Thaikulam is an artist and embroiderer from Porgai Artisans Association in Tamil Nadu, rural India, a communtiy reviving traditional Lambadi Art. She recently visited Perth, Australia as a representative for Porgai's First international showcase in collaboration with The ANJELMS Project, Stitching Stories.

As part of the Indian Ocean Craft Triennial, Thaikulam was exposed to textile art from all over the world and made personal connections with the artists - an experience that has deeply impacted her perspective on her own artistic practice.

As a child I used to go very often to the forrest to collect firewood and pluck berries. It was very nostalgic to be embroidering berries as it reminded me of fond childhood memories.

The berries are intentionally placed in rainbow order, and each berry tells a story.

For example, the blue one only fruits once every 10 years, we actually have a poem that tells of this, called the berries of Sittilingi.

My daughter, Evangaline, drew up the berry shapes for me and I embroidered over all of them. We had embroidered this design previously on a range of bags so we were already familiar with the shapes.

I would never have dreamt of coming to another country, and I realised it was only possible because of all of this artwork we have made. It has been a great experience meeting and sharing with everyone, talking to different people. Gaelle looked after us so well at her house.

Seeing other amazing artists from all over the world from different countries, and to be considered one amongst them is a very proud thing for me.

I have realised that it is not the difficulty of an idea that is most important, but rather the outcome I would like to achieve. Previously, in regular production, I would try to take the easiest design to embroider - but I do not think like that anymore.

I want to prioritise the final design even if the process is more time consuming.

After visiting other artists homes and seeing their dedicated work, I feel that I should be doing more. I wonder until what age I will embroider, I am only 40, so now seeing an 84 year old embroider I think wow, I have so many more years to be working and growing my practice.