Liang did not want to overwhelm the viewers with discomfort and contrition, so she added a sense of hope to her work.

"The red infant embodies the continuation of life, but it is only connected with its mother with a thin line. If human beings do not change, then life will diminish."

Though having to work in the sweltering summer of Chongqing and often suffering from needlestick injuries caused by sewing needles, she describes the experience as one evoking "a strong sense of tranquility and awe for nature and animals".

"There seems to be an interaction between the elephants and us over the six months," Liang says. "Even my dogs developed an attachment with them. They were so used to the giant elephants in the studio that when the elephants were taken apart for transportation, they seemed sad and lay on the floor whining."

The installation was first shown to the public at the fourth International Fashion and Lifestyle Expo held at the Beijing Exhibition Hall from Oct 26 to 29, when Liang also received a lifetime achievement award in fashion art.

As its title Maasai Mara embodies her solicitude for wild animals, Liang says she hopes to develop the installation into a series.

"I plan to make more animals and exhibit them to the whole world. I really hope my works can ensure for more care for the Earth and its inhabitants."

Contact the writer at chengyuezhu@chinadaily.com.cn