Reprieve
Susan Smith
Memorials, graveyards and images of love and remembrance have always held a fascination for me but a recent, sudden, life-threatening illness has made me acutely aware of my own mortality.
Text from a 19th century needlework sampler and a much-laundered hospital pillowcase provided initial inspiration. The pieced background - a metaphor for the fragmented memories of time as an intensive care patient - is formed from a traditional motif known as 'The Darts of Death'.
However, the precious vintage fabrics and the embroidery techniques used are indicative of my usual repertoire and confirm that the piece is not intended to be a morbid portent of death but rather a celebration of survival - and life.
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