Broken Records: Windy Chien on changing paths, tying stories into knots, and designing a new language of possibilities

In this episode of Breaking Precedent, host Leah Solivan talks to Windy Chien, a former tech professional turned celebrated artist renowned for her intricate knots and innovative art installations. Windy shares her journey of creative reinvention, drawing insights from her project 'The Year of Knots,' and delves into her background, influences, and the transition from tech to tactile art. She emphasizes the universal language of knots, the role of discipline, and the beauty of day-to-day creativity. The episode explores how Windy's non-traditional path led her to collaborations with major institutions and a unique approach to art that honors tradition while breaking new ground.

Guest Bio and Links:

Artist Windy Chien is best known for her 2016 work, The Year of Knots, in which she learned a new knot every day for a year. Her work ranges in size from a knot that can fit in the palm of a child's hand to room-sized installations that are sought after by private collectors. Following long careers at Apple and as the owner of legendary music shop Aquarius Records, she launched her studio in 2015. Select clients include the National Geographic Society, the De Young Museum, the San Francisco MOMA, Nobu Hotels, Google, and the Kering Group, and her work has been covered by Wired, The New York Times, and Martha Stewart. Windy’s book about her work was published by Abrams in 2019. 

Listeners can learn more about Windy Chien at her website and on IG @windychien

Resources:

The Year of Knots by Windy Chien

Exhibitions  

Collaborations

Windy's Install at Leah's

Show Notes: 

• (0:00) Intro
• (3:00) Leah introduces guest, Windy Chien, Artist and Innovator
• (3:30) The journey of knot making
• (4:00) Windy's early life and influences
• (6:00) The impact of her military upbringing
• (7:30) Creativity and cultural heritage
• (11:30) Embracing the outsider perspective
• (16:00) Changing circumstances and sitting with uncertainty
• (21:00) ”The thing that makes a knot a knot is intentionality. That's what separates it from a tangle, right? It was tied in a certain way to do a certain thing. And knots occur in every occupation, every culture around the world for centuries.”
• (23:30) From filmmaking to music
• (29:30) Transition to Apple and tech innovations
• (32:00) The impact of recognition and amplification
• (32:30) Revolutionary apps and TaskRabbit's role
• (33:00) A creative epiphany at Apple
• (35:00) Exploring new creative avenues
• (36:00) Discovering fiber art and woodworking
• (40:00) The Year of Knots and Its impact
• (43:00) Large-scale installations and their influence
• (51:00) Collaborations across mediums
• (56:00) Advice for aspiring artists
• (58:00) Final reflections and inspirations

   

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Leah Solivan is the host of Breaking Precedent, a podcast that explores the stories of innovators who are pushing societal boundaries and setting new precedents in their fields. Leah is General Partner at Fuel Capital, where she invests in early-stage companies across consumer technology, hardware, education, marketplaces, and retail. Leah has 15 years of experience building and creating technology products that have reached millions of people around the globe. She started her career at IBM as an engineer in the software group, working on Lotus Notes and Domino. In 2008, Leah founded TaskRabbit, the leading on-demand service marketplace in the world.

Connect with Leah:

Website: breakingprecedent.com/ 

Instagram: @labunleashed

X: @labunleashed