Thursday, 28 March 2024

Textile Details

'11th September, 1973, Santiago de Chile', by Norma Torres. (Photo: Martin Melaugh)
'11th September, 1973, Santiago de Chile', by Norma Torres. (Photo: Martin Melaugh)

 

Title of Textile:11th September, 1973, Santiago de Chile
Maker: Norma Torres
Country of Origin: Chile
Year Produced: 1990
Size (cm): 50 cm (w) x 40 (h)
Materials: Scraps of material, hand sewn onto hessian
Type of Textile: Arpillera
Description:

In this arpillera, Norma Torres graphically depicts the bombing of the National Palace, La Moneda, in Santiago Chile, on 11 September 1973. This key event of the US backed military coup left La Moneda, the government headquarters, aflame and deposed the democratically elected socialist government of President Salvador Allende, inaugurated in 1970. It paved the way for the installation of the repressive Pinochet dictatorship, which lasted 17 years.

Whilst the background depicts the sun, sky and mountains-classical features of Chilean arpilleras- it is the chilling images of the National Palace aflame, tanks and armed personnel which dominate the foreground. A handwritten note tucked in a little pocket at the back of the arpillera, a common practice in early arpilleras, states: "The bombing of La Moneda shows what happened on 11/9/1973 when the military of Chile bombarded the palace with the fires inside. It's a sad fact that marks our history."

Owner: Oshima Hakko Museum collection, Japan
Location: Oshima Hakko Museum
Original / Replica: Original
Photographer: Martin Melaugh
Provenance: Oshima Hakko Museum



Textile exhibited at: Stitching and Unstitching The Troubles-phase 2, 13/04/2013 - 29/06/2013
Arpilleras in contested spaces, 3/09/2013 - 6/09/2013
RETAZOS TESTIMONIALES: arpilleras de Chile y otras latitudes, 28/09/2013 - 10/11/2013
Never Forget September 11, 1973, 3/05/2023 - 28/12/2023



Textile Detail Image(s)