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The Formless

Shiqing Qiu

This project explores Buddhist philosophy through the concept of formlessness, examining how belief is shaped, interpreted, and continually transformed through the body, ritual, and perception. Drawing on early Buddhist aniconism, the historical avoidance of depicting the Buddha in human form, instead using traces such as gestures, footprints, or absence, the work understands belief as experiential rather than image based. 

The project is relevant in a contemporary context where fashion functions as a time-sensitive visual language, shaped by shifting cultural and personal meanings. By dissolving recognisable imagery, the work questions image-driven consumption and proposes fashion as a space for reflection rather than representation. 

A series of sculptural fashion artefacts developed from handmade translucent paper derived from corn husks and plant fibres. Through papermaking, casting, carving, layering, and light experimentation, the artefacts progressively dematerialise abstracted Buddhist forms, moving from the figurative towards a state of formlessness. 

This project explores Buddhist philosophy through the concept of formlessness, examining...

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This project explores Buddhist philosophy through the concept of formlessness, examining how belief is shaped, interpreted, and continually transformed through the body, ritual, and perception. Drawing on early Buddhist aniconism, the historical avoidance of depicting the Buddha in human form, instead using traces such as gestures, footprints, or absence, the work understands belief as experiential rather than image based. 

The project is relevant in a contemporary context where fashion functions as a time-sensitive visual language, shaped by shifting cultural and personal meanings. By dissolving recognisable imagery, the work questions image-driven consumption and proposes fashion as a space for reflection rather than representation. 

A series of sculptural fashion artefacts developed from handmade translucent paper derived from corn husks and plant fibres. Through papermaking, casting, carving, layering, and light experimentation, the artefacts progressively dematerialise abstracted Buddhist forms, moving from the figurative towards a state of formlessness. 

Final work

  • In a bright and transparent environment, paper hands are posed in the posture of the Dharmachakra Mudra.
  • In a bright and transparent environment, the three paper hands outline the contours of a contemplative sitting posture.
  • Details of second piece in a bright and transparent environment.
  • A paper hand and foot are suspended in a bright environment, with the hand above and the foot below.
  • Paper hand and foot's Front view.
  • The detail of paper foot.
  • A suspended paper path with seven footprints in bright light.
  • The details of the suspended paper path in bright light.
  • A paper sphere with a bark footprint in bright light.
  • The line-up 2 is illuminated by light in a dimly lit environment.
  • alt="The line-up 1 is illuminated by light in a dimly lit environment."
  • atl="The details of line-up 1 and 2, with built-in lights highlighting the texture of the paper, light and shadow reflected on the wall."

Research and process

  • atl="Paper spheres in a dimly lit environment, with built-in lighting highlighting the texture of the paper."
  • In the dim light, the light cast shadows on the paper, revealing its texture.
  • In the dim light, the light cast shadows on the paper, revealing its texture.
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The Formless

This project explores Buddhist philosophy through the concept of formlessness, examining how belief is shaped, interpreted, and continually transformed through the body, ritual, and perception. Drawing on early Buddhist aniconism, ...

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