In a groundbreaking exploration at the intersection of feminist theory and artistic practice, a recent study unravels the profound relationship between Chinese female artists and their use of fibre as a medium to express complex emotional and social narratives. Rooted deeply in the feminist ethics of care, this research sheds new light on how these artists harness the tactile and symbolic qualities of fibre to embody femininity and channel intricate metaphors of emotion, ultimately elevating fibre art as a powerful conduit for ethical dialogue and societal transformation.
The study foregrounds the decision-making processes of Chinese female artists in selecting fibre materials, uncovering that the inherent properties of fibre—its softness, malleability, and traditional association with domesticity—serve as a fertile ground for conveying experiences unique to women. Fibre’s texture and tactile nature evoke a somatic memory, inviting both creator and viewer into an intimate dialogue of care, vulnerability, and resilience. This choice transcends superficial aesthetics and becomes a deliberate ethical act, embodying femininity through materials that themselves carry historic and cultural resonance.
Delving into thematic analyses, the research identifies three predominant areas of focus within these fibre artworks: female concern, social concern, and natural concern. Female concern encompasses issues of bodily autonomy, identity, and emotional labor, revealing an inward looking, empathetic perspective that simultaneously addresses wider gender inequalities. Social concern extends this viewpoint outward, critiquing cultural structures, social norms, and political tensions through the weaving together of personal and collective stories. Natural concern reflects an ecological awareness, interlinking human experience with environmental dynamics, thus positioning female fibre art within a broader socio-environmental discourse.
Feminist care ethics, as a theoretical framework, underpins the study’s interpretive approach. This ethical system challenges traditional, predominantly male-centered moral philosophies by valuing empathy, relationality, and emotional engagement as central moral resources. The researcher draws upon seminal notions articulated by Held and Liu, emphasizing that care ethics transcends gendered boundaries and applies to the universal social fabric. This conceptual lens allows for a nuanced understanding of the ways women’s emotions and care practices become embedded in artistic production, enriching societal moral discourse beyond abstract intellectualization.
Central to this inquiry is the recognition of women’s reflective process prior to creation. Female artists engage in deep personal introspection, rooted in their lived experiences, to generate fibre artworks that are not only visually compelling but also ethically charged. This reflective act, intrinsically linked to feminist care ethics, infuses each piece with emotional richness and layered meaning. The artwork becomes a moral text, communicating care and soliciting empathetic responses from audiences—effectively transforming private experiences into collective ethical conversations.
The research introduces a conceptual table bridging fibre art and care ethics, revealing an intertwined dynamic where materiality and morality coalesce. The tactility of fibre art serves as a metaphor for caring relationships, with interwoven threads reflecting interconnected human experiences. This material and symbolic reciprocity underscores how the creative process itself acts as a form of care—where the act of weaving mirrors the nurturing bonds central to feminist ethical thought.
Extending this dialogue, the study elaborates on the public dimension of fibre art exhibitions, where audience interaction becomes a site of emotional transfer and ethical engagement. When viewers touch or visually engage with fibre artworks, they are invited into an imaginative process that extends the artist’s caring intentions outward. The textured surfaces and color variations elicit empathetic recognition of others’ needs and concerns, fostering a communal space where care operates both affectively and cognitively.
This cyclical model of care dynamics in fibre art emphasizes how feminist care ethics innovatively guides artistic production. The artist’s sensitivity towards emerging social values leads to experimental choices in materiality, narrative structure, and aesthetic tension. As care concepts evolve, so too does the creative expression, enabling fibre art to continually adapt and contribute to broader artistic and ethical discourses.
A striking example highlighted in the research is Wenjing Zhou’s installation “Women’s Series: Intrauterine Devices,” which illustrates how the artist amalgamates disparate materials such as copper wire, PVC, and silicone to evoke bodily experience and technological intervention. The contrast between industrial textures and soft fibres creates a poignant metaphor for care and vulnerability amidst modern medical realities. The artwork navigates the private sphere of female bodily memory and extends into public dialogues, thereby transforming individual pain into collective consciousness.
The study further articulates how fibre art becomes a form of silent yet powerful advocacy, embodying women’s empathetic consciousness and moral agency. The artworks do not rely on explicit verbal critique but instead leverage emotive and sensory channels to influence societal understanding and relationships. This method aligns perfectly with feminist care ethics, which prioritizes emotion as a guiding force in moral reasoning and social interaction.
At the core of this research is the assertion that fibre art practices are both a personal and social ethics enactment. By concretizing abstract moral dilemmas into tangible artistic forms, female artists advocate for a culture of care that challenges prevailing individualistic paradigms. Their creations resonate with broader cultural, political, and economic contexts, suggesting that the ethics of care is not merely a philosophical stance but an actionable framework embedded in creative processes.
Moreover, the moral power inherent in fibre materials—their softness, resilience, and traditional gendered meanings—amplifies the ethical content of these artworks. This material agency extends feminist care ethics beyond human relationships, incorporating non-human elements into an expanded ethical field. The fibre becomes both medium and message, forming an intimate dialogue between artist, material, and audience.
The research positions fibre art as a critical site where feminist ethics and creative expression converge to foster societal transformation. Women’s unique emotional landscapes articulated through fibre challenge dominant narratives, demanding attention to relationality, vulnerability, and care. By embedding these values within contemporary art practice, female fibre artists nurture new modes of ethical reflection that ripple outward from the private studio to the public sphere.
Finally, the study proposes a dynamic model illustrating the transformation of care through the fibre art creation process. This model traces the movement from private tactile engagement, through public exhibition and audience participation, back to creative innovation—demonstrating an ever-evolving cycle of moral and artistic growth. This framework positions female fibre art as a living ethical practice, continuously weaving care into the fabric of contemporary society.
This investigation into the ethics of care reflects a vital shift in scholarly and artistic dialogues. It highlights how feminist perspectives and material practices can collaboratively generate affective, ethical, and social interventions. As Chinese female artists lead the way, their fibre artworks become an inspiring testament to the enduring power of care as both a moral imperative and an artistic force.
In a world increasingly seeking empathetic connection and ethical innovation, this fusion of feminist theory and fibre art offers a timely and resonant message. It challenges us to reconsider, through both theory and practice, how care is woven into the human condition, transformed through creativity, and ultimately expanded beyond boundaries to nurture a more compassionate society.
Subject of Research: Chinese female artists’ creative practices in fibre art through the lens of feminist care ethics
Article Title: Ethics of care and the art of fibre: a study of Chinese female artists’ creative practices
Article References:
Feng, J., Yahaya, S.R. Ethics of care and the art of fibre: a study of Chinese female artists’ creative practices. Humanit Soc Sci Commun 12, 1385 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-025-05614-0
Image Credits: AI Generated
