Ingrained – Sashiko (Kaki no ha), 2024
Graphite, washi tape, washi paper on canvas
20" × 20"
Graphite, washi tape, washi paper on canvas
20" × 20"
The kaki no ha, a pattern of persimmon leaf, carries the meaning of nourishment and the sustaining bonds of tradition. Rendered in sashiko stitches on the figure's body, the pattern speaks to the way cultural customs extend themselves across generations, like fabric repaired and passed down. She holds a string in the shape of a square, framing her view of the world through the mold of tradition, or perhaps questioning the shape she has been asked to fit.