Whilst teaching in Myanmar, I took a trip to Loikaw in Kayah State, an area inhabited by a Sino-Tibetan ethnic group made up of nine sub-tribes. This embroidery was inspired by a candid photograph I took of a young girl wearing brass coils around her neck — a tradition among the women of her tribe. Girls this young begin wearing the coils and gradually add more throughout their lives. Over time, their necks appear elongated, reflecting a favoured cultural standard of beauty.
Calico, embroidery thread, signed felt backing displayed in wooden embroidery hoop.
165 x 165 x 10 mm
