Photo: Sarah B. Gilliam
Threading the needle is challenging; keeping a steady eye on a very small opening, while gripping a thin line of thread in the other hand, poking the gap, struggling to find it’s way through. The long line of thread finally pulls through the eye of the needle, maneuvering like a human chain through a tense situation.
My work explores the issues of being a refugee and the transition of becoming an immigrant. There’s a constant search for an identity while being in between places and cultures. Living in this bicultural “reality” creates isolation, whether it is by political alienation and/or by familial/cultural expectations. I challenge myself with different processes to convey these motifs through various materials to communicate with the viewer(s). Primarily using fibers, textiles, and hair makes me feel connected to my identity; it’s a reminder of where I came from and the familiarity of “home”. As I carefully thread the needle, I think about my female ancestors that would have repeated the same motion to stitch torn things out of necessity; as I repeat the same motion I utilize the strength of thread to mend the frayed parts of my identity.
My work explores the issues of being a refugee and the transition of becoming an immigrant. There’s a constant search for an identity while being in between places and cultures. Living in this bicultural “reality” creates isolation, whether it is by political alienation and/or by familial/cultural expectations. I challenge myself with different processes to convey these motifs through various materials to communicate with the viewer(s). Primarily using fibers, textiles, and hair makes me feel connected to my identity; it’s a reminder of where I came from and the familiarity of “home”. As I carefully thread the needle, I think about my female ancestors that would have repeated the same motion to stitch torn things out of necessity; as I repeat the same motion I utilize the strength of thread to mend the frayed parts of my identity.
