An artist’s creative solution to school portraits
Heidi Koer’s children didn’t enjoy school photographs… so she decided to embroider their portraits instead.
“I thought that could be much more artistic,” says the Dutch artist, living in Haarlem near Amsterdam.
“After a long career in fashion and interior, I started my own company P.M.K.D (Portret Met Klein Draad).”
In English, this translates directly to ‘Portrait with small wire’.
Starting this creative business in 2010, Heidi wanted to make something for herself and not be constrained by the creative ideas of others.
“I have been involved in textile design all my life,” she says.
“I wanted to bring my own ideas with textiles and wanted to be in the service of myself and not a company.”
Having a look at the artist’s work, it is quickly noticed that they have a particular style to them.
“I leave the wires in the artwork hanging in those places where it can be an addition. The wires at the end of the portrait form the body.
“This gives the portrait a completely different experience than what we are used to from a portrait. The portraits seem to have been drawn from a distance, but when you come closer, you see that it is embroidered.
“I literally draw with needle and thread. That's what makes it so special to me.”
Amsterdam, Netherlands
