Hangama Amiri translates fragments of her teenage years and family history into quilted portraits and tender tableaux...
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Hangama Amiri translates fragments of her teenage years and family history into quilted portraits and tender tableaux. She was just seven when she left her native Kabul, travelling through various countries before finally settling in Canada as a teenager.
Now based in upstate New York, Amiri is deeply interested in memory and the stories that shape our identities. She begins with a drawing, which she slices into shapes and traces onto fabrics such as velvet, silk, polyester and other textiles sourced from Afghan-owned shops, online platforms and the occasional gift from friends and colleagues. Once cut, these pieces are layered onto a muslin backdrop, forming vivid portraits and domestic scenes where the seams remain visible.
Often drawn to the decorative elements of interiors or a figure’s clothing, Amiri captures moments that feel both familiar and intimate. Some of her works show friends gathered around a meal, while ‘Man with Vase of Tulips’ depicts a man holding a bouquet with a small photograph peeking out from the cluster of vibrant flowers. She has several exhibitions on the horizon, and you can follow her work and future projects through her website and Instagram.
