Join Contemporary Craft on an guided tour!

Peregrination: Xiaojing Yan 闫晓静

Peregrination, a long and meandering journey…

Xiaojing Yan explores migration, cultural hybridity, and the connection between identity and nature. Born in China and now based in Toronto, she draws from ancient Chinese folklore and rituals, reinterpreting them through a contemporary lens. Her work transforms traditional narrative into personal symbols, weaving together heritage, memory, and her own ideation of nature. Natural motifs serve as metaphors for movement and transformation, reflecting the fluid passage between cultures and histories. Yan’s work becomes a meditation on belonging, creating a landscape uniquely her own. In this act of peregrination, she invites viewers to reflect on the universal and spiritual search within an ever-shifting cultural world.

This exhibition is part of Handwork 2026.

Photo: Courtesy of the Artist