Thursday, 10 October 2024

Textile Details

'Shannonwatch (Extraordinary rendition), by Deborah Stockdale. (Photo: Martin Melaugh)
'Shannonwatch (Extraordinary rendition), by Deborah Stockdale. (Photo: Martin Melaugh)

 

Title of Textile:Shannonwatch (Extraordinary rendition)
Maker: Deborah Stockdale
Country of Origin: Republic of Ireland
Year Produced: 2011
Size (cm): 55cm (w) x 45 cm (h) (landscape)
Materials: Linen and cotton
Type of Textile: Arpillera
Description:

Extraordinary rendition, the international transfer of individuals from the custody of one state to another, without following proper extradition procedures, is against international law. Yet this practice was admitted to in 2006 by then US President George W. Bush, when he referred to a programme implemented by the CIA to arrest, detain and interrogate terrorist suspects outside of US jurisdiction. The use of planes masquerading as civilian aircraft is a deceit practised by the US since the mid-1990s, as civilian status bypasses restrictions placed on military aircraft.

Shannonwatch, a small group of peace and human rights activists based in the mid west of Ireland, has played an important role in monitoring Shannon airport’s links with renditions. Their documented evidence indicts Shannon as a stopover for CIA rendition planes and by the US military.

Here, artist Deborah Stockdale depicts the actions of the Women’s Peace Camp at Shannon, set up in 2010. In support of the numerous Afghani women who were innocent victims of the conflict there, they demonstrated in white burkas at the airport gates. As Deborah comments: “this arpillera reflects an ongoing dialogue about a contentious international ‘arrangement’....”

The Irish government consistently denies that Irish airports have been used by US rendition flights, insisting that US assurances are its guarantee against violation of international law. Shannonwatch contests this narrative and continue their monthly peace vigils at the airport, calling for an end to the US military use of Shannon.

Owner: Conflict Textiles collection. Donation from Deborah Stockdale
Location: Conflict Textiles store
Original / Replica: Original
Photographer: Martin Melaugh
Provenance: Donation from the artist. Received 2021. (HM0724)



Textile exhibited at: Transforming threads of resistance, 27/02/2012 - 9/03/2012
Arpilleras in contested spaces, 3/09/2013 - 6/09/2013
RETAZOS TESTIMONIALES: arpilleras de Chile y otras latitudes, 28/09/2013 - 10/11/2013
Disobedient Objects, 26/07/2014 - 11/02/2015
Conflict Textiles collection: Tower Museum and Guildhall, 11/07/2016 - 16/12/2016
War-Torn Children, 1/03/2017 - 15/04/2017
War-Torn Children , 17/07/2017 - 28/07/2017
War-Torn Children, 2/10/2017 - 27/10/2017
War-Torn Children, 8/02/2018 - 24/03/2018
War-Torn Children, 5/09/2018 - 29/11/2018
Tras las Huellas de las Arpilleras / Following the footsteps of the Arpilleras , 27/04/2021 - 27/04/2021
Macht mit anstatt Macht über: Widerstand für eine gerechte Welt ist möglich!, 9/09/2021 - 9/09/2021
State of the Art: Transformative Memories in Political Violence, 28/09/2022 - 23/10/2022
Memory, Memorialisation and Representations of Conflict, 20/03/2023 - 20/03/2023



Textile Detail Image(s)

  'Shannonwatch (Extraordinary rendition), by Deborah Stockdale. (Background photo 2: Deborah Stockdale)  'Shannonwatch (Extraordinary rendition), by Deborah Stockdale (D1). (Photo: Deborah Stockdale)

  'Shannonwatch (Extraordinary rendition), by Deborah Stockdale (D3). (Photo: Deborah Stockdale)