Ceu (Bik) Lian: Lai Puan Pattern

Artist statement

Cultural Fusion: An artistic journey

My artistic journey is a celebration of the beautiful variety of diversity in a world where boundaries are constantly blurring and cultures are mingling. The complex ties that bind cultures together and the ability of fashion to transform have always captivated me. Our attire can affect our motivation, body language, posture, and even our mood.  By connecting modern clothing with the rich heritage of Chin cultures, my work aims to bridge the gap between Chin tradition and modernity, through posters and clothes. Why you might ask? The reason is simple, I want people to know that we (Chin people) exist through the use of posters and clothes, as they are battling war back home.

The Chin people place great importance on traditional attire, which includes Hakha, Matu, Lautu, Falam, Tedim, Zo, Mara, and Mindat. Even though the designs vary, vivid red and green are frequently used together with black. Which can be spotted from far away. My mother still makes it important now because, in her words, "wearing our traditional clothes makes me feel like I'm back home (Myanmar)." The Chin clothes are all patterns that repeat in a certain way, which is usually triangle, square and "X."

People that inspired me to start creating clothing are, my grandmother used to weave and my mom and dad used to be a detailer. Also having seen so many old and new chin traditional clothes throughout my life, I was inspired to showcase my culture to new people. I was born and raised in Chin state till I was about 8 years old. The reason why I want to connect Chin traditional patterns is because I have always seen and been around the pattern. Moreover, I want to show the rest of the world that we exist, which I mentioned earlier. My process began with extensive research and immersion of chin traditional clothes. I studied traditional garments, patterns, and how they are made. I then reinterpret these elements in a contemporary context, infusing them into modern silhouettes and designs.

It takes an effective understanding of both worlds to successfully balance tradition and modernity.  Every stitch, color selection, and embellishment has significance and tells a tale that refers to the past, present, and future. I see my works as living examples of how beautiful cultural heritage can be for the past ages.

Clothes are more than just a way to keep our bodies covered; it's a medium for self-expression and our connection to the outside world. Clothes are a way to show creativity and it gives us identity in a way because of different cultures' clothing.