What role does material transformation play in alchemy-inspired fabric art?

In alchemy-inspired fabric art, material transformation serves as both a technical process and a philosophical metaphor. Artists manipulate textiles through burning, dyeing, layering, or chemical treatments to create surfaces that resemble transmuted metals or aged manuscripts. This practice mirrors the alchemists' pursuit of turning base metals into gold while symbolizing personal or societal change. The physical alteration of fabrics - from smooth silk to cracked leather-like textures - becomes a visual language expressing transformation narratives. Contemporary creators often combine modern materials like heat-sensitive polymers with traditional techniques, producing works that appear to shift states before viewers' eyes. This fusion of ancient symbolism with textile innovation challenges perceptions of material permanence and celebrates the beauty of metamorphosis in artistic form.