What happens when a sculpture stops being something people simply look at and becomes part of a live performance? Artist Movana Chen explores that question through an unusual combination of shredded paper, knitting techniques, and coordinated movement.

Her performance Questioning the Line, presented at London's Coronet Theatre in October 2026, brought together seven wearable sculptures to examine how people relate to one another and the natural world.

When Paper Becomes Wearable Art

Chen's work begins with a material that many people handle every day: paper. Rather than treating it as something disposable, she transforms shredded sheets into intricate knitted structures using knitting needles. The process requires patience and precision, as small pieces of paper must be carefully connected to create a form strong enough to be worn.

Her wearable sculptures, known as Body Containers, are made from shredded maps woven into interconnected forms. Developed over two decades, the series has become a central part of her artistic practice. Each piece combines the fragility of paper with the strength that can emerge when individual strands are connected.

Chen's approach also gives familiar materials a different purpose. Maps are usually used to represent places and help people understand geography. In her work, they become part of a sculptural language about relationships, movement, and shared experiences. The sculptures are not designed simply to remain on display. Their full character becomes apparent when performers wear them, allowing the material to move with the body and respond to the presence of others.

Seven Sculptures, One Shared Experience

The London presentation brought together seven Body Containers, created between 2005 and 2025. Seven performers, including Chen, wore the pieces during a performance lasting approximately 50 minutes. The production was the largest version of Questioning the Line to date. Instead of presenting the sculptures as separate artworks, the performers moved together, creating a connected visual arrangement.

The setting also played an important role. At the Coronet Theatre, the audience sat in a circle around the performers in an intimate studio space. This arrangement brought viewers closer to the action and made the relationship between the performers and spectators part of the experience.

A Journey That Inspired the Work

The development of Questioning the Line began in 2023, when Chen reflected on the separation and restricted travel experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic. She undertook a 21-day journey across European landscapes in a van, accompanied by performer Francisco Borges and cinematographer Tyler Weinberger. The journey became an opportunity to reconnect with nature and consider how movement through open spaces could influence artistic expression.

During the trip, Chen used her Body Containers as tools for communication and storytelling. The sculptures were worn against natural settings, including rocky mountains and rivers, allowing the surroundings to become part of the visual experience.

Why Fragility Matters

One of the central ideas behind Chen's practice is that delicate materials can become stronger through careful connection. A single piece of paper can tear easily, but many pieces woven together form a more resilient structure.

For Chen, this process offers a way to think about human relationships. Connecting separate pieces requires a gentle touch, enough room for movement, and attention to how each part fits with the others. The same principle shapes the performance. The wearable sculptures link the performers visually, but the connection depends on how they move and respond to one another. The artwork becomes a shared undertaking rather than an object controlled by a single person.

Inviting the Audience Into the Artwork

The London performance developed ideas Chen had presented previously, including at Art Basel Hong Kong in 2025. That earlier presentation attracted the attention of Anda Winters, chief executive of the Coronet Theatre, helping lead to the London production. The theatre version offered a more intimate setting than previous presentations. With spectators arranged around the performers, the distinction between watching an artwork and sharing an experience became less rigid.

Movana Chen's Questioning the Line demonstrates how an everyday material can support a thoughtful exploration of human relationships. Through knitted paper sculptures, coordinated movement, and natural sound, the performance turns the idea of connection into something audiences can observe and experience.

Rather than presenting strength as the absence of weakness, Chen's work suggests that resilience can grow from delicate parts working together. The sculptures become meaningful through their relationships with the performers, the surrounding space, and the people watching.