Vintage silk kimono swatches, Indian cotton, vintage French trimming and cotton threads.
130 x 113 x 1cm
2021-2022
"Waterloo" is a tapestry art piece composed of heirloom silk kimono swatches - a legacy spanning three generations of my family. This assortment came into my possession following my mother's passing in 2021, creating an enduring link to both her and my grandfather, who had transformed these very fabrics into clay dolls and relief-style oshie art respectively. Now, I advance their legacy.
The piece features twelve sandwich motifs representing actual fillings: Egg Mayo, Ham and Cheese, Tuna, Pastrami, BLT, Croissant, Coronation Chicken, Mediterranean Roasted Vegetables, Croque Monsieur, Cheese and Pickle, Steak with Blue Cheese, and Pan Bagnat. These conjure the memory of my uninitiated parents staring - bewildered yet excited - at a sandwich bar in Waterloo Eurostar station during their first visit to the UK. I cannot forget the twinkles in their eyes when they encountered this dizzying array! Food has been an important medium for conveying my artistic concepts.
The subject hints at 21st-century life - modernity and cultural diversity - that relishes (pun intended) the emergence of new ideas. These breaded archetypes speak of bridging cultural and geographical distances and a future unfolding before our wide eyes.
The journey of these humble fabrics mirrors my own. We all ventured 5000 miles from our origin to an unfamiliar land and were reawakened to new life and purpose. The hand-stitching process - therapeutic and contemplative - grounds each motif with care and respect for the storied fabric.
Vintage silk kimono swatches, Indian cotton, vintage French trimming and cotton threads.
130 x 113 x 1cm
2021-2022
"Waterloo" is a tapestry art piece composed of heirloom silk kimono swatches - a legacy spanning three generations of my family. This assortment came into my possession following my mother's passing in 2021, creating an enduring link to both her and my grandfather, who had transformed these very fabrics into clay dolls and relief-style oshie art respectively. Now, I advance their legacy.
The piece features twelve sandwich motifs representing actual fillings: Egg Mayo, Ham and Cheese, Tuna, Pastrami, BLT, Croissant, Coronation Chicken, Mediterranean Roasted Vegetables, Croque Monsieur, Cheese and Pickle, Steak with Blue Cheese, and Pan Bagnat. These conjure the memory of my uninitiated parents staring - bewildered yet excited - at a sandwich bar in Waterloo Eurostar station during their first visit to the UK. I cannot forget the twinkles in their eyes when they encountered this dizzying array! Food has been an important medium for conveying my artistic concepts.
The subject hints at 21st-century life - modernity and cultural diversity - that relishes (pun intended) the emergence of new ideas. These breaded archetypes speak of bridging cultural and geographical distances and a future unfolding before our wide eyes.
The journey of these humble fabrics mirrors my own. We all ventured 5000 miles from our origin to an unfamiliar land and were reawakened to new life and purpose. The hand-stitching process - therapeutic and contemplative - grounds each motif with care and respect for the storied fabric.
