Azzah Sultan
The Sewing Kit, 2023
oil on canvas, batik fabric, lace ribbon and found bead
20 x 16 in
On loan from private collection
 
The sewing box is an exploration of memory and the way it transforms over time. This piece looks at my mother's memories, but through my perspective. Although we may grow up with our mothers, we never truly know their past and who they were before motherhood. These are conversations that are difficult to have with older generations, and I wish to explore them through a memory box. Here, the biscuit tin has been reappropriated to serve as a sewing kit and a memory box. Inside are pieces of fabric that hold personal stories. My mother starts to unveil a few, but still keeps some for herself.