Teresa Lim is well-versed in the idea of “love in every stitch.” Throughout her storied but still burgeoning career as an embroidery artist, something perpetually at the forefront of her mind is the idea of putting a little bit of herself into every work of art she creates.
As a student in junior college, she realised that she wasn’t cut out (no pun intended) for a traditional collegiate career after looking more closely at the margins of her notes, which were filled to the brim with doodles and drawings. One degree in Fashion Textile Design from LaSalle College of the Arts later, she was well on her way to a career in professional hand-stitching.
Most well-known for stitching the scenes around her as she wanders through the world, Lim has captured sunsets and waterfronts, hillsides and mountainscapes. Her most sprawling project, Sew Wanderlust, has had to be put on hold until travel restrictions relax once more. She’s been biding her time by recreating memories of past trips taken, manifesting them onto fabric as best she can recall them.
Over the past few months, Lim has also utilised the new normal, stitching intricate flower patterns onto face masks. Vogue asked her to harness that same energy when it comes to reinterpreting our signature orchid, the Vanda Vogue flower, for Vogue Studio. Not only has she been focused on retelling her favourite stories recently, but in these new ventures, she’s also been able to remind herself and her audience of the better days to come.
What was your thought process when you started working on your interpretation of the Vanda Vogue orchid?
I have always enjoyed playing with different mediums, especially when it comes to combining different textures in digital forms.
What signature elements have you incorporated into the artwork for Vogue Singapore?
I’m an embroidery artist, so the opportunity to play around with rich hues of purple and magenta was too good to pass up.
How would you describe your artwork for Vogue Singapore in three words?
Textured, colourful, quirky.
What is one skill or habit that you have picked up during the pandemic?
Eating breakfast. Usually, I rush out of the house, so I skip a lot of meals. Especially breakfast. But having breakfast every morning is a great habit that I should have started cultivating long ago.
What is one thing that you are thankful for, even in the midst of this global pandemic?
Because of travel restrictions, I’d say having my family here with me, unfragmented.
As the world opens up, what is one thing that you are most looking forward to?
Travelling to visit my in-laws in Italy.
Do you think art and creativity is essential today?
Yes, because it opens so many more doors to the possibilities hidden within your mind.
