This textile by Irene MacWilliam, expresses her anxiety for her grandchildren and the burden of responsibility they bear for climate change and an ever-changing environment. Here, she highlights the concerns affecting us globally via the language and world of a child -will there still be flowers and apples in the future?
The little girl clutching a teddy bear in one hand and the sand watch in the other, against the backdrop of carbon footprints, is an ominous reminder of our responsibility to act now to ensure this girl and her contemporaries enjoy a safe, healthy future.
Irene created this piece in response to a call from curator Roberta Bacic in 2009 seeking textiles on the theme of the environment. Since 2010, it has journeyed to 15 different Conflict Textile exhibitions, within the UK, Europe and beyond where it has prompted reflection, debate, challenge and action. In August 2021, Irene received Artist of the Year award for this piece from the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) Northern Ireland (NI).
Given the stark warnings on the state of our planet, from the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) sixth assessment report (August 2021) and the COP28 Conference (December 2023), Irene’s piece now presents an even more urgent call to action than in 2010.
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