margaret.tsai

photography/direction of @cyshimi and @occulted‘s work for the @hybridbodylab artist-in-residence program

SCULPTING THE SELF the materials exploration process with uno jin for fsad3650

WORN BY WATER margaret tsai 2024 natural weathering, a process that affects both the environment and the materials we interact with daily. the creation of this piece began with denim submerged beneath rocks in a stream, allowing the natural flow of water and time to create subtle changes in texture and appearance. the weathering process left the fabric slightly stonewashed and with irregular holes. water is both a creative and destructive force, capable of shaping landscapes over time, yet also gentle enough to wash over and cleanse. both erosion and transformation are part of the same continuum. read more: margaret-tsai.com photographed by: @tsaicamera modeled by @roan_harvey

Dynamic Canvas as seen on the @cornellfashioncollective runway and @cornell.design NYC expo A dynamic interplay between tradition and modernity through the lens of fashion and technology. The integration of technology enables wearers to engage with the garment in different ways in real time. The LED interfaces act as a canvas for storytelling and cultural exchange, allowing individuals to personalize their clothing and potentially body. Whether through illuminating intricate patterns or displaying personalized messages, the ensemble transforms into a dynamic canvas for creative expression. Hardware: @adafruit NeoPixel LED lights, Flora board Software: Arduino IDE Modeled by the lovely, patient, and amazing @singla_aadityaa Photography by @marshallmumford7 @ryan_iida @elibrown.mp4

“Visions of the Digital Future” as featured in @threadmag This piece was created as a reflection on how technology shapes our identity and reality. The glasses ask viewers to consider: How do we see ourselves in a world where the boundaries between the organic and the synthetic are increasingly blurred? Can technology enhance our vision without distorting it? In this work, the future is not a distant concept but a wearable, interactive experience, encouraging a dialogue between the user and the ever-evolving digital landscape. LED lights, silver solder, polycarbonate lenses, mixed media Photos by the lovely @b.saaaw Modeled by @jeffreyiyamah

SOURCING CARE: KNOWN/UNKNOWNS, 2023 Sourcing Care: Known Unknowns is an interactive work that explores the landscape of emotions, the challenge of articulating those elusive feelings, and how we care for a part of ourselves that linger in the depths of our consciousness. The project invites participants on a journey to care for themselves and discover, claim, and imbue meaning to these enigmatic emotional states referred to as “Unknowns.” At the heart of the experience are artificial intelligently (AI) generated words stylized with barcodes, each representing a unknown, but sourced word encapsulating a complex and hard-to-explain emotion. These barcodes are scattered throughout the exhibition surface, waiting to be found by participants. The act of discovering these hidden emotions becomes the initial connection between the participant and the artwork, constituting the “Found” component. Upon locating a barcode, participants are encouraged to use an interactive app to scan and purchase the emotion. This transaction is symbolic, transforming an intangible and elusive feeling into a tangible and personal experience. The outcome of this interaction is a printed receipt, resembling a traditional cash register slip, documenting the transition from the unknown to the found. The participant is then prompted to sign off on the receipt and add their personal interpretation of what the discovered emotion might mean to them. This action is referred to as the “Created” aspect and empowers individuals to ascribe significance to the otherwise ambiguous and abstract emotions encapsulated in the barcodes. It marks the moment when an unknown feeling is given definition and context, transforming it into a unique and personal creation. All signed receipts are collected and housed in a specially designated Repository, symbolizing the evolving archive of emotions as they transition from Unknowns to Founds to Createds. This repository becomes a memorial to the collective effort of participants in unraveling the complexities of human emotion. Learn more at margaret-tsai.com

