Extending Heritage into Contemporary Practice

On Saturday, 28 March 2026, I will be joining an afternoon of conversations on regional sulam traditions at aNERDgallery. The session begins with stories of heritage, and of cloth, with sharing from curator Tony Sugiarta and storyteller, Hafiz Rashid. My role in this gathering is not simply to teach a technique but to extend the conversation forward.

When Tradition Is Not Frozen in Time

Embroidery is often positioned as something historical: preserved, documented, admired. But stitch evolves with the hands that hold it. In my own practice, I work with broderie anglaise — a technique historically associated with delicate whitework — and recontextualise it. I use its eyelets and scallops to evoke the textures and shapes of corals, and the cycles of decay and renewal.

For me, stitch is a way of observing.

A way of slowing down enough to truly see.

This workshop is an invitation into that way of seeing.

Extending the Conversation Into Practice

After curator Tony Sugiarta and storyteller Hafiz Rashid share stories of regional embroidery traditions, we move from listening to making. Participants will learn a foundational scallop stitch from broderie anglaise.

As with many stitches, this is a repetitive stitch, and in that repetition, you will see a shift. You will start noticing things: the tension of the thread, the curve of the fabric, the movement of your hand. Although we will be creating a small hand-stitched coaster, I hope participants will focus on the process, not on outcome. The coaster simply provides a framework for experiencing the meditative rhythm of stitch. You’ll also receive a starter kit to continue the practice at home, extending its quiet benefits beyond the workshop.

A Glimpse Into My Studio Practice

If you are new to my work, this session offers a small window into how I approach making.

The scallop stitch you’ll learn is part of my broderie anglaise vocabulary — one of the ways I translate nature into thread. I’m not teaching you to replicate my artworks, but to share the entry point.

An Afternoon of Listening, Making, Continuing

Date: Saturday, 28 March 2026
Time: 2:30 – 6:00 PM
Venue: aNERDgallery

This is for those who are curious:

• About heritage as living practice

• About how traditional techniques move into contemporary art

• About what happens when we slow the hand in a fast culture

If you have ever wondered how stitch can move from cloth to concept, this is where that bridge begins.