Zarina Kendjaeva

Uzbekistan

Year(s) attended: 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010

Suzani Embroidered Textiles on Silk and Cotton

Zarina uses silk threads dyed with madder, indigo, pomegranate and onion skins and a uses a variety of stitches including the hook stitch, an almost forgotten technique she is working to revive. She was taught by her mother, a master of embroidery, and learned hook work from an old Bukhara woman who was one of the last artisans who knew the technique. Zarina bases her designs on 18th and 19th century museum pieces. She has exhibited widely and in 2004 received the UNESCO Seal of Excellence.

The Suzani was used for decorative wall hangings, curtains, bedcovers as well as small functional household items, such as bags and pillow covers. They were made from finely hand woven cottons or silk material and often the embroidery covered the entire cloth leaving only very small areas not filled with indicate hand work.

Suzanis are part of a renowned tradition of textile production in Uzbekistan and Cental Asia. The techniques are currently being revived by artisans like Zarina.  Traditionally, because young people never met before the wedding, young girls used the Suzani patterns and workmanship to demonstrate their character and skills to impress potential suitors. The mothers of young men presented their sons with several Suzani from which the boys chose a bride.