Dubai artist creates cross-stitch artwork to honour Zayed

The monochromatic production features tiny black needlepoint stitches set against a white background of special perforated fabric outlined by a minimalist matte gold frame

In honour of the Year of Zayed initiative, a Dubai-based artist and designer spent over three months to create a cross-stitch artwork in the shape of the initiative's official logo in hundreds of minute cross-stitches.
The monochromatic production features tiny black needlepoint stitches set against a white background of special perforated fabric outlined by a minimalist matte gold frame. Farida, who has been living in the UAE for over 17 years, offered the piece of art to the Consulate-General of the UAE in Toronto, Canada, where she is currently on vacation with family.
An entrepreneur with an interest in art, design and culture, Farida usually fuses mixed media forms including couture fashion, ribbonry, painting, collages, woodwork, flower preservation and DIY among others for her art work and only recently developed a love for the needlecraft from her mother. The unique Zayed artwork is approximately 60cm in length 25cm in breadth.
Talking about the idea behind her artwork, Farida said: "The centennial of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan is a significant occasion and I wanted to celebrate it the best way I could; through my cross-stitchery art... It is my way of commemorating the life of such a remarkable and visionary Arab icon and leader known for his wisdom and strong sense of Arabhood."
Attesting to the young designer's love for the UAE is the degree of intricacy on the piece created with artistry and patience. "The UAE is my home. It is a nation that has demonstrated tremendous tolerance and its multiculturalism is a source of inspiration to me as an artist," she added.
Farida spent over three months, meticulously hand-sewing every little stitch. "I'm glad how the final design remained true to the actual logo. An art form like needlework embroidery tends to pixellate the original design to some extent."
Her passion for the needlework can be gauged by the fact that she carries her needle work even on plane while travelling.
"I usually leave my embroidery work at home and carve out chunks of time throughout the week to cross-stitch. Sometimes, I even take it with me when I'm travelling. On planes, I remember to take plastic, not metal, needles to be able to carry them in-flight. It took me three months in total to complete the 'Year of Zayed' artwork. Needlepoint work is very time-consuming. I must have cross-stitched over a million stitches by now."
Talking about her love for the particular art style, Farida said: "I chose this particular embroidery style because I love how neat the rows of stitches look - all immaculately arranged side-by-side - and there are many variations in needlework in terms of the direction of the stitch, the thickness of the thread etc. I spend endless hours mixing and matching different colour schemes."
This is the second artwork Farida has created celebrating the UAE in recent years.
Previously, she had designed a flag of the country embellished with red, green and black buttons, beads, bows, Swarovski crystals and other ornaments. She has also already started working on another unique artwork to celebrate the UAE's semi-centennial anniversary in three years' time.
saman@khaleejtimes.com

• UAE
• Dubai