UNBOX: The Unknown Element, 2024 curated by Margaret Tsai and Yiuno Jin Within the confines of this immersive showcase, each artist unveils a self-defined box housing a world of handmade treasures, poignant found objects, objects of unknown origins, and personal and technological artifacts. Each box serves as a portal into the artist’s imagination, each carrying its history and significance, repurposed and reimagined into symbols of the contemporary. “UNBOX: The Unknown Element” invites viewers to unlock the mysteries and revelations concealed within these captivating containers, where every fold, every texture, and every object speaks volumes about the human experience and the limitless possibilities of artistic expression. Learn more at unbox.margaret-tsai.com

UNBOX: The Unknown Element, 2024 curated by Margaret Tsai and Yiuno Jin Within the confines of this immersive showcase, each artist unveils a self-defined box housing a world of handmade treasures, poignant found objects, objects of unknown origins, and personal and technological artifacts. Each box serves as a portal into the artist’s imagination, each carrying its history and significance, repurposed and reimagined into symbols of the contemporary. “UNBOX: The Unknown Element” invites viewers to unlock the mysteries and revelations concealed within these captivating containers, where every fold, every texture, and every object speaks volumes about the human experience and the limitless possibilities of artistic expression. Learn more at unbox.margaret-tsai.com

UNBOX: The Unknown Element, 2024 curated by Margaret Tsai and Yiuno Jin Within the confines of this immersive showcase, each artist unveils a self-defined box housing a world of handmade treasures, poignant found objects, objects of unknown origins, and personal and technological artifacts. Each box serves as a portal into the artist’s imagination, each carrying its history and significance, repurposed and reimagined into symbols of the contemporary. “UNBOX: The Unknown Element” invites viewers to unlock the mysteries and revelations concealed within these captivating containers, where every fold, every texture, and every object speaks volumes about the human experience and the limitless possibilities of artistic expression. Learn more at unbox.margaret-tsai.com

DISPERSION, 2023 Acrylic on canvas 3’12”x 4.7” (120 x 12 cm)

behind the scenes of Persimmons: A Study of Color in A Cultural Context thank you to everyone who took part in the video, sourced material, helped in the workshop, listened to me talk about a silly orange fruit for a whole month. it really takes a village and for you all i am so grateful 🧡

VIDEO PERFORMANCE Persimmons: A Study of Color in A Cultural Context As an Asian-American teenager, I spent much of my life feeling like an outsider, struggling to reconcile the different aspects of my identity. The hyphen that separates Asian and American began to feel less like a single word, but instead, a double life. At times I felt more Asian, other times, I felt American. Li-Young Lee’s poem, “Persimmons,” served as inspiration for this study of color. It was through his words that I learned to appreciate the subtle complexities of the world around me, just as one would savor the bittersweet taste of a ripe persimmon or anticipate the crunch of a tart one. Lee’s poem was like a melody I’d heard my entire life but had only just begun to understand. Like the protagonist in Lee’s poem, I too had been grappling with language and culture. The color orange became hyphenate, a symbol of the bridge between the world I inhabited and the cultural roots of so many Asian-Americans like myself. The taste and texture of a persimmon are unlike any other fruit. The orange, bold yet tender, embodied the diversity of my identity. I found solace in the realization that, like a persimmon’s evolution from bitterness to sweetness, I too could reconcile my past and present, embracing the complexity of my heritage. Persimmon is more than just a color. It is a reflection of the traditions and values that have been passed down through generations, as well as a celebration of the diverse Asian-American community. The hyphen in between Asian and American connects our past, present, and future. Like a ripe persimmon, we mature, transcending the bitterness of the past with the richness of what the future has to offer. The vibrant orange of persimmons is a testament to growth. Credits: Original poem “Persimmons” by Li-Young Lee. Poetry Foundation. “Persimmons by Li-Young Lee | Poetry Foundation.” Poetry Foundation, 1986, www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/43011/persimmons. Video and vocal recording (in order of appearance): Andria Cao, Rachel Liang, Chloe Jung, Shun Tanaka, Brian Sa, Alyssa Hsu. Margaret Tsai, 2023 Created for FSAD 1170: Fashion Graphics