Written by Margaux Villard

Tradition and popular cultures are mingled in Singapore artist Izziyana Suhaimi’s work, who embroids colourful threads on drawings to create modern tapestries.

Her technique belongs to the past but the outcome is definitely modern. She aims to explore popular cultures but still wants to be connected with traditions, especially for The Looms in our Bones exhibition   for which she wanted to get back to “our heritage” to quote her, claiming that “the modern culture is becoming more homogenized”.

Embroidery is something that requires dexterity and thorough work but it is most of all its time-consuming dimension which attracted the artist. By doing so she stands opposite to common principles of our era. Instead of mass production she prefers the joys of craftsmanship and the meticulous and long hours that go with it.

Her talent for mixing modernity with history through the use of embroidery is what makes her stand out, but her work has many more layers. She can make sculptures-she folded pages into roses for her Secret Garden project-or draw, paint, add glitters, watercolours, and inks to her works. She also uses various subjects, such as fashion notably for the exhibition Friends to keep you warm-“friends” referring to “the clothes and the fashion people too”. For this series she took inspiration from a number of designers and bloggers of the fashion world such as Kenzo, Peter Jensen, Marc Jacobs, Yokoo, Tavi to name a few, after “drooling after clothes” she was dying for but could not afford.

Her works are a refreshing twist to the traditions and a delight for the eyes to feed on. Here is her website, she also works on commissions so don’t hesitate to ask if you are interested!