Suzani 1900 - 1910

This Suzani is a textile artwork made anonymously, featuring many coloured threads worked onto fabric. The first thing I notice is the purple. It’s such a regal colour and here it feels celebratory, a bit psychedelic even. The stitching process has created a geography of textures. It's not just about the image, but about how the threads build up, creating tiny ridges and valleys. The circles and paisley shapes, they're not perfect, and that's what makes them so alive. Each stitch is a decision, a little dance between the maker and the material. Take a close look at the central medallion. The sun-like form radiates outwards, but it's made of slightly wonky triangles, each one a different shade of yellow or red. It’s like looking into a kaleidoscope, or a stained-glass window. It reminds me of the work of Pacita Abad who fearlessly layered colour and texture. This piece is an invitation to slow down, to trace the lines with your eyes, and to feel the joy of making in every stitch.