New York, NY — A Space Gallery presents “Clucludie Creatures”, a solo exhibition by independent artist Mingyin Qi. The exhibition brings together a group of small- to mid-scale sculptures made through hand- whittled wood and tufted fiber, forming an expanding world of original, character-based creatures. Qi studies the structures and movements of animals, then reshapes them through compression, exaggeration, and subtle shifts in proportion. The creatures feel familiar at first glance, yet remain distinctly her own.

 

In the Desert Rain Frog works, real sand is pressed into carved wooden surfaces, embedding the sense of habitat directly into the body of each form. The rough texture sits alongside visible knife marks, giving the surface a worn, lived-in quality. In the Fluffy Crocodile series, one of the earliest characters in this growing world, a creature commonly associated with toughness is reimagined through soft fiber. Throughout the exhibition, structure and material quietly push against one another, creating gentle tension between what feels sturdy and what feels tender.

 

Carving and tufting move at different speeds. Wood resists the hand, while fiber slowly builds through repetition. One process requires force and precision, the other patience and accumulation. By moving between these rhythms, Qi lets the material shape each final form. The works maintain clear silhouettes and physical presence, while staying playful and full of life. Clucludie Creatures reflects a long-term commitment to building a personal character system shaped by care, attention, and time. These sculptures are not isolated objects, but part of a small world that continues to expand with every new form.