Collection of sewing and craft supplies including spools of thread, embroidery floss, beads, sequins, and decorative ribbons organized in boxes and plastic bags.

How does an embroidery journey begin and unfold?

Let me give an example through my embroidery of Ninatta and Kulitta from Hittite mythology.

Three books on a dark wooden table with ancient statues on their covers, written in Turkish about ancient history and archaeology.

First, I gather historical and ethnographic information related to the theme I have in mind.

Decorative metal sculpture resembling a tree with stylized animal shapes on its branches.

I study mythological historical texts as well as reliefs, sarcophagi, vases, and other archaeological or ethnographic artifacts. Whenever possible, I view the artifacts in their original locations.

A carved stone relief depicting a man, woman, and child, with the man in the center and the woman on the right, both with detailed facial features and clothing, in a historical or archaeological setting.
A woman with short blonde hair and a black jacket taking a selfie in front of a carved rock face showing a human figure with wings, resembling an angel or mythical being, against a gray sky.

Ninatta and Kulitta in the Reliefs of Yazılıkaya

Ancient Greek terracotta hydria with painted figures and scenes, broken into pieces and reconstructed.

The İnandık Vase (Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, Ankara)

A woman with blonde hair wearing a yellow top stands in front of an ancient vase displayed in a glass case at a museum.

The Hüseyindede Vase (Çorum Archaeological Museum)

Using all the sources and my imagination, I create a drawing. If I’m satisfied with the drawing, I transfer it onto a fabric suitable for embroidery. I decide on the appropriate type and color of thread. Then, I determine which embroidery techniques are most suitable for the project.

Sketches of people performing various activities along the top edge of a paper, with a hand drawing additional sketches on the right side, a calculator and a piece of paper partially obscuring the drawings.
A woman with short dark hair and glasses smiling at a table with papers, a cup, and a small container, in a room with a framed painting of a city scene.

While working on the embroidery, I reflect on the instruments depicted in the piece. Sometimes, they are already part of my collection; other times, I manage to find an authentic replica. If the instrument is no longer produced today—like the Hittite sistrum—I commission skilled luthiers to craft a reproduction based on my drawings.

Close-up of an embroidery project showing a partially stitched cat with reddish-brown thread on fabric, with some pencil sketch outlines and embroidery supplies visible.
A woman with shoulder-length dark hair smiling and holding a metal object with small animal figurines attached, standing in a living room with a window, curtains, a wooden table, and upholstered furniture.

"Long imprisoned in stone reliefs, painted codices, or ceramic vases, these ancient figures and their instruments are reborn into today’s world—through a medium they never imagined: embroidery. 😊"

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Contact

Planning an exhibition, lecture, or research partnership?

Prof. Feyzan Goher is open to proposals from galleries, museums, festivals, and universities.

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