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Bahraini artist Tamadher Alfahal is redefining embroidery by weaving threads into photographs of celebrities, transforming familiar images into textured, evocative artworks.
Her latest collection, Nostalgia, features embroidered portraits of iconic Arab and Western figures.
She has also collaborated with Bahraini collage artist Ali Alshaikh to produce artworks that blend both styles, which will be showcased at an exhibition next year.
“My fascination with embroidery started during the Covid-19 pandemic when everyone was home and in search of new hobbies or skills,” the 38-year-old told GulfWeekly.
“I took a couple of online courses that combined the medium of photography with embroidery,” the Diyar Al Muharraq resident added.
“There are therapeutic aspects of working with one’s hands in a world that is becoming increasingly overwhelmed by digital tools. I found that threads and fabric are forgiving mediums, in the sense that I became less worried about perfecting my work and more interested in going with the flow,” she added.
The Bahrain University architecture and interior design department assistant professor believes that art is a form of ‘soft power’ that can create a positive change in the world.
She has conducted photo-stitching workshops for Dar Amana (Arabic for ‘house of Amana’) in Muharraq, in collaboration with Amana Creative Collective, a community-based collective fostering art and social programmes. She cofounded the platform last year with four other women based in the kingdom.
“I take my inspiration from many sources, such as textile and embroidery artists and sometimes from the work of photographers. Archives of black and white fashion photography can also offer interesting narratives when combined with colourful threads,” Tamadher noted.
“I usually start by selecting the photos I would like to work with and then, I either print the photo on the fabric or on paper, as this would affect the embroidery method I use.
“I then start looking at all the elements in the picture, and think about what to emphasise, or what imaginative elements to add through embroidery.”
Talking about her Nostalgia collection, launched four years ago, she said: “I created it because I am fascinated by classic celebrities from the Arab and the Western World and the glamour that comes through their pictures. With this collection, I wanted to adorn pictures of some of the classic Arab celebrities in a new method as they are often only represented in pop-art prints and vintage posters.”
English actor and singer Julie Andrews and her infamous character Mary Poppins, Egyptian film and TV star Faten Hamama and former Princess of Wales Lady Diana are some of the popular names that feature in the ensemble.
“One of my favourite pieces is of Suad Hosni, often called ‘the Cinderella of Egyptian cinema’, carrying a bucket of embroidered flowers. I enjoyed working on it as I knew, for sure, that many people would like it, and they did,” remarked the former TEDx speaker and Birmingham City University alumna.
Speaking of artistic goals, the creative talent said that she has plans to conduct more photo-stitching workshops for Dar Amana when they open for the new season. Additionally, she hopes to collaborate with other Bahrain-based photographers and artists.
“It has been great working with Ali on our upcoming showcase, and we have had some interesting conversations about our artwork along the way,” she said. “One such design features a lady with mushrooms, and it gives whimsical, fairytale-like layers to the piece,” she noted, speaking about her upcoming exhibition, dates for which will be announced later.
