Thursday, 28 March 2024

Textile Details

'Ganó la gente/People have won', Anonymous. (Photo: Martin Melaugh)
'Ganó la gente/People have won', Anonymous. (Photo: Martin Melaugh)

 

Title of Textile:Ganó la gente / People have won
Maker: Anonymous
Country of Origin: Chile
Year Produced: 1990s
Size (cm): 46cm x 39cm
Materials: Scraps of material hand sewn onto burlap
Type of Textile: Arpillera
Description:

There is a sense of jubilation in this arpillera which depicts the outcome of the Chilean national plebiscite (referendum) held on October 5, 1988, to determine whether or not dictator Augusto Pinochet would extend his rule for another eight-year term. "La democracia ya viene (democracy is coming)" and "Ganara la gente (the people will win)," was the slogan from the No campaign. Pinochet renounced office after the No vote was carried by 55.99%, putting an end to the 16½ year military dictatorship.

This arpillera, clearly made in the aftermath of the referendum announces that: "The people have won" and "Democracy has arrived."

Instead of seeing police cars as in many arpilleras, one can see the name of the newly elected president Patricio AYLWIN on the black cars. People are cheering and waving their handkerchiefs, expressing their excitement at this new phase in Chilean politics, brought about in no small way through the political participation of grassroots people in the poor neighbourhoods of Santiago and elsewhere in Chile. One can almost hear the deafening noise of car horns loudly proclaiming this new era.

Exercising one's right to vote has always been of paramount importance in Chilean culture, with at least 90% of the electorate voting in elections. Socialism came to power by the way of elections and, as depicted in this arpillera; Pinochet was defeated through the mechanism of elections.

Owner: Conflict Textiles collection
Location: Conflict Textiles store
Original / Replica: Original
Photographer: Martin Melaugh
Provenance: Kinderhilfe arpillera collection, Chile/Bonn



Textile exhibited at: Arpilleras e resistência política no Chile , 30/07/2011 - 30/10/2011
Arpilleras of Chilean political resistance , 22/03/2012 - 5/06/2012
Stitching and Unstitching The Troubles-phase 1, 5/09/2012 - 29/09/2012
Arpilleras in contested spaces, 3/09/2013 - 6/09/2013
RETAZOS TESTIMONIALES: arpilleras de Chile y otras latitudes, 28/09/2013 - 10/11/2013
SMALL Actions BIG Movements, 1/07/2014 - 11/07/2014
Arpilleras Dialogantes / Arpillera Conversations, 28/05/2015 - 28/05/2015
Overcoming, Remembering: The Politics of Sewing, 8/06/2015 - 12/06/2015
Arpilleras Bordando à Resistência / Arpilleras Embroidering Resistance, 25/09/2015 - 25/10/2015
Arpilleras de América Latina: Mujeres cosedoras de vida , 19/03/2016 - 24/04/2016
LA VIDA QUE SE TEJE Tejidos de América Latina por la memoria y la vida, 11/05/2016 - 10/07/2016
Art and Human Rights Network Day , 20/06/2017 - 20/06/2017
Arpilleras Speak Truth, 25/09/2017 - 28/10/2017
Arpilerak: Memoriaren Haritik Etorkizuna Josten / Arpilleras: Al Hilo De La Memoria, 12/04/2018 - 24/04/2018
ARIPILLERAS: AL HILO DE LA MEMORIA, TEJIENDO FUTURO / Arpilleras: Knitting the Future, 25/04/2018 - 30/05/2018
Forum de Arpilleras de Cataluña 2018, 27/10/2018 - 27/10/2018
Connecting Ties: A Transatlantic Friendship and the Northern Ireland Peace Process, 17/11/2023 - 13/03/2024



Textile Detail Image(s)