Chen Xiaochun

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THEMED “Cross-Over Stitching, Kreuz-und Querstiche,” a delicate stitching exhibition of German artist Katharina Sommer jointly held by Innday and Handshake 302, was unveiled Dec. 16 and will run through Jan. 16 at ArtInn in Guanhu in Dapeng.

At the opening ceremony, Sommer gave an introduction to her 12 works and the stories behind each one. The exhibition presents a selection of embroidery works on the relationship between history, family and individuals. Unlike the traditional purpose of embroidery, which focuses on art and decoration, Sommer stitched her thinking, doubt, warmth and humor into her embroidery works.

“In this exhibition there are mainly photos of my own family. ‘Before My Time’ is images about the childhood and youth of my parents. Others are, for instance, about an uncle who died in the Second World War. I never met him. There are also some about my childhood,” said Sommer.

One of the embroidery works “Friendship” uses stitches to portray three women whose hair is disheveled by the wind, showcasing the close friendship between the artist’s mother and her two best friends over the years in a unique way.

Stitching is an old tradition. Cross-stitching (or Kreuzstiche in German) is a basic stitching method in embroidery. Cross-over, another method, means interlocking and criss-crossing threads like grass in a field or tree branches.

Sommer has been an artist for many years. Since 1987, she has participated in indoor and outdoor public performances, as well as exhibitions with masks, performance, sculpture and fine art.