LOTUS
Sashiko stitching on hospital gowns
Fabric mounted on stretcher frame
100 × 140 cm
2025
Lotus is a large-scale textile composition depicting the lotus flower, a universal symbol of rebirth, resilience, and transformation. My choice of this flower is inspired by its profound symbolism: each night it disappears beneath the muddy water, only to emerge the next day untouched by the impurity from which it grows.
This work reflects on the physical and spiritual dimensions of healing, both personal and collective, intertwining autobiography with shared memory. The materials consist of hospital gowns worn by patients before MRI scans, originating from my own family experience and carrying an intimate history marked by fragility, waiting, and care.
Through the meticulous practice of Sashiko embroidery, I transform the act of stitching into a gesture of healing, redemption, and regeneration. Every stitch becomes a visible trace of resilience and a silent meditation on memory, repair, and hope.
The composition, built from square textile modules assembled like a puzzle, introduces a playful dimension while subtly evoking the world of childhood.
Credits: © Patricia Jacomella Bonola