Maryam Khaleghiyazdi
Speaking Quilt

Exploration

Un-commissioned | Professional

Why did you make this work:
These are interactive illustrations that narrate immigrants’ stories in the US. I intend to amplify underrepresented immigrants’ voices. I created a quilt made of 100 fabric scraps. Into each scrap, I quilted an immigrant’s story. These stories were collected from 100 people in a journalism festival in NY. When visitors touch each scrap, they activate an immigrant’s voice narrating their story.

How was the illustration used:
The illustrations are used as quilt and embroidery.

How did you make this work:
First, I heard all audio stories collected in the festival. I sketched the most impressive part of each story and quilted each story in a 12"x12" piece of fabric. I connected touch-sensitive microcontroller boards to the quilts. When viewers touch the quilts, they activate the touch-sensitive microcontroller boards, and the boards will project the immigrants’ voices.


Social Media:
twitter.com/maryamkhaleghiyazdi
instagram.com/maryamkhaleghiyazdi

Personal Website:
maryamkhaleghiyazdi.com/


Currently Based:
Minnesota, the United States

Biography:
Maryam Khaleghiyazdi is an Iranian illustrator and graphic designer based in Minnesota. She is the assistant professor of Graphic design in the Art and Design department at the University of Minnesota, Duluth. The main area of her work is diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Showcase:
https://theaoi.com/showcase/world-illustration-awards-2022/beyond-the-page

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