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# Project Description Disobedient Links XiuXiu Ning Summary Final work College London College of Fashion Course MA Fashion Artefact Graduation year 2025 Disobedient Links critiques how patriarchal societies exploit women’s biological traits (specifically the womb) as a means to restrict their labour, framing childbirth and caregiving as their ‘natural’ roles. Drawing from Maria Mies’ (1986) critique of this constraint on women, I propose an “anti-naturalist” perspective in my design approach, advocating for women’s right to disobey these imposed functions. The project is rooted in the observation of my family structure, where generations of women— my mother and grandmother—dedicated themselves to caregiving roles, losing their sense of self. In response, I have made a collection of brushes and chains – broken, knotted and deliberately defiant – to challenge domestic and social constraints. These artefacts are not bound by conventional functionality; instead, they symbolize disobedience and resistance. Crafted from maple and wenge wood, horsehair, and human hair contributed by my mother, my friends, and myself, these materials carry DNA and individual identity into the objects. I employ brush assembly techniques to integrate the hair and use CNC and laser cutting to shape the wood. My process combines handcraft and machine work, merging hard and soft materials. Together, these artefacts present a tactile landscape of disobedience against the naturalised roles imposed on women. Final work Disobedient Link Ball Chain Never Ending Chain There is long hair donated by me, my mother, and others in this 165cm never-ending chain. I installed them in this chain. The last link is spread out, like a woman breaking free from the shackles. With the addition of hair, the ring begins to disintegrate Naughty Knot With three different colors of horse tail hair and wig and maple, wenge, call naughty knot. Research and process Making experience - ball chain In the production process, I have to repeatedly try to determine the best effect of hair insertion. My works are repeated twice to achieve satisfactory results Disobedient Links - 5 objects My work has evolved from disobedient connecting rings to chains. Share this project Disobedient Links critiques how patriarchal societies exploit women’s biological traits (specifically the womb) as a means to restrict their labour, framing childbirth and caregiving as their ‘natural’ roles. Drawing from Maria Mies’ (1986) critique of this constraint on women... A link to this page has been added to your clipboard Browse related work Beyond Human Aesthetics Craft & Process Gender Identity Hair Sculpture Wood Craft
# Links ## Official page - https://ualshowcase.arts.ac.uk/project/614328/cover ## External - https://www.instagram.com/xiuxiuning.show - tel:07776985792 - mailto:xiuxiuning1998@163.com - https://forms.arts.ac.uk/client-enquiry-form/ - https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fualshowcase.arts.ac.uk%2Fproject%2F614328%2Fcover&text=Disobedient+Links - https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fualshowcase.arts.ac.uk%2Fproject%2F614328%2Fcover&media=https%3A%2F%2Fportfolio-tools.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2025%2F02%2F17162525%2Fshow-nnnn1442-1-rotated.jpg&description=Disobedient+Links