How do rattan figurative sculptures engage with themes of growth and decay?

Rattan figurative sculptures uniquely engage with themes of growth and decay through their organic materiality and symbolic forms. As a natural fiber, rattan itself embodies cycles of life—its flexibility and strength mirror resilience, while its eventual weathering reflects impermanence. Artists often shape rattan into human or botanical figures, intertwining narratives of vitality and fragility. The medium's tactile texture and earthy tones evoke a visceral connection to nature's rhythms, while deliberate imperfections or fragmented designs hint at decay's inevitability. By transforming a material that once grew into static art, these sculptures become meditations on time's passage, celebrating growth even as they acknowledge its ephemerality. The interplay of intricate weaving techniques with rattan's natural irregularities creates a powerful visual metaphor for life's dualities.