Madina Kasimbaeva is an Uzbeki artist known for her exquisite suzani (from ‘suzan’, the Farsi word for needle) a type of silk-thread embroidery that draws on cosmological and Zoroastrian world views that are part of the heritage of Central Asia. Tashkent suzani or palak are a specific and unique style of bold, graphic embroideries, usually employing hand-dyed red and yellow silks, with abstracted references to the sun and moon, serpents, pomegranates and other symbolic fauna and flora associated with women and with Uzbekistan’s pre-Islamic history. Recognised by the Uzbek government for her work in reviving this time-honoured art form and innovating in scale and design, Kasimbaeva is passionate about extending her knowledge to other artists; she has established several workshops around the country that provide employment and training to young women. Displayed for the 11th Asia Pacific Triennial, Kasimbaeva’s large suzani took three and half years to complete with the assistance of 15 of her students.