ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Jing Huang's Kesi Photographs With Weaver Jingwei Close at Leica Gallery Amsterdam

exhibition · 2026-09-26

In contemporary China, only eight individuals are acknowledged as masters of kesi, a silk tapestry craft that flourished in the twelfth century. One of these artisans is Jingwei, a young weaver hailing from Suzhou. Lexar tasked photographer Jing Huang with capturing his artistry, leading to an exhibition at Leica Gallery Amsterdam. Huang's photography emphasizes negative space, drawing inspiration from traditional Chinese ink painting. Linda Warmerdam, the gallery's curator, describes the project as a conversation between the photographer and the craftsman. Jingwei reflects that the essence of kesi is cultivated through patience and time. Grace Su, General Manager of Lexar EU, remarked that supporting this exhibition resonates with the company's mission, showcasing the differences between kesi and the instantaneous nature of photography.

Key facts

  • Kesi silk tapestry peaked as an art form around the twelfth century
  • Only eight people in modern China are officially recognized as inheritors of traditional kesi weaving
  • Jingwei, a young weaver from Suzhou, is one of those recognized inheritors
  • Photographer Jing Huang shot the project on an old Leica SLR and 35mm film
  • The exhibition of Huang's and Jingwei's work just finished showing at Leica Gallery Amsterdam
  • Linda Warmerdam is manager and curator of Leica Gallery Amsterdam
  • Lexar is a memory solutions company based in Shenzhen
  • Grace Su is General Manager of Lexar EU

Entities

Artists

  • Jing Huang
  • Jingwei
  • Linda Warmerdam
  • Grace Su

Institutions

  • Leica
  • Lexar
  • Leica Gallery Amsterdam
  • PetaPixel

Locations

  • Suzhou
  • China
  • Amsterdam
  • Netherlands
  • Shenzhen

Sources