Fei Gu

Fei Gu is a Chinese freelance textile designer based in London and Beijing. He completed his Bachelor's Degree at Chelsea College of Arts in London, where he began to develop a translation of material and image languages into textiles. During his two years at the Royal College of Art, he specialised in Woven Textiles and material innovation, principally using natural yarns combining with other functional materials in both interiors space and CMF (colour, material and finish) contexts. He has a unique insight into the technique of weaving by continually experimenting with different combinations of yarns.

Rediscovery // We are living in the box.

Rediscovery my relationship with the space I inhabit.

This project explains the way I react to Post-COVID 19 life from my small studio apartment. I used woven textile as a tool to share my feelings about the space I inhabit. I use different tactile yarns to express my sense of space, through which I translate my feelings of living alone in a small space into my design philosophy. The ‘Box’ in my life not only represents my home, but also the Zoom room. And I tried to explore both these spaces the tangible and the virtual through this project.

Reconceptualising my living space began with touching each piece of furniture and wall and feeling their texture. Every detail in the weaving process was then controlled to ensure that the textiles felt accurate to the touch. I had a desire to leave the box but slowly it stopped being a space that binds me but instead it turned into my protection.

This project uses traditional weaving techniques and modern jacquard to express both realistic tactile and inner feelings. I have expressed the impressions of the space I inhabit through traditional weaving techniques of three-dimensional fabrics. At the same time, the process of translating my inner feelings into fabric through the jacquard machine also made me appreciate the importance of the 'box' in my life.

Listen. — Jacquard woven fabrics, from two dimensions to three dimensions with polyester boning, made by warp yarn: 2/60's NE cotton, weft yarns: 2/82Nm 65%silk & 35% steel, 2/60's NE cotton, 2/28Nm wool. (30cm*22cm*22cm,25cm*18cm*18cm, 24cm*19cm*19cm, 24cm*18cm*17cm)

Lockdown at home. — I was in London during the first lockdown in the UK. I was living in a flat on Gloucester road. In this period, particularly in the early days, I felt apprehensive about what was happening in the world about COVID-19, but increasingly I become frightened. So I began to stay in this small studio apartment. During this time, I felt very depressed. I often wouldn’t speak to anyone else for days.

Zoom meetings. — One online meeting after another, made me fear those black and white lines of chat boxes. But when I drew it out, I realised this was the space I inhabited, only in a virtual world. These horizontal and vertical boxes really get on my nerves. It only became less boring when I weaved these boxes with different high-twist yarns. Group samples ( right side): 24cm*24cm, made by warp yarn: 2/52NE's wool crepe with S twist, weft yarn: 2/52NE's wool crepe with a Z twist.

Inner thoughts drawing. — When the first UK lockdown ended in May 2020, I began to pay attention to everything around me, and every corner of my home became more interesting. I have tried to be more selective and more accepting of my surroundings. Painting helps me to relieve my anxiety and at the same time, leads me to my work towards a better direction. I often draw without a plan, I believe that such aimless brush strokes express my inner thought better.

The impressions of the space I inhabit. — Dobby loom sample collection. Sample 1(upper left): 25cm*18cm, made by warp yarn: 2/80NE's silk, high twist silk, weft yarn: mohair. Sample 2(upper right):25cm*30cm, made by warp yarn: 2/80NE's silk, high twist silk, weft yarn: nylon and lycra yarn. Sample 3(lower left):25cm*20cm, made by warp yarn: 2/80NE's silk, high twist silk, weft yarn: mohair, linen and lycra yarn. Sample 4(lower right):25cm*20cm, made by warp yarn: 2/80NE's silk, high twist silk, weft yarn: baby alpaca, linen and lycra yarn.

Switching roles between virtual space and real space. — Sample 1(upper left): 90cm*48cm, made by warp yarn: 2/60NE's cotton, weft yarn: 2/28NE's cotton. Sample 2(lower left): 90cm*79cm, made by warp yarn: 2/60NE's cotton, weft yarn: 2/36Nm worsted wool, topkid Nm10000 super kid mohair.

Look outside through my window. — Blanket: 90cm*110cm, made by warp yarn: 2/60NE's cotton, weft yarn: 2/30Nm cash wool , 2/27Nm Bute wool.

Go out. — Blanket: 90cm*110cm, made by warp yarn: 2/60NE's cotton, weft yarn: 2/36Nm worsted wool, 2/27Nm Bute wool and topkid Nm10000 super kid mohair.

Sit down. — Blanket (left): 90cm*110cm, made by warp yarn: 2/60NE's cotton, weft yarn: 2/36Nm worsted wool, topkid Nm10000 super kid mohair. Carpet (right):90cm*120cm, made by warp yarn: 2/60NE's cotton, weft yarn: 2/17Nm Merino lambswool.