A&D ANNUAL 2022

Riya Parmar

Riya Parmar’s practice is shaped by her culture and experience, incorporating everyday repetitive objects, and representing her multiculturalism and passion for textiles. Despite being exposed to Indian, Western, and Taiwanese cultures, Riya has always valued the traditional practice of embroidery. Enhancing the intricacy and delicacy of this practice, she has carefully embroidered and embellised the fragile material of dead leaves. Not only is Riya bringing insignificant objects back into visibility, but also creates a motif of weaving culture into everyday life. Using the embroidered leaves, Riya was inspired to create a modern-style toran, a significant concept in Indian culture where the main entrance of the home is decorated to welcome guests and signify wealth. Although there are many forms of torans, ones created with leaves are replaced once the leaves have died; in Riya’s work the leaves have a new life through embroidery. She has also embedded traces of Taiwanese culture by adding traditional Chinese coins that represent good luck. The knots in her work not only tie cultures together but also draw connections to sacred threads worn in Asian culture for protection and good luck. Riya’s modern toran welcomes audiences into her multicultural space.