Cotton wall hanging, 'Pathways'

Soft pastel hues are aglow over a black background with patterns unique to the Akha hill tribe. Aphi Mina sews this cotton wall hanging by hand, proud of her ancestral traditions. She adds horsehair motifs dangling from metal coins, ensuring the piece is a true testimony of the Akha textile legacy. This work hangs from a bamboo rod. Aphi Mina crafts these textiles like a painter would, each piece representing something that occurs around her at the time. So no two pieces are alike [although they are in essence similar to the picture]. If she wakes up in the morning, after having dreamed of pink elephants, she might just decide to incorporate part (either with a new motif or new color) of this dream in the piece. Because of her age and her unique situation as a keeper of traditional arts, Novica allows for greater variance in her works than with other artists. Hailing from the majestic lands of Nepal, the Akha tribe has spread throughout the mountains of China, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand. Today, there are about 20, 000 Akha natives living in the Northern Hills of Thailand. Akha villages are distinguished by beautifully carved gates protected by fierce guardian spirits. This is a proud and timeless culture, struggling to preserve its cultural values through their traditional skills and knowledge. In the Akha society women play an important role, and among these women is prominent artisan Aphi Mina, committed to spreading their colorful handmade items all over the world.