Hello

“Hello” fits in within my larger series entitled “Woven.” This series stitches together themes of heritage, comfort, protection, all through the threads of knitting that are interwoven in the history of women. Each piece incorporates hand-knitted afghans produced by my grandmother, through these afghans and the limited color palette, my models fade in and out of the light, seeking shelter through camouflage, all from the toils of the external world. In their shelter, created by family hands, the past and present are woven together to create this endearing tapestry of faith, strength and reassurance for the future. 

“Hello” was created amidst the global pandemic, marking this piece the first time I was able to work with a model since the enactment of quarantine. It was an eerie, misty morning made more apparent by the sheer strangeness in meeting with real people to say “Hello” for the first time in months. I worked with my model to capture the essence of this moment of eeriness, and the intimacy engendered through our dissolving isolation, her face is shrouded by the fabric of the afghan along with the wispy tendrils of her hair. The world, at this juncture, was fraught with uncertainty. No one knew what the coming months were to bring, all we could rely on was the safety of our homes, and pray for the safety of our loved ones. This piece serves to bring catharsis to a time in which these questions of safety, security, and family were at the forefront of everyone’s minds. In her emerging face, amidst the safety of her blanket, she emerges from her refuge into a world of light.