Red thread on vellum paper (180 gsm)
12x12in (30x30cm), framed
2025
EDDA (1939-)
This piece captures the quiet, unresolved space between my grandmother and me—a space shaped not by a lack of love, but by language. Edda has lived her entire life in Germany, while I grew up in Canada and now live between Canada and New Zealand. We’ve only met a handful of times, and although I’ve always felt her warmth, we’ve never shared a common language.
Our relationship has been filtered through others—translated, softened, delayed. This embroidery reflects that disconnection: the gaps, the longing, and the words left unsaid. The stitched lines are fragmented and layered, evoking both the closeness we shared and the distance we couldn’t overcome. It is a tribute to the kind of love that endures, even when it cannot be spoken.