Inspired by the intricate patterns found on the shell of the ancient Asari clam, A Thousand Layers of Stomach is an abstract work by A.A.Murakami, that explores the intersection of nature and technology through a creative code that replicates the natural processes of Asari clam shell formation. An on-site custom knitting machine translates the artist-generated code to produce expansive textile wall pieces that capture the evolutionary beauty of the clam’s mesmerizing array of abstract shell patterns. 

Accompanying the installation is a film shot in the mudflats of the Pearl River Delta and the wet markets of Hong Kong, offering a visceral, transcendent exploration of the primordial connection between humanity and the sea. A Thousand Layers of Stomach poses questions about existence, the origins of life, and explores whether mathematics is an intrinsic part of nature or a human construct.


Originally debuting in 2024 at Art Blocks Weekend in Marfa, Texas, A Thousand Layers of Stomach has since been presented at NOMAD Abu Dhabi, where visitors generated their own digital knits—each design becoming a panel in a monumental tapestry that continues to evolve as it travels to museums and cultural events around the world. Over time, the tapestry will reach its thousandth panel—completing a living textile that embodies shared creation and the convergence of craft, technology, and life itself.

More information: info@trameparis.com