A Defiant Stitch: Soft Power at the RWA
In a corner of Bristol’s Royal West of England Academy (RWA), amidst a swirl of colour and cloth, hangs a story of defiance, resilience, and hope. The Gift of Giving is an unflinching declaration of one woman’s refusal to let circumstance or gender dictate her path. Created by Afghan refugee women in collaboration with Amneh Shaikh-Farooqui, CEO of Polly and Other Stories, the work pulses with conviction - a personal uprising stitched into cloth, and a gesture of empowerment and survival. It commands attention in the textile exhibition, Soft Power: Lives Told Through Textile Art, now showing at the RWA.
2 Together, Alice Kettle.
Curated by textile art trailblazer Professor Alice Kettle alongside Professor Lesley Millar MBE, Soft Power brings together stories told in thread and fabric from across the world. This powerful exhibition is a rare gathering of voices - some speaking for the first time on UK soil - each using textiles as a vessel for truth.
"Textile is something we encounter daily. Its familiarity creates an immediate connection between artist and viewer, making these stories feel both intimate and universal," reads a line from the exhibition catalogue, capturing the heart of Soft Power...
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Image Credits:
LEAD: Sabine Kaner, When the Boat Comes In.
All other images as credited in photo captions.