Study for Mourning: Sixth Veil

Indigo-dyed combed silk and madder-dyed silk thread, stitched on indigo-dyed paper, 10x28 cm.

In the tatreez tradition, women signalled mourning by wearing dresses embroidered in nothing but indigo (which inspired my pieces Veils of Mourning I and II). Only when ready to emerge from grief, did they start integrating red details again: This idea drove the series of studies for a follow-up series. Through the six studies, red thread makes its way back into the pattern in different ways because despite everything, Life returns.

In the Sixth Veil, over a background of deepest indigo, lac-dyed red thread selectively takes over the whole pattern, so that what is left spells out One, One, One (احد).