Dreamcatcher - from Mystical Handicraft to Spiritual Art

Album Link: Lillian's Dreamcatcher

After trying different techniques of making dreamcatchers, I wondered if I can "paint" on a dreamcatcher, making use of its original net structure. The idea was inspired when I was staring at a dreamcatcher, examining its perfect and amazing structure, and suddenly I thought I saw some sacred patterns out of it. A beautiful flower emerged from the net surface, and then a spiral.

I'm such a doer that I used colorful beads to outline the net of a dreamcather that evening, and made a work symbolizing the Galaxy.

That was the first time realized the net structure itself can resemble so many patterns, as long as I let the imagination run.


Then, of course, I must "draw" a lotus, my favorite flower, on a dreamcatcher, and made it a beautiful accessory. This time, I utilized the net structure completely, using interlaced threads to present layers of petals.


But my ambition didn't stop there. In addition to patterns that standard structure can resemble, I also wanted to create more interesting images that are not bound by the web but still following its nature.

That's when variation of normal knitting technique comes into place. One difficulty in "drawing" on a dreamcatcher is that there's no "long" straight line on the net, although the net itself is composed of many short thread segments. However, with advanced knitting techniques, different shapes can be formed.

Hence, two more artworks with spiritual themes were born - We Are One and Tree of Life.

I was so amazed by the outcome and the possibility of dreamcatcher creation, and was literally thinking about making a series of dreamcatcher collection on the theme of spirituality and sacred geometry.

Later, I've decided to return to simplicity, and made the Vertex by only shifting the point of threads intertwining with each other.

One friend saw the work and asked: "Is it possible to make a Tai-Chi-style dreamcatcher?"

"It's feasible, theoretically. But I'm afraid the shape won't be perfect due to the nature of dreamcatcher's web structure. I'll need more time to think about it.", I responded

Well, I mentioned earlier that I'm a doer, and so of course, I found a way to solve the problem without delay. I was holding the Vertex dreamcatcher and pondering how to blunt the edges and present Tai Chi's round characteristic, and then it stroke me that by shifting the crossover point from the middle to one side, the shape formed by the consecutive line segments is rounder and smoother.

Therefore, using the same technique of making the Vertex, I completed Tai Chi dreamcatcher as well. Here I present the ultimate integration of Eastern (Chinese) and Western (Native North American) traditions and cultures. Black intertwines with white, forming a perfect circle, just like the harmonic combination of Eastern and Western spirituality.