Lin Tianmiao

Lin Tianmiao is a contemporary Chinese-American artist renowned for her multidisciplinary artworks that explore themes related to gender, identity, and the human condition. She primarily employs weaving, sewing, and embroidery techniques to explore the representation of the female body in her art.

Biography of Lin Tianmiao

Lin Tianmiao was born in 1961 in Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, China. She currently lives and works in Beijing. In the 1980s, Lin Tianmiao pursued her artistic education at the Fine Art Department of Capital Normal University in Beijing. After completing her studies, she and her husband embarked on a journey to New York, marking a pivotal moment in their artistic careers.

Prior to dedicating herself to her art practice, Lin Tianmiao established herself as a textile designer. She later made the decision to return to China in 1995, where she shifted her focus entirely to her artistic pursuits.

In 2001, Lin Tianmiao played a pivotal role in the establishment of the Loft New Media Art Center.

In 2013, the Asia Society Museum in New York presented a groundbreaking exhibition titled "Bound Unbound," marking Lin's inaugural solo museum showcase in the United States.

Lin Tianmiao's solo exhibitions encompass diverse notable showcases, including "1.62M: Lin Tianmiao Solo Exhibition" at How Art Museum, Wenzhou (2015); "Lin Tianmiao: Est-ce permis ? (Est-ce possible ?)" at Galerie Lelong, Paris (2013); "Badges" at Galerie Lelong, New York (2012); "Bound Unbound: Lin Tianmiao" at Asia Society Museum, New York (2012); and "The Same" at Beijing Center for the Arts, Beijing (2011).

Lin Tianmiao's artworks grace the collections of esteemed institutions such as The Museum of Modern Art in New York, the National Gallery of Australia in Canberra, and the Singapore Art Museum, among several others.

Lin Tianmiao's Art Style

Lin Tianmiao is celebrated for her remarkable large-scale installations, prominently featuring meticulously bound objects. Her art frequently involves the intricate wrapping or binding of synthetic bones and wooden structures with materials such as hair, silk, or thread. Through these compelling creations, Lin delves into the realm of traditional craftsmanship while shedding light on pertinent questions surrounding gender roles in the context of modern society.

Lin Tianmiao was profoundly influenced by her experiences as a child. During this period, she often assisted her mother in the laborious task of winding cotton thread for extended hours, all for modest compensation. This early exposure to the painstaking and often undervalued work of textile production left an indelible mark on Lin's consciousness, shaping her artistic sensibilities and inspiring her to explore themes related to labor, craftsmanship, and the human condition in her later artworks.

In her 1995 piece titled "The Proliferation of Thread Winding," Lin Tianmiao created a remarkable installation featuring 20,000 balls of thread meticulously affixed to a rice paper-covered iron bed using needles.

In 2006, Lin Tianmiao undertook a residency at the Singapore Tyler Print Institute, where she engaged in innovative experiments with paper-based media and the art of printmaking.

In 2012, she embarked on a series of artworks utilizing wooden frames, threads, and synthetic bones. Notable works within this series included "Minty Blue" (2012) and "Duckling Yellow" (2012).