Stitching for Material Sensitivity: From Traditional to Activist Embroidery
(2023)
author(s): Fabiola Hernandez Cervantes, Maria Huhmarniemi
published in: RUUKKU - Studies in Artistic Research
Cochineal is an insect that has been used for textile dyeing since pre-Hispanic cultures in Mexico. This exposition discusses the use of the cochineal insect as a natural dye for wool and the bridge between ancient indigenous knowledge and contemporary artistic research. A transatlantic connection is created between the Mexican plateau and the Arctic region, merging traditional knowledge, contemporary art, crafting and conceptualisation through an artistic embroidery initiative involving researchers, craft artists and human rights activists living in the province of Lapland in Finland. Documentary photos of artistic practice and research diaries enhance discussion on sustainability, tradition, craftivism, decolonisation and indigenous knowledge. This exposition embraces collaborative craftivism through a group initiative called Embroidered Stances, discussions about material interconnectedness in a web-of-life conceptual structure that includes sheep wool, cactus, cochineal and ancestral knowledge. The endorsement of material sensitivity is narrated into embroideries by the first author Cervantes and discussed, acknowledging complexities within issues of cultural and ecological sustainability.
Making Histories: Pluriverse Perspectives on Fashion & Textile Design Studies. Contributions from Year One students (AY 2021/22)
(2023)
author(s): Shanna Soh, Simon Veldkamp, Marijn Brinksma, Renée Buitendijk, Laura Garnier, Kim Gemmink, Carina Georgescu, June Gibbs, Jungyun Jang, Emma Lobina, Riet Pedro, Bas Pol, Hiromu Takeshita, Marie Eve Vedrines, Nora Vervat, Noah Warmer, Zhenyi Zhou
published in: Research Catalogue
This exhibition is co-created by Year One students (2021/22) from the department of Fashion and Textile in The Royal Academy of Art, The Hague (KABK) after attending a series of lectures examining the historical study of Fashion & Textile design from constructivistic perspectives.
This exhibition showcases a spectrum of practice-based research, ranging from imagined narratives from the past; to observations on the global cultural impact of (digital) fashion and music; to attempts in addressing gaps of knowledge and imbalances in the eco-system of fashion & textile in the past, present & future.
In order to preserve the ephemeral nature of students' explorations in art & design education setting and in the spirit of Arturo Escobar's vision on the Pluriverse, students are given the freedom to propose their topic of choice and to deepen their knowledge as independently as possible. Guidance was given only when sought. In line with retaining the integrity of students' works, no interventions were made to student' contributions in this exhibition.
Author / Curator Shanna Soh; Co-creators Riet Pedro, Emma Lobina, Carina Georgescu, Jungyun Jang, Noah Warmer, Renee Buitendlijk, Simon Veldkamp, Hiromu Takeshita, Zhenyi Zhou, Laura Garnier, Marie-Eve Verdrines, Bas Pol, Marijn Brinksma, Kim Gemmink, June Gibbs.