The Scent of Mother is a large‑scale installation artwork created by Ai Jing. It features a giant woolen ball with a diameter of nine meters. When you step ritualistically into the sphere, the air is filled with the fragrance of mother’s shampoo.

 

“Every 20 minutes, a mist sprays from the top of the sphere. Entering the giant woolen ball, one is instantly enveloped in the quiet, warmth, and safety of being inside the mother’s body.”

 

This nine‑meter‑diameter sphere is constructed of alloy. To preserve the wool‑like visual effect from inside the sphere, heavy steel structures could not be used. Its large scale meant extremely high construction difficulty.

 

To ensure safety and integrity, Ai Jing invited a renowned structural engineer to perform sophisticated calculations on how to build a lightweight sphere from a structural engineering perspective. Our construction team also gained hands‑on learning and practical experience working with top structural masters.

 

This is reflected in the neatly arranged framework both inside and outside the ball, as well as the meticulous design and craftsmanship shown in the woolen texture.

 

The carefully designed structure and scent embody the sense of security that the artist’s mother gave her. Here, rationality and sensibility contrast and merge as one.