I wish for peace

The artist Anne Riggs states: Lake Burrumbeet emptied of water with the prolonged drought. As it did thousands of fish died at the continually receding lake's edge. Their gaping mouths told of a stressful death. Over time they dried up and became at one with the earth and sand. When the drought broke and the lake began to refill, the fish became fertile ground for the regenerating reeds and grasses which grew up through the fish. Although most of these fish were carp - and not much loved in our environment, the scene itself was a sober reminder of the impact of drought on the environment, food supplies and way of life. It is an issue that affects people across the continents.

Afghan Persian dialect is embroidered at the bottom of the work, when translated into English it reads; 'I wish for peace'.

This is one of 43 embroidered handkerchiefs that is a result of the Making Marks: Australia and Afghanistan - Unfolding Projects, an arts exchange project between women artists in Australia and women undertaking literacy and vocational classes at the Organisation of Promoting Afghan Women’s Capabilities (OPAWC) in Kabul.

Artists in Australia worked on the handkerchiefs in a variety of media and then sent them to Afghanistan. Many of the ‘once marked’ handkerchiefs reflect the Australian artists’ relationship with, and connection to, place, nature and history. These themes are also reflected in the ‘twice marked’ made by the Afghan women whose relations with, and connections to, their place and their history, resonates through each stitch and informs the hopes and dreams articulated in thread. The handkerchiefs are a simple message of solidarity between two cultures and give a sense of connection and friendship.