#idk also the subversion of textiles(knitting embroidery) being seen as such an innocent hobby and yet used for activism

[summerofthelaterose]

It is truly indescribable how many hands and human generations that textile arts has impacted. I guess I shouldn't be surprised at tumblr, but there is nothing here about the project 25 Million stitches. One stitch represents one refugee. If you are reading this right now, please go look it up. It is an art activism project started by Jennifer Kim Sohn, over 37 countries worldwide participated. Each stitch represents a person misplaced due to conflict or natural disaster. This project was started in 2019, and is still ongoing. According to google in the year 2024 there are over 43.4 million refugees worldwide, or 63.3 million people displaced internally. I had the privilege of viewing a travelling exhibit of 24 million stitches. It was humbling to walk through, words can not describe how vast the textiles are, floor to ceiling, you feel small. That much fabric weighing on you from every side gives the gallery a muted feeling. Artists from all over the world participated, from elementary children to masters of the craft. The panels were all unique, some depicted scenery, people, places, animals. Others were simple messages. Some were panels embroidered with intricate overlapping designs, a contemplation of how many lives misplaced. The atmosphere was like a cathedral, quiet and contemplative, so that the textiles, and the artists could speak for themselves. Although the world can seem so big and overwhelming at times, the messages shared here were overwhelmingly of hope.