Kamilah Ahmed on the work

Using a process of trapping a warp of hand-wrapped Como silk yarns onto a leather base with digital embroidery, this framed triptych was showcased at the 05 Homo Faber Seville Capsule: INTERWOVEN.

This process reflects my wider practice of translating the structural principles of Jamdani weaving into contemporary embroidery, where thread becomes both structure and ornament. It serves as a commentary on the influence of cross-cultural exchange between China and India, featuring textile traditions such as Parsi Gara embroidery.

The evolution of embroidery styles across South-East Asia maps the movement of communities migrating to India from Persia, inspired by embroidery brought back from China. Celebrating these traditions, I add contemporary stylisations such as cobalt blues and a scaled-up mosaic of Chinese geometric patterns (sayagata or key fret) alongside the marigold, a symbol of joy and prosperity.

The work highlights the impact of globalisation and Indo-Chinese influence on the history of South Asian embroidery traditions. The piece represents my ongoing exploration of embroidery as a structural language through which cultural histories can be preserved, reinterpreted and reimagined.