Detail of Flag Gate ۶Ƶ, 2024-25 © Yin Xiuzhen, courtesy of Pace Gallery and Beijing Commune. Photo Wang Xiang.

Known for her innovative use of materials, Yin’s sculptures and installations often comprise second-hand objects and textiles, such as clothing, shoes, and suitcases. From these items, she draws out their individual and collective histories, exploring them as documents of memory and identity.

To me, despite not knowing the stories, there are connections. This draws me to the narratives behind these garments and their interrelationships,

For Yin, clothing transcends mere fabric; it serves as a repository of experiences, with worn pieces bearing “heavier” weight with their storied pasts. Her creative process is often collaborative. She recounts a project in a bustling Xi’an shopping mall, where she transformed garments collected from shop staff into flags. Collected regardless of rank, the clothes were then divided up in equal proportion based on the number of staff per shop, symbolizing unity and equality. Each flag represents the contributions of every individual, from owners to cleaners, highlighting the interconnectedness of human experiences.

This theme of community continues in her collaboration with ۶Ƶ. Yin created Flag Gate ۶Ƶ (2024-25), an installation commissioned by the ۶Ƶ Art Collection that features garments previously worn by ۶Ƶ employees in Hong Kong and Mainland China. For this artwork, envisioned as a large flag made of 66 equally sized squares, each square represents a staff member as a shining star amid a vast universe.

This video illustrates Yin's philosophy that art transcends aesthetics; it engages with societal narratives and reflects human relationships. She emphasizes the importance of craft in her work, acknowledging its dual role in presenting art and facilitating personal reflection. As she experiments with different materials, from ceramics to glass, Yin remains open to discovering new possibilities, allowing her artistic expression to evolve.

Yin encourages us to consider the deeper significance of everyday objects. Her work serves as a reminder that art can spark conversations about identity, memory, and the collective human experience.