Interview With Model and Embroidery Artist Sheena Liam
When we first came across model Sheena Liam's embroidery work earlier this week, it's safe to say we were completely awe-struck. Her designs, which depict the coolest hairdos, are unlike anything we've seen before — so we had to know more. After getting in touch with Sheena, we were surprised to learn that she stumbled into embroidery, using it as a fun pastime she could easily do in-between shoots and shows. What started out as a hobby ultimately turned into so much more, with Sheena working as both a model and an embroidery artist full-time now and receiving tons of positive feedback and support from her fans. What's more, she's hoping to have her very own solo exhibition to debut her hoop art (another term for embroidery) in the near future. Needless to say, even bigger things are to come for this multi-hyphenate. To learn more about Sheena's remarkable artistry, as well as the journey she took to get there, keep on reading.
Courtesy of Sheena Liam1/11Teen Vogue: How did you first get into embroidering? Was there anyone or anything that inspired it or did you stumble upon it yourself?
Sheena Liam: My mother taught me when I was young but I found it boring and repetitive. I travel and model a lot so I´m always filling up the slow times with any classes I can get into, in whatever city I´m stuck in. I was in Singapore drawing a lot for a zine I wanted to produce. I had an idea for an embroidered piece with the braids hanging out of the frame. People were really excited about it, so I kept making them.
Courtesy of Sheena Liam2/11TV: Can you explain why your work mostly consists of feminine figures with a focus on their hair? Was this an intentional move?
SL: I´ve always drawn girls since I was a child. I love portraits and faces, bodies and hands. I never meant for it to be hair-focused, the hair was always more to accentuate movement or to bring a certain sort of soul to the pieces.
Courtesy of Sheena Liam3/11TV: What’s your favorite embroidery project you’ve ever worked on and why?
SL: The big 5-by-5 foot piece was my favorite, because I didn´t even know it would happen the right way. I just did it to really challenge myself. It was fun sourcing people together to build the frame itself. I was talking to cabinet factory workers, I got this old man who was a rattan craftsman in a small town in Malaysia to build me the hoops. The fun part was that everyone didn´t really understand what I was trying to achieve, people saw me constantly sewing but when you´re so close you have no idea what it´s going to look like. I´m glad I did it though, it´s given me this whole new perspective that if I just keep doing, I can make anything in my head happen.
Courtesy of Sheena Liam4/11TV: How did you expect people to react to your work? Were you surprised by all of the support you received?
SL: I just started the seperate art account on Instagram as a way to compile my work. I post a lot of personal things, so it was hard to scroll through everything and not very professional whenever people were interested in looking at a piece. It exploded though, I was watching the numbers and the media coverage — Vogue Korea, Martha Stewart, Frankie Magazine, and now Teen Vogue. I´m so flattered, thank you all so much.
Courtesy of Sheena Liam5/11TV: What’s something a lot of people don’t know about embroidering?
SL: There´s no techniques or fancy tricks I use, I literally just use a thread and needle. The hair I mostly wing, each piece is unique in that sense; I just work it out until it works out.
Courtesy of Sheena Liam6/11TV: Who or what inspires your designs the most?
SL: Anything. Sometimes music, sometimes a line from a book, sometimes a photograph.
Courtesy of Sheena Liam7/11TV: Are any of the woman depicted in your designs people from your real life?
SL: They´re mostly me. I work off photographs and I found it hard to direct models so I just started posing for myself. I like awkward poses, delicate hands, body language.
Courtesy of Sheena Liam8/11TV: What’s the future of embroidering look like for you? Will you continue your work as side job to modeling or would you ever consider making it a full-time gig?
SL: I consider both full-time gigs actually. Modeling is fun but you don´t get the chance to create or have any say in creative direction. It´s also something I get to do when the days are slow. This is my baby. I´m working towards a solo exhibition. More big pieces, more installations alongside the 5x5 inch pieces.
Courtesy of Sheena Liam9/11TV: Do you have any advice for people who want to start embroidering themselves? What’s the best way to learn?
SL: The best way to learn is to just start. It´s not about beauty, followers, or being good; it´s about doing, creating. Embroider whatever you like, use the colors that make you happy.
Courtesy of Sheena Liam10/11TV: Would you say your work has specific ties to beauty and hair?
SL: I like hair because it is a challenge to my otherwise single stitch.
TV: And lastly, are they available for purchase?
SL: I don´t sell my pre-existing pieces; they´re mine and represent such a huge part of me. I´m not racing to just pawn them all off. Sometimes when a collector writes me and they have a story which resonates with me, I´d do a commission. I want to create pieces for people who love the work as much as I do.
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