Faam Dorc's Masterpiece

J. Saechao (b. 1992)
Faam Dorc’s Masterpiece, 2023
Digital Painting/Illustration

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*image is watermarked for copyright protection

I was moved to create “Faam Dorc’s Masterpiece” as an homage to a classic Iu Mien creation story I was intially introduced to through Piecing Earth & Sky Together — a childrens’ book gifted to me by my Guv (grandmother). The story credits Faam Dorc (elder sister) as responsible for spending many precious, careful hours creating all of earth through embroidery. In an effort to beat her to the finish line, her brother, Faam Gorx (elder brother) hurried through his assignment to embroider the sky and even found time for a nap while Faam Dorc continued diligently. When it came time to reveal their work, Faam Gorx’s sky was a mere cloth compared to Faam Dorc’s abundant, expansive, lively, and ever-unraveling earth… the fit was off to say the least. In the end, Faam Dorc was faced with the responsibility of having to make up for her brother’s overhasty mistakes by completing his work and lovingly stitching earth and sky together.

As with most of my work, this piece centers the magic, true mastery and real intention + labor it takes to for Iu Mien femmes, non-binary + genderqueer folks, and women to live and give life, to our (chosen and biological) families, communities, and most importantly ourselves.

As I’ve been experimenting with new art styles, I chose to convey this piece more playfully with bright colors and bold, imperfect brush strokes. I purposely chose to include creatures only found in the jungles of Laos — the ancestral homelands of myself and my lineage.