A long-term project tracing the sources of Miao embroidery patterns
Miao Embroidery Pattern Origins
An enduring visual inheritance, open to cultural continuity and contemporary creation.
Pattern Origins is an ongoing investigation into the origins of Miao embroidery patterns, rooted in decades of fieldwork, collecting and research. Zeng Li identifies early forms in traditional Miao embroidery, distils their essential structures into line drawings and names them “Pattern Origins”.
The drawings help Miao descendants recover and continue traditional embroidery, and give contemporary art and design a point of reference. Early Patterns of Miao Embroidery is one published outcome of this ongoing project.
Contemporary creation
Another life for the pattern
The cultural memory carried by traditional patterns continues to unfold in contemporary life.
02 / In black and white
Artist’s statement
Respect for the communities to whom these traditions belong, and for the creativity of the original makers.
A scarf offers an intimate encounter with the beauty of patterns, bringing the culture they carry into everyday life.
Continue with the silk works ↗︎Explore the publication ↗︎Purpose · Continuity and creation
Keeping a tradition open to its future
For Miao descendants and traditional makers
A reference for Miao descendants and traditional makers to recover and continue their embroidery, keeping inherited visual knowledge in use.
For contemporary designers and artists
A cultural foundation for new work in art and design, grounded in identifiable traditions.
Continue with the textiles, image materials and village photographs behind the inquiry.
Explore the research materials ↗︎To discuss an exhibition, talk or workshop, please get in touch.
Begin a conversation ↗︎Authorship and image credits
Historic textiles are the work of their original makers. Collaborators are identified within each project. Images come from the artist’s website and project archive; please get in touch before reuse.