Jan Blake: Beijing Leaves

Following the success of earlier collaborations, artist Jan Blake was commissioned to create a new large-scale installation for an atrium space within the Indigo Shopping Centre in Beijing. The concept drew on her signature use of suspended leaf forms, exploring movement, light and spatial interaction within a public environment.  

The challenge was to translate this artistic vision into a buildable, transportable and installable system. Each element needed to retain the delicacy and fluidity of silk while performing structurally at scale, suspended within a large open atrium and visible from multiple levels.

We patterned and manufactured a series of bespoke silk organza forms, carefully attaching the fabric to lightweight steel frames to create stable yet expressive structures.  

Once fabricated, the pieces were returned to the artist’s studio, where each leaf was individually hand dyed to introduce variation, depth and a unique finish to every element. The completed sculptures were then carefully packed and transported from our Bristol workshop to Beijing.

Working alongside Jan Blake and a specialist rigging team, we supported the installation process, ensuring each piece was suspended precisely within the atrium space to achieve the intended composition and flow.

The completed installation comprises twelve hand-painted silk leaves, each measuring approximately 3.5 metres by 1.6 metres, suspended within the atrium of the Indigo Shopping Centre.

Arranged to appear as though they are falling or drifting through the space, the leaves create a constantly shifting visual experience as light interacts with the translucent material. The installation transforms the atrium into a more engaging and expressive environment, connecting art with architecture in a subtle but impactful way.

The project demonstrates how tensile and fabric-based techniques can support artists in realising complex, large-scale installations that combine craftsmanship with engineering precision.