Ou Sansan
Textile sculptor
Kanazawa, Japan
Sculputrally bringing the inside out
- Ou Sansan’s works are made primarily from sheep intestine
- Her choice of material relates to her roots in Inner Mongolia
- Before working in fibre art, she was interested in fashion design
Ou Sansan, known under her artistic name 033, examines themes of interiors and exteriors through her works, which she creates using sheep intestine. “Intestines, for digestion, are 'inner skins,' and clothing is a kind of 'outer skin.' Through my works, I want to create a space between these two skins,” she explains. Ou Sansan's sculpting techniques include blowing air into the intestines, then twisting and securing sections to create bubble-like air pockets. She then hangs strand in arrangements to create 3D forms. From her studio in Japan, Ou Sansan also works on decorative clothing pieces, weaving intestines into a fabric and then assembling them as garments. Soaking and wearing them on the body as they dry results in sculptural works that suggest the form of a human within.
INTERVIEW
A teacher in my master’s course explained the importance of considering the relationship between a region and its materials. When I thought about the region I am from, I thought of livestock. That was where I began my exploration.
One night, on a video call with family in Inner Mongolia, they were eating a dish made with sheep intestine. I did some research and learned that the organ been used for rice storage, so I started experimenting with it for my work.
Intestines come from within the body, a place we cannot usually see. In my exhibitions, I create spaces with interiority. The installations evoke the feeling of being inside something dark. Intestines also work well with light because they are semi-transparent. When the light touches a piece, the atmosphere changes.
I remember how I felt back when I was experimenting with different materials. I enjoyed that period of my life, it helped me realise just how many different crafts I could pursue. There is a lot of fun to be had by experimenting.
