Burbuqe Muka

Embroiderer

©ELVIS BALLO

A historical duty to embroider

Burbuqe was inspired to become an embroiderer by her mother
She is commited to the preservation of traditional Albanian costumes
She creates a wide range of embroidered items

Born and raised in a place of history where craft skills were handed down, Burbuqe Muka picked up her craft at a very young age while watching her mother embroider curtains that were used to decorate homes. Motivated by her passion, Burbuqe began to create and perfect the art of embroidery. She has been practising since the late 1990s and is currently based in the city's historic district, which is under the protection of UNESCO. She is also part of the restoration team working on objects in the Ethnographic Museum in Gjirokastër. Here, clothing and textiles made 100 to 150 years ago have taken her into a new direction and helped her develop a new dimension to her skillset. "Preserving the traditions and treasures inherited from generation to generation is a spiritual duty to preserve Albanian culture," asserts Burbuqe. Beyond duty, Burbuqe also gets great joy and satisfaction from working with colours in the world of embroidery.

Interview

©ELVIS BALLO

©ELVIS BALLO

Do you master any specific techniques?: Yes, working with the tertial technique, which is largely used for the embroidery of our country's traditional clothes. It stands out for me as the most distinctive of the various techniques I master. It is a kind of needlework that showcases our country's cultural heritage.
How do you express innovation in your work?: I have always made an effort to include fresh ideas in my work. I make jewellery that is well received, using various stones and crystals, as well as unique ornaments that cannot be found anywhere else.
What do you love most about your profession?: I reside in a city where handicrafts are in high demand among tourists. My clientele is international and of all ages. I feel delighted when I consider that people in America, Asia, or even far-off Australia have purchased my handmade goods.
Is there something about your work that people do not usually know?: The research I do every time I get a new order. Sometimes, I read books to go through the history of the piece I will create. That helps me a lot.

Burbuqe Muka is an expert artisan: she began her career in 2008 and she started teaching in 2020