KARINA

2025

Hand embroidered portrait on transparent tulle

One of one

Private Collection

Concept

Karina explores the idea of portraiture as something beyond resemblance.

Rather than documenting a face, the work seeks to preserve presence — the quiet essence of a person that cannot be captured by photography alone.

Every thread contributes to the illusion of light, depth and movement. The portrait changes throughout the day as natural light passes through the transparent tulle, allowing each individual stitch to cast its own shadow.

The empty space surrounding the embroidery is an intentional part of the composition. It invites the viewer to participate, completing the image through imagination rather than information.

Karina is not only a portrait.

It is a memory suspended between light and air.

The Story

Created as a birthday commission, Karina was conceived as a deeply personal gift rather than a decorative object.

Every detail—from the direction of each strand of hair to the reflections within the eyes—was embroidered by hand in pursuit of something greater than likeness: recognition.

The moment the owner first saw the finished artwork confirmed what the piece had been created to achieve.

It was not simply recognised.

It was felt.

Process

The portrait is mounted in a deep frame that intentionally separates the embroidered tulle from the background.

This distance allows light to travel through the threads, creating delicate shadows that become part of the artwork itself.

As daylight changes, so does the piece.

No two moments of viewing are ever exactly the same.

Reflection

Some portraits preserve appearances.

Others preserve presence.

Karina was created to become something far more enduring than a gift—a personal heirloom, carrying memory from one generation to the next.