Thread Bearing Witness: refugee stories in tapestry at The Whitworth

Since the days of the Norman conquest, embroidered textiles have been used to record events – and a new exhibition at The Whitworth aims to do the same for the modern era. Thread Bearing Witness is a series of tapestries and other works which are based around cultural heritage and the global refugee crisis. The show was created by Alice Kettle, professor in Textile Arts at Manchester School of Art. Central to the installation are three large scale works which form temporary walls and campsites for viewers to negotiate. ‘SEA’ reflects on the migrant experience through the media lens, symbolising the perilous and often fatal sea journeys taken by refugees. ‘GROUND’ and ‘SKY’ are informed by refugees’ contributions of imagery and cultural heritage. All the works embrace the personal testimonies of the refugees Alice has met.

Sat 1 Sep – 24 Feb 2019, The Whitworth, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M15 6ER, Tel: 0161 275 7450, 10am – 5pm, FREE, www.whitworth.manchester.ac.uk