Event Details
Attendees from L-R: Dr. Jayne Duff, Christine Carrothers, Dr. Lauren Dempster, Dr. Paula Devine, Jane O'Neil, Roberta Bacic, Gillian Robinson, Richard Stitt & Dr. Fiona Clark |
| Exhibition: | ARK / Conflict Textiles – Languages |
| Description: | ARK / Conflict Textiles - Languages marks the 6th installation of the rotating exhibition which commenced in June 2023 as a collaboration between Conflict Textiles, ARK and the McClay Library at Queen's University Belfast.
In 2025, the Northern Ireland Life and Times survey explored the complex and often contested relationships between languages, cultures, and identities in Northern Ireland.
It is in this context that this time we will be displaying 5 different arpilleras that address the topic in textile language. The makers are from different geographies and countries and have expressed their thoughts and feelings, and designed and sewn them in their native language.
We provide a label in their vernacular language, as expressed in their own words. For further information we provide a QR into the database each is documented.
Launch Tuesday 5th May at 12.15, seminar to be announced in autumn.
The fifth arpillera (Will they throw me from home today?) is on loan from Ateneu Sant Roc and will be exhibited with the others.
You can find the Research Update 'Words Matter. Attitudes to the Irish Language and Ulster-Scots', by Aisling O'Boyle, Lorna Carson and Paula Devine here, as well as on the ARK website.
A playlist of videos relating to the Words Matter event is available on YouTube.
Youth Council of Basque Country visited the exhibition on Saturday 4th July.
Details of the inaugural exhibition are available at ARK / Conflict Textiles (01/06/2023 - 06/03/2024). Further information can be found on the second, third, fourth and fifth - ARK / Conflict Textiles - Education exhibitions on their own event page.
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| Commissioned by: | ARK / Conflict Textiles |
| Date(s): | 5th May 2026 - 25th November 2026 |
| Venue: | McClay Library, Queen's University, Belfast
10 College Park Ave, Belfast BT7 1LP |
| Curator: | Roberta Bacic |
| Facilitator: | Dr Paula Devine, Richard Stitt (McClay library Customer Experience Manager) |
| Outcome: | The sixth rotation in the ARK/Conflict Textiles collaboration focused on languages, and in particular, the complicated relationships between languages, cultures and identities in Northern Ireland. Language and identity were a focus of ARK’s Northern Ireland Life and Times survey in 2025, resulting in a range of publications, events and other outputs. The five textiles within the exhibition complemented this, highlighting the role that language plays worldwide. Of particular note is that the labels for each textile were presented within the vernacular language. The exhibition space on the ground floor of McClay Library at Queen’s University Belfast has been recently renovated, providing a clear and accessible area for the many staff, students and visitors who viewed the exhibition. |
| Documents: |
• Photo gallery Installation/Launch 4/5th May - view
• Labels in vernacular language - view
• Curator's statement - view
• Research Update : Words Matter - view
• Photo gallery - Basque Country Youth Council - view
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