Embroidered appliqué

Embroidered appliqué

　　Embroidered appliqué is a unique form of cultural art. Broadly speaking, it is a type of thangka. It is one of the “Three Treasures” of art at Ta’er Monastery.

　　 When creating embroidered appliqué, artisans choose silk fabrics in a variety of colors according to the story they want to tell, cutting them into specific shapes of figures, animals, flowers, and birds. They then glue and press these colorful silk pieces onto pre-cut paper models. Next, they layer the pieces in order from the darkest to the lightest shades. Because the middle layers are raised, this creates a strong three-dimensional effect, resembling a silk-colored bas-relief. The subjects of embroidered appliqué are mostly drawn from Buddhist scriptures, often focusing on figures rather than grand scenes. It emphasizes the figures’ forms and expressions, pays attention to the coordination of colored silks, and combines roughness with delicacy. The main subjects stand out with vivid colors and strong contrasts.

　　 Embroidered appliqué is an innovative form of embroidery art, combining embroidery with relief sculpture. A piece of embroidered appliqué can be described as a silk-colored bas-relief artwork.