Sacred Vessels (Community Textiles)
community textiles, video documentation, audio 1min 50sec
In this project, I met with people who have stories to tell, centring around textile objects they cherish. These objects, imbued with personal meaning, serve as touch points for memory and storytelling. Each textile is a fragment of the participant's life, providing insight into their past, resulting in the formation of a collective narrative. The stories of the items were shared through intimate meetings, and like artworks - were loaned and trusted to the artist and public for the exhibition, to open up a space for further discussion on textile and memory.
Inspired by the context of the residency, the items are exhibited together as an altar-like piece, highlighting their symbolic value. The work is also complemented by a sound piece recorded spontaneously during an encounter, tied to textile histories and community.
This process of sharing personal histories and objects is documented visually, offering deeper insight into the project's research and engagement. Through these encounters, spontaneous acts unfolded, adding another layer of meaning to the work. For example, a video captures Helena Sousa, a member of Outra Voz and a dance studio owner, performing a dance improvisation with her loaned textile item, further expanding the dialogue between memory, touch, and textile.
Participants from Guimarães: Natividade Seixeira, Conceição Castro, Helena Sousa, Josefa da Silva Matos, Josefina Araújo, Zilda Quintão, Luisa Matos, António Matos, Aldo Ribeiro, Kika Pereira.
Contextile Biennial Artist Residency Exhibition
Guimarães, Portugal, 2024
