EXPANDED PRACTICE    

Knotted Cane 
                        
Junke Xiao
@junke_xiao




Knotted Cane redefines the meaning of the walking cane through the symbolic language of the knot.

Originating from research on the social stigma and emotional associations of canes, the project explores their transformation from symbols of aging and fragility into expressions of identity, dignity, and selfhood.

The knot becomes a metaphor for attachment—between the body and the object—and for the intertwining of memory, emotion, and human connection.
Each cane embodies a distinct emotion, transforming from a walking aid into a tactile narrative that links body, memory, and feeling, inviting reflection on vulnerability and connection in contemporary design.