Couture is a mixed-media tapestry that centers on the effects of mass migration and globalization on folklore and identity. The pattern is found in Bucovina, the region of Romania where I’m from. It is repurposed to form a tapestry from a small design that would otherwise be found on the sleeve of a blouse.

The black photo transfers symbolize the ethnicities that formed the threads of the nation through their distinct influences. The strips woven through the canvas incisions represent a global “ethnic” style that I have encountered in multiple countries, including Romania.

The red squares illustrate the process of making the unique, handcrafted fabric, which is an increasingly rare process. Through the pixelated aspect of the pattern, I am alluding to a digitized reinvention and a way to secure continuity.  The signature stands for the appropriation of traditional designs by large fashion houses.