Suabyi (Roots series)
2021
oil and acrylic on canvas
24 x 36 in.
This model wears Hmong clothing that originally belonged to her mother. Women’s Hmong clothing is symbolic of a mother’s life. All of the cross stitching is traditionally done by hand, and mothers pass down a set of clothes to their daughter after she marries. Thus, Hmong clothing is symbolic of a family’s love. This particular outfit was also influenced by Chinese fashion, which is evident in the buttoning, patterning, the beads on the headpiece, and the headpiece itself. However, the cross stitching itself is a traditional Hmong style.