“Untitled (Artist is not a civil servant)”, 2013, cotton thread and graphite on woollen felt, 180 x 40 cm. Courtesy: Art Collection Telecom. Photo credit: Zak|Branicka Gallery, Berlin.

Two sentences are embroidered with black and red thread on a piece of woollen felt. The first is inspired by a statement from the famous Italian architect Lina Bo Bardi: "Artist is not a civil servant." The second is a quote from the French philosopher Michel Foucault: "History is what transforms the documents into monuments." Embroidery is often neglected because of its delicacy and its association with the cliché of 'female' needlework. However, in my artistic practice, I emphasise the value of manual work, which is an inseparable part of women's (often undocumented) history, elevating it as a form of subtle resistance and rebellion. This work was created during times of social and personal turbulence and change, reflecting on states of power and powerlessness. It refers to the position of the artist, who must not conform to the demands of political parties or official doctrines. The artist should be free in artistic expression, not in the service of the government's needs or public requirements. This freedom ensures the artist's role as a corrective force in society and as a stand against all forms of torture, abuse, and prejudice.