Thursday, 28 March 2024

Event Details

'Executed at dawn', Irene MacWilliam. (Photo: Martin Melaugh)

'Executed at dawn', Irene MacWilliam. (Photo: Martin Melaugh)

 

Exhibition and associated activities:The Human Cost of War: Quilt and arpillera exhibition
Description: "The Human Cost of War", commissioned by The Movement for the Abolition of War (MAW) featured 22 quilts and arpilleras, all made by women of different nationalities in response to violence and conflict.

It was hosted in three London venues:
-The exhibition preview took place at the Imperial War Museum, London on Remembrance Sunday, 8 November 2009.
-St Ethelburga’s Centre for Reconciliation and Peace, Bishopsgate, hosted the exhibition from 18th - 21st November.
- On 21st November, while the main exhibition remained at St Ethelburga’s, Spanish quilts were exhibited at Whitechapel Gallery to complement the afternoon debate on the Spanish Civil War, as part of “The Nature of the Beast” exhibition by the Polish artist Goshka Macuga.

Additional associated events included:
-Guided tours
-Music and poetry
-Concert
-Discussions
-Visits by local schools
Commissioned by: Movement for the Abolition of War
Date(s): 8th November 2009 - 21st November 2009
Venue: Imperial War Museum, London
Lambeth Road, London. SE1 6HZ
Curator: Roberta Bacic
Facilitator: Imperial War Museum; St Ethelburga’s Centre-Reconciliation/Peace; Whitechapel Gallery
Outcome: The exhibition, within the three venues, provided a space and a medium to express and highlight the effect war and conflict wreaks in peoples' daily lives. The associated activities gave time to share insights, gain new insights and process responses to the various arpilleras. On a broader scale, this exhibition acted as a catalyst for subsequent exhibitions and seeded new textiles.




Documents: • Exhibition leaflet - Nov 2009 - view
• Press release - Nov 2009 - view
• Exhibition catalogue, November 2009 - view
 




Textiles Displayed:Northern Ireland Peace Quilt
Peace Quilt - Common Loss
Executed at dawn
Encadenamiento / Women chained to Parliament gates
La Cueca Sola / Dancing Cueca Alone
Homenaje a los caídos / Homage to the fallen ones
Paz - Justicia - Libertad / Peace - Justice - Freedom
¿Dónde están los desaparecidos? / Where are the "disappeared"?
Retorno de los exiliados / Return of the exiles
Walking to Death
Violar es un crimen / Rape is a crime
Lost children of war
Gegossenes Blei / Cast lead
No going back
Al Servicio de la vida / Servicing life
Reflections on violence
La Mano que les Cuidó / The Hand that Cared for Them
Recuerdos de Trabajo y Guerra / Memories of Work and War
El recuerdo de esta historia / The memory of this story
Mis memorias de la Guerra / My memories of the war
Recogiendo Leña / Fetching Firewood
Sala de torturas / Torture chamber