Friday, 29 March 2024

Event Details

Conflict Textiles curator Roberta Bacic (right) at the WRI ‘Antimilitarist Roots’ conference (18 June 2023) engaging with participants in creating a 'Human Wall Of Resistance' using textiles from Conflict Textiles collection.  (Photo: Rob Fairmichael)

Conflict Textiles curator Roberta Bacic (right) at the WRI ‘Antimilitarist Roots’ conference (18 June 2023) engaging with participants in creating a 'Human Wall Of Resistance' using textiles from Conflict Textiles collection. (Photo: Rob Fairmichael)

 

Online exhibition and associated activities:Nonviolence in Action: Antimilitarism in the 21st Century
Description: War Resisters' International (WRI) is a global network of grassroots antimilitarist and pacifist groups, working together for a world without war. Founded in 1921, it now has over 90 affiliated groups in 40 countries committed to their founding declaration which states that: “War is a crime against humanity. I am therefore determined not to support any kind of war, and to strive for the removal of all causes of war..,”

This exhibition available online at WRI, is one of a series of global events marking the centenary of WRI. It is comprised of 28 textiles. These arpilleras, quilts and wall hangings bring us face to face with the courageous denouncement, resistance and non violent actions of many of us in various continents who, with our families and communities have experienced the human cost of war. The textile Centenary 2021 War Resisters' International/ Internacional de Resistentes a la Guerra has been specially commissioned to mark the centennial.

The online launch, which featured a guided tour of Conflict Textiles exhibition pieces, took place on Thursday 25th March, 1.30 - 2.30pm (UK time).

Throughout the exhibition programme, Conflict Textiles facilitated/contributed to several events:
-Conflict textiles webinar marking the centenary of War Resisters International, 17:00-19:00, 9th September 2021 facilitated by Roberta Bacic. Macht mit anstatt Macht über: Widerstand für eine gerechte Welt ist möglich! / Power with, not power over: Resisting for justice in the World is possible!
-Conversatorio: Tejiendo Resistencia Antimilitarista y Noviolenta a la Guerra, 7 de octubre: 10 am – 11:30m (hora Colombia) 5pm – 6:30pm (hora Madrid, España) 4pm - 5:30pm (hora Reino Unido).
-Sewing Resistance to Militarism: Arpilleras and other transnational textiles, 7 - 8.30pm (UK time); 2-3.30pm (US Eastern time); 11 - 12.30pm (US Pacific time), 14th November.
-Nonviolence in Action: online Conference, 20 - 28 November, 2021. Roberta Bacic presented at the opening Plenary titled "100 years resisting war and its causes", 2-4pm, 20th November.

Five planned and several informal guided tours by affiliates and associates of WRI were facilitated. They were delivered in English, Spanish and German.

Web links:
Internacional de Resistentes a la Guerra (Spanish)
Internationale der KriegsdienstgegnerInnen (German)
Internationale des Résistant(e)s à la Guerre (French)
Commissioned by: Conflict Textiles
Date(s): 24th March 2021 - 31st December 2021
Venue: Online
Curator: Roberta Bacic, assisted by Breege Doherty
Facilitator: WRI London Office
Outcome: During the nine month exhibition period, five planned and several informal guided tours by affiliates and associates of WRI were facilitated. They were delivered in English, Spanish and German. A program of webinars and conferences engaged beyond the exhibition and extended into discussions and conversations on arts and conflict as a way to express the unspeakable. The exhibition itself prompted trans-generational discussions as well as trans-cultural, multilingual conversations and engagement. From a point of view of networking, the exhibition extended and enriched the WRI & Conflict Textiles communities.




Documents: • Textile list: WRI 2021 - view
• Flier: Conference plenary, 20 Nov (English) - view
• Flier: Conference plenary, 20 Nov (Spanish) - view
• Plenary presentation, R. Bacic, 20 Nov - view
 




Textiles Displayed:Broken Rifle 2
Soldiers back from the wars
Executed at dawn
Lost children of war
Libertad a los presos políticos / Freedom for the political prisoners
Walking to Death
Exilio de los Republicanos cruzando los Pirineos
Blutspur / Blood trail
Auf der Flucht 1945 / Fleeing in 1945
Aleppo school / Escuela en Aleppo, Siria
¿Dónde están? / Where are they?
Exilio ll / Exile II (Woman mourning those who have been exiled)
Digital Death
En el lado “bueno” de la valla / On the “Good" Side of the Fence
La guerra y las distintas formas de padecerla
Desplazamiento / Displacement
Landmines
Centro de Torturas Cuatro Alamos / Cuatro Alamos torture centre
Peace Quilt - Common Loss
Gaza 2014
En Chile se tortura / Demonstration against torture
Movimiento contra la tortura / Movement against torture
La Cueca Sola / Dancing Cueca alone
Hornos de Lonquén / Lime kilns of Lonquén
Violar es un crimen / Rape is a crime
No going back
SMALL Actions BIG Movements
Centenary 2021 War Resisters' International/ Internacional de Resistentes a la Guerra