The Barbican Centre presents ‘Unravel: The Power and Politics of Textiles in Art’, a group exhibition, on display until May 26th.

In this pivotal collective showcase, 50 artists worldwide utilize textiles, fibers, and threads to question power structures and envision a future. Textiles, symbolizing protection and memory, awaken our senses, encapsulate beliefs, and safeguard stories from our first to last moments.

Employing textiles as a medium, these artists convey the vast spectrum of human emotion, from grief to joy, reflecting on life’s defining structures and systems.

The exhibition features a broad array of 50 artists from diverse generations, using textiles to articulate critiques on power, resilience, and survival. With works ranging from intimate, handmade crafts to significant sculptural installations, it presents narratives of conflict, imperialism, and exclusion, as well as stories of persistence, love, and hope.

Billie Zangewa (Malawi / South Africa), Georgina Maxim (Zimbabwe), Ibrahim Mahama (Ghana), Igshaan Adams (South Africa), and Nicholas Hlobo (South Africa) are the artists representing the African continent.

The Barbican Centre in London aims to ignite creative potential and transform experiences for artists, audiences, and communities through diverse arts offerings. It supports artists at all stages, promotes diversity, and focuses on cultivating a vibrant talent pool.

Source: Barbican Centre