About
Cecilia Lai has been interested in crafts since childhood, especially in exploring materials and making processes. She worked in the media industry after graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in Fashion and Textile at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. After a few years, she turned to developing the craft of weaving. Barnard Chan was exposed to modern woodworking from childhood as his father was in the carpentry business.
The duo co-founded Breakthrough Art Studio in 2015 to focus on the exploration and research of traditional weaving crafts, as well as the cultural and creative industry. They are also developing a local brand of weaving tools and corresponding workshops. Based on their in-depth study of Southeast Asian textile culture, they have developed a comprehensive and structured curriculum to make the craft of weaving and the culture behind it more accessible to the public. They believe the exploration of crafts and natural materials is a never-ending journey, and each complements the other, motivating them to seek more possibilities in mixed media.
