| Description: | In this arpillera the local community are actively protesting against the Pinochet dictatorship, which by the late 1970s had become synonymous with arbitrary detentions, torture, disappearances, executions, assassinations and forced exile. Some defiantly clash cymbals in front of a police car. Others carry leaflets publicising a campaign to find their disappeared relatives. Fully aware of the likely consequences of their actions they continue to demand “Peace”, “Justice” and “Freedom”.
The material used makes this piece particularly poignant. The dark grey background is from the trousers of a disappeared man and the road from the checked fabric shirt of another. Reflecting on this practice, which was born out of necessity, an arpillerista tells Roberta Bacic: "I can remember us using the trousers, shirts, pullovers, pyjamas and even socks of our disappeared to sew and stitch our arpilleras." (Bacic in Agosín,”Stitching Resistance Women, Creativity and Fiber Crafts” (2014), p67).
Since its creation by an annonymous arpillerista in the late 1970s, this piece has travelled widely. From the time it was first displayed in The Politics of Chilean Arpilleras in Derry / Londonderry (2008), it has challenged and engaged people through exhibitions, seminars and workshops in 15 countries/jurisdictions: Argentina, Brazil, Basque Country, England, Germany, Ireland, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, Scotland, South Africa, Spain, USA and Wales. |
