Saturday, 2 November 2024

Textile Details

'Nuestra Travesía / Our journey', by Mujeres del Mundo-Babel. (Photo: Rory McCarron)
'Nuestra Travesía / Our journey', by Mujeres del Mundo-Babel. (Photo: Rory McCarron)

 

Title of Textile:Nuestra Travesía / Our journey
Maker: Mujeres del Mundo-Babel
Country of Origin: Basque country
Year Produced: 2011
Size (cm): 2.60m x 1.55m
Materials: Beads, shells, embroidered material and scraps of fabric handsewn onto a hessian backing
Type of Textile: Arpillera
Description:

This arpillera was made by a group of women called Mujeres del Mundo-Babel (Women of the Babel-World), from various parts of the world, who live in Bilbao. The inspiration for this arpillera stemmed from a visit by Esther Vital to The Art of Survival: International and Irish Quilts exhibition in Derry/Londonderry, 2008. There, she was moved by the power of textiles, especially arpilleras.

Later in Bilbao, Esther shared her experience with the group. Enthused by her, they created an arpillera to commemorate their 10th anniversary: "to document and recognize to ourselves our 10 years of surviving, struggles and challenges."

A collective arpillera represents their journey as an organization (the boat), supported by small individual arpilleras (the sea). Esther reiterates the power of textiles as she reflects: "We had a feeling of power when we were making the arpillera, the feeling of writing our history, and the power of telling out our claims, our wishes to the universe."

Owner: Mujeres del Mundo-Babel, Basque country / Spain
Location: Basque country / Spain
Original / Replica: Original
Photographer: Rory McCarron
Provenance: Artist's own collection. (HM0724)



Textile exhibited at: Nuestra Travesía / Our journey, 15/01/2011 - 28/02/2011
Story Makers 2008-2011, Twenty-five textile stories, 13/03/2012 - 18/06/2012



Textile Detail Image(s)