Weaver Splits Willow in Xining Loft at Dusk

Dim blue evening light enters a high window in a Xining warehouse loft, mixing with the warm glow of interior lamps to illuminate a concrete floor. A basket weaver sits cross-legged on a rough rug, pressing pale willow withies against a metal knee block. Split fibers scatter across the rug in pale arcs beside the figure, while thin strips of wood rest in a neat pile near the weaver's elbow. The vast empty space of the warehouse surrounds the subject, leaving significant negative space around the hands and tools. A jagged edge of a split stick lies on the rug, catching the light at the edge of the frame.