Chinese Hats

Loi was always fascinated by China and traveled there twice. First as a tourist, then late in the 1980’s as Artist in Residence at the Sichuan Fine Arts Institute in Chonquing. It was during her several months there that she developed a true love for the people and their country.

Some of Loi’s strongest, most complex and original work is the result of her experience there. When she discovered the display of over 200 children’s hats from the Chinese collection of The Museum for Textiles here in Toronto, she was thrilled. Here was subject matter that proved to be beautiful, difficult and unusual. The hats, which date mainly to the late 19^th and early 20^th centuries, were made of silk satin, were richly hand-embroidered with silk floss and adorned with gold foil cutouts.

During this period in China, the infant mortality rate was extremely high. These intricately decorated hats, as well as other articles of clothing including shoes and collars, were given to little boys to protect them from harm and disease, and to ensure for them a long and successful life.
Her paintings of these exquisite works of meticulous, diligent stitching, became colourful materpieces of detailed painting in watercolour.