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This artists’ book explores the concept of secrecy, intertwining the embroidery traditions of the Guizhou Dong ethnic group with the hidden sanctuaries of the Buddhist caves. In Guizhou (a city of China), embroidery techniques are passed down exclusively among women, preserving knowledge within a closed lineage. Similarly, Buddhist caves safeguard sacred wisdom in remote landscapes. By working with embroidery tools on leather and fabric, the book embodies the tension between concealment and revelation. The black leather exterior serves as a boundary, while intricate embroidered patterns remain hidden until the book is unfolded. Through this design, I reflect on how cultural beauty and knowledge often reside beneath unassuming surfaces, waiting to be discovered.
This project draws inspiration from the folding paper needle cases crafted by the Dong people of Guizhou, China. These ingenious cases, made from layers of folded paper, offer compact yet expansive storage for embroidery tools. When folded, they resemble books, making them easily portable.
Much like Buddhist caves that conceal sacred knowledge, these cases hide intricate patterns within their structure, revealing their beauty only when unfolded. Traditionally adorned with floral, butterfly, and sun motifs, they serve as both functional objects and carriers of personal expression, reflecting generations of craftsmanship and aspirations.
The symmetrical motifs recall Buddhist cave, where hidden chambers protect intricate murals and scriptures.. Just as embroidery books are passed down discreetly among women, access to Buddhist caves once required patience and knowledge. The gradual revelation of murals within the case interiors mirrors how embroidery stitches build upon fabric - both preserving wisdom across generations while remaining hidden beneath ordinary surfaces.
Black thread embroidered on black leather, with only a subtle glimpse of color, makes the book’s cover enigmatic and resistant to immediate interpretation. Its concealed details invite curiosity, requiring engagement to uncover what lies beneath.
Only through a specific unfolding sequences can viewers access the delicate embroidery within, mirroring how cultural traditions and ideas often remain obscured until intentionally explored. The process of layering thread into fabric echoes how history is woven over time, shaping and preserving collective memory.