I  am an artist and modern craftswoman based in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. I am is fascinated by textiles and how working with these materials allows me to have a deeper, more intimate contact with nature, communities and cultures.

 

My main source of inspiration is nature. I observe its rhythms, feel the changing seasons and admire its colors. I choose natural materials, most often linen, cotton and wool. I prepare dye baths from the collected plants and dye fabrics in them. This process brings me closer to nature, I feel its kindness and generosity.

 

Working with thread requires concentration and attention, it is one of the oldest human skills engaging both the body and the mind. It puts me in a meditative state, brings me closer to finding my roots, childhood memories and skills that I once learned but forgot about over time.

 

The craft of making and decorating textiles exists in every culture and I believe it can bring people from different backgrounds together, allowing them to interact and exchange ideas.

 

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Bio​

Dora Tiho (Dora Cichocka) grew up in Gliwice, an industrial city in southern Poland, but frequent trips to the nearby mountains and countryside shaped her bond with nature. 

Due to her interest in biology, especially the world of plants and microorganisms, she chose biotechnology as her field of study and in 2004 she obtained her MA at the Wrocław University of Science and Technology.  At the same time, she developed her artistic interests and from 2004 to 2006 she studied at the Academy of Art and Design in Wrocław.

In 2007, she moved to Amsterdam, and the city captivated her with its free spirit and ubiquitous creativity. She settled in the district of Zuidoost, home to the largest community of people of Surinamese descent in the area. It was here, while walking through the local market, that she saw hand-printed fabrics from Ghana, which inspired her to create her own brand of hand-screen printed fabrics for interior design - tablecloths and wall hangings.

Dora Tiho continued to develop her skills in working with textiles, studying weaving at Weefacademie Sytze Roos in Amsterdam in 2020 and pattern design at Akademie Vogue in Amsterdam from 2020 to 2022.

Currently, Dora Tiho creates textile works in which she combines embroidery techniques with natural dyeing, screen printing and mixed media techniques.

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