Traumatic experiences aren't always expressed verbally. Especially in situations of conflict and displacement, traumatic events often lead to alternative forms of expression.
In Shatila, a refugee camp south of Beirut, the embroidery tradition has existed since the camp's founding in 1949, when it was established to house Palestinian refugees. Embroidery is a daily, gender-specific practice deeply rooted in the region's rich textile tradition. The war in Syria and the influx of new refugees led to a revival of embroidery in the camp. It served not only as cultural heritage but also as a means of telling visual stories about personal experiences, often with a focus on human rights.
The exhibition showcased the embroidered stories of Syrian women from Shatila, complemented by photographs by Aaron Lapeirre that visualized the context of the production process. Through a playful approach to materials, these women shared stories of pain, loss, and their hopes for a more just future.
This exhibition, previously shown at Amsab-ISG at the end of 2022 under the name Stitching as a Rights Narrative , could be viewed daily from 15 to 23 July 2023 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the St. Nicholas Church in Ghent.
