Maral Shohmahlian

Artisan Organization: Maral Shohmahlian

Country: Armenia

"I was born into a family that migrated from Western Armenia to Syria, surrounded by love and cooperation. My parents, who were respected figures in the Armenian community, prioritized my personal and educational development. From a young age, I felt the warmth of my grandmothers' embrace as they shared stories, traditions, and their expertise in embroidery. Sitting beside them, I would grasp the needle and thread, attempting to imitate their delicate movements, all the while absorbing their wisdom, life experiences, and cultural heritage.

"My fascination with Armenian and international culture, particularly embroidery, began during my childhood. I received my foundational knowledge from my grandmother, who migrated from Aintap in Western Armenia to Aleppo. As I grew older, I honed my skills in Armenian embroidery and explored other art forms through self-study and various courses. These included felting, miniature painting, carpet weaving, tapestry, pottery, stained glass, and more. Combining old and new techniques, along with diverse materials, I started creating a wide range of products such as jewelry, accessories, clothing, bags, shoes, Christmas tree decorations, and Easter toys.

"My craft embodies a vital and ancient aspect of Armenian and global culture—embroidery and tapestry. My products are entirely handmade, utilizing natural raw materials like cotton and wool. I adorn my creations using ancestral embroidery techniques. While upholding tradition, I present my work with an innovative approach. I have the opportunity to disseminate Armenian culture through my creations, inspiring love and interest among the modern generation.

"The production process remains faithful to the traditions of the Karakan people. I treat natural wool with water and soap, transforming it into garments, shoes, bags, and more. Additionally, I breathe new life into clay pots and jewelry through embroidery. Currently, I only utilize sewing machines for sewing bags and pillows.

"My inspiration stems from the richness of Armenian culture, including ancient embroidery patterns, sculptures, cross stones, miniature paintings, nature, music, museum artifacts, fashion, travels, imagination, and family memories—both the positive and negative aspects. Generational talent and God's grace further enrich our creative world and imagination. With a comprehensive understanding of Armenian and various foreign embroidery techniques, my unwavering desire to learn has allowed me to master different art forms and continuously innovate, positioning myself as a leader and source of inspiration among my peers.

"My primary focus is preserving and promoting Armenian culture. 'Preserve and spread Armenian culture' serves as my motto, and I have dedicated myself to passing on our skills to anyone interested. By offering training courses, I pass on the legacy of our ancestors to the modern generation, giving them not only craft skills but also the tranquility and harmony that embroidery provides. I have been invited by prominent public cultural organizations, associations, and museums in Armenia to train masters or university students.

"My friends and family often describe me as a hardworking, proactive, creative, skilled, dedicated, caring, modest, forgiving, and benevolent individual. I acknowledge that I possess a drop of knowledge in our field and that diligence, willpower, a thirst for knowledge, and an infinite imagination continually drive me to improve. The words of Shiraz resonate with me: 'Learn a craft, don't be delicate; craft is a golden bracelet for a person.' My philosophy revolves around believing in our abilities, having faith in the realization of dreams, and dedicating ourselves to the work we love, while remaining rooted to nurture growth and blossoming.

"NOVICA gives us, as artisans, the opportunity to spread our creative manifestations of ancient traditional handcrafts all over the world. We are thankful for NOVICA’s support to improve our sales, which also helps create new job opportunities for more Armenian artisans. For me personally as an artisan, embroidery is one of the most important parts of Armenian culture. My goal is to share and make our embroidery traditions known to the international community.""