Painting with the Shuttle: Chinese Kesi Technique in Silk Tapestry
以梭作画: 中国丝织工艺中的缂丝技艺

Monday 23rd February 2026
13:00-14:00 
Auditorium, The McClay Library

Speaker:
Hui MA (马卉) is a PhD student in the School of History, Anthropology, Philosophy and Politics at Queen’s University Belfast, UK. Her research focuses on the global trade and cultural significance of Chinese silk exported to the West from the sixteenth to the nineteenth centuries. Her work examines the intersection of textile craftsmanship, maritime commerce, and the enduring material exchange between China and the European market during the early modern period.

Abstract:
In this talk, I explore the origins, intricate craftsmanship, and unique cultural status of Kesi (缂丝), which is a special type of silk tapestry. As a luxury textile that played a vital role in China’s artistic and trade history, Kesi is distinguished by its carved appearance and the sophisticated technique of using short shuttles to create painterly compositions. By looking at how it began and the careful steps used to weave it, I argue that Kesi is unique because it uses a special method of continuous warp and broken weft. This lecture provides an overview of how Kesi has remained an art form that cannot be copied by machines, even in the age of mechanical reproduction.