Known for her ability to weave philosophy, craftsmanship and innovation into a unified visual language, Jiang’s work explores time as both a physical and spiritual dimension, with recourse to both ancient mythologies and craft.
As part of our ongoing exhibition 'Guardians of Time', we sat down with the artist to delve into the ideas, memories and cultural lineages that shape her work.
In this upcoming interview, Qiong Er reflects on her upbringing in Shanghai within a family of painters, architects and thinkers; her early training in ink and calligraphy; and the way she moves between past and future, travelling through what she calls a time tunnel that informs every gesture she makes.
She speaks about the influence of Nüshu, Taoist and Buddhist philosophies, and ancient guardians whose stories continue to resonate today. Her reflections illuminate the foundations of her practice, where sculpture, painting, lacquer and metal become vessels for cultural memory, feminine resilience and shared human values.
The conversation also opens a rare window into her material research, where each medium carries a different form of time: liquid and solid, fragile and enduring, ancient yet continually reinvented. These ideas underpin works such as the twelve-part bronze and lacquer series XII Calls, recently added to UNESCO's collection, as well as the new sculptures created for this exhibition.
Jiang Qiong Er: Guardians of Time
At Waddington Custot, London
On view until 10 January 2025
