#embroidery

#embroidery

The faceless figure's cropped bob and black boots are the only commonality, as always-symmetrical wide-leg trousers or dresses vary widely. Through color, scale, and repetition, Saputra's hand-stitched characters also coordinate and complement one another. Some, like the Arak Arakan Sepi series-meaning "quiet procession" in Indonesian-are more abstract and bulbous, while others, like "ARTSUBS," depict more realistic outfits. Saputra draws on a background in graphic design and illustration, which she applies to her fiber compositions.

A tattoo is an indelible mark, a permanent etching of a memory or a belief onto the body. We apply this concept to stuffed animals, which are often deeply intertwined with our personal histories. Through interviews with the owners, we uncover the unique stories and memories associated with each toy-where it came from, what it has witnessed. A tattoo artist then translates these narratives into a custom embroidery design.

"For three months, I cried and cried," De La Llana said in Spanish, her voice breaking. "I'd have to leave my home. Everything I had built over there."

García Hamilton investigates legacies of tradition, the inevitability of assimilation, and the ways in which family histories replay themselves over time.