| Description: | When words are not enough to express our lived experiences, stitching and sewing emerge as textile language.
Through textile narrative, people from countries across the world have communicated their experiences in relation to violence and conflict, human rights violations, poverty, oppression and environmental issues. The result is a visual record and a form of artistic expression based on personal, and often very poignant testimonies.
The Ulster Museum has been collaborating with Conflict Textiles since 2017, drawing on their collection of over 400 documented arpilleras, quilts and wall hangings. Arpilleras (pronounced 'ar-pee-air-ahs') are appliquéd picture textiles, handsewn from scraps of materials onto a hessian backing. They originated in Chile during the Pinochet regime (1973-1990), when women came together to voice their experiences of the violence and repression of the dictatorship. The majority, but not all, of the makers are women.
From Chile but now based in Northern Ireland, Roberta Bacic, Collector and Curator of Conflict Textiles, has developed this collection and used it internationally to highlight the issues and people it represents. Beginning with the exhibition The Art of Survival: International and Irish Quilts in Derry/Londonderry in 2008, the Conflict Textiles collection has since been exhibited around the world, empowering people to share their story.
For further information please visit the Ulster Museum exhibition page.
The official press release by Ulster Museum was published after the preview.
On International Human Rights Day 2022, National Museums NI marked a landmark acquisition of 14 pieces from the Conflict Textiles collection. These are the pieces that were acquired at the time.
This specially commissioned film is a visit to Gallery 3, Ulster Museum.
A behind-the-scenes film shows the installation process.
There will be a discussion, workshop and guided tour commemorating International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances 2024 (30th Aug).
The exhibition is part of the Belfast Arts Festival 2024 (16 Oct - 23 Nov).
Conflict Textiles Poetry Book Launch And Exhibition Tour (19th October, 3 to 4.30, Ulster Museum, Belfast Room).
Ramin Jahanbegloo, political philosopher from Iran, discusses nonviolent resistance and empowerment via nonviolence. It is Conflict Textiles, INNATE & the Hume O'Neill Chair in Peace (Ulster University) activity to be held at Ulster Museum on the 28th November, from 3 to 4.30. |
