The story of my people is inscribed as batik motifs in the pleated folds of our mothers’ skirts, forged into the silver rings worn around our necks, and fastened onto our hips with sashes. I created this illustration series to illuminate the symbolic interconnectedness between specific pieces of traditional Hmong attire and the story of the Hmong people’s exodus out of Southwestern China and into Southeast Asia. I intend to uphold the cultural and historical significance of these traditional clothing items so that current and future generations of Hmong Americans, as well as those who are curious to learn about our culture, can come to understand why these garments hold such significance to the Hmong people.
Green and Red Sashes (Txoj Hlab Si Ntsuab Thiab Liab): in memory of the green and red rivers, our ancestors crossed in order to escape imperial China and find refuge in Southeast Asia.
A Silver Lock (Lub Xauv/Lub Paug): once a marker of our people’s indentured past, it now serves to remind us of our resilience despite all of the hardships that the Hmong people have been through.
A Pleated Skirt (Daim Tiab/Dlaim Tab): passed from mothers to daughters, the women of our community hid coded inscriptions as intricate batik and embroidery patterns in the folds of their skirts: a creative resistance against those who forbade our way of knowledge.
Through my choice of creative medium, digital illustration, I reference the nostalgic patterns and colors of traditional Hmong clothing while incorporating graphic elements, such as visual patterns, to bridge the traditional clothing pieces to the stories that they carry. In creating this body of work, I honor my ancestors’ stories and pay homage to the traditional garments made with centuries of fine craftsmanship that record our collective experiences and way of life.
Soeffker Gallery