the softness of fibres and the strength of lacquer to intertwine.
The making process emphasises bodily experience and manual intuition. Each work unfolds without a predetermined outcome, shaped by touch, resistance, and chance.
Here, design prototypes are not product models in the conventional sense, but series of works generated through experimental processes that explore the interaction between material, body, and intuition. These prototypes are also presented in exhibitions and public platforms, becoming shared outcomes of research and practice.
