Tuesday, 19 March 2024

Conflict Textiles is home to a large collection of international textiles, exhibitions and associated events, all of which focus on elements of conflict and human rights abuses. Conflict Textiles is an ‘Associated Site’ of CAIN (Conflict Archive on the INternet) at Ulster University, Northern Ireland.

logo of Conflict Textiles siteThe collection is mainly comprised of arpilleras, quilts and wall hangings. Making visible the struggle for the disappeared remains at the very core of the collection.

“…the arpilleras were a special way to interpret my pain and at the same time communicate it to others
… a denouncement … my protest through the arpilleras has been silent, strong, desperate, full of unending tears.
I can’t count the long nights I spent making arpilleras and soaked the cloth because I was crying so much.”
(p145)
Chilean arpillerista Mireya Rivera Veliz (Sepúlveda, 1996)

Examples of textiles from the collection

  • Los trabajos colectivos son fuente de resistencia / Collective work is a source of resistance.

    Los trabajos colectivos son fuente de resistencia / Collective work is a source of resistance.

    Mexican embroidery cloth, anon., 2018.
    Photo Martin Melaugh, © Conflict Textiles
  • Cueca chilena y Cueca Sola / Chilean Cueca and Cueca Sola

    Cueca chilena y Cueca Sola / Chilean Cueca and Cueca Sola

    Chilean arpillera, Aurora Ortiz, 2022.
    Photo Martin Melaugh, © Conflict Textiles
  • En el lado “bueno” de la valla 2 / On the “Good" Side of the Fence 2,

    En el lado “bueno” de la valla 2 / On the “Good" Side of the Fence 2,

    Catalonian arpillera, Antonia Amador, 2016.
    Photo Roser Corbera, © Conflict Textiles
  • Displacement

    Displacement

    Palestinian/Syrian arpillera, Ourooba Shetewi, 2020.
    Photo Martin Melaugh, © Conflict Textiles
  • Ausencias - Presencias 2 / Absences – Presences 2

    Ausencias - Presencias 2 / Absences – Presences 2

    Argentinean arpillera, Ana Zlatkes, (2015).
    Photo Martin Melaugh, © Conflict Textiles
  • Los árboles de la memoria / Trees of memory,

    Los árboles de la memoria / Trees of memory,

    Chilean arpillera, anon., 1988.
    Photo Martin Melaugh, © Conflict Textiles
  • Nuestros/as desaparecidos/as / Our Disappeared

    Nuestros/as desaparecidos/as / Our Disappeared

    Chilean arpillera, Violeta Morales, 1988.
    Photo Martin Melaugh, © Conflict Textiles
  • Los Bosques no son mercancía / The forests are not for sale

    Los Bosques no son mercancía / The forests are not for sale

    Embroidered Pañoleta / Headscarf, Rosa Borrás, 2022.
    Photo Martin Melaugh, © Conflict Textiles
  • John Hume, Peacemaker

    John Hume, Peacemaker

    Northern Ireland embroidered wall hanging, Deborah Stockdale, 2022.
    Photo Martin Melaugh, © Conflict Textiles
  • Aleppo school / Escuela en Aleppo, Siria

    Aleppo school / Escuela en Aleppo, Siria

    English arpillera, Linda Adams, 2016.
    Photo Martin Melaugh, © Conflict Textiles