Presentation of the tapestry “Our Queer Family” (work in progress)
Event Introduction
Welcome to see the work in progress Tapestry Our Queer Family.
Two artists and queer activists from Kyiv, Masha Ravlyk and Ton Melnyk, from ReSew sewing cooperative began to weave 2×1,5 meters carpet because they are missing their community, created when they lived in Kyiv. Right now due to the Russian full scale invasion of Ukraine and due to the policies toward LGBTQI+ people, many people from this community live in different cities and countries and rarely have an opportunity to meet.
For queer people queer friends are usually like a family. Also because lots of queers meet homophobia and transphobia in societies and not always have support in so-called blood families. A carpet-tapestry is also traditionally connected with a home and family by its symbolic meaning in putting a carpet on a wall. Ton and Masha, being far from their homelands, want to keep memories about their friends and to archive common queer history in this way.
For the project artists are using a group photo taken in their ReSew sewing cooperative studio in Kyiv, which they don’t have any more. There are 18 people from queer community in the photo, some of them are added as a collage. As the medium Ton and Masha choose weaving because it is a meditative process that gives a space for thinking, talking and listening.
Now the Tapestry is woven by 4 people. Two interns, students of Metropolia university, Emma Simola and Anni Pusila, joined the process.
The tapestry Our Queer Family was started in June 2024 with the 4 months support from OAF and Taike and is exhibiting now as a part of Outsider Art Festival 2025 program.
Categories
Participate, Visual arts, Installation / exhibition, Inside, Other programme
Event Information
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Time:
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16:00–22:00
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Organiser:
ReSew sewing cooperative
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Address:
Hemmola
Tinasepäntie 55
00620 Helsinki -
Accessibility:
The event is not accessible with a wheelchair.
The event does not have an accessible toilet.
Hemmola is a living community house. The entrance door to Hemmola is located from the street and is 78 cm. width. The studio, where the work is situated, is on the left after the entrance. 2 steps and 3 door ways 80, 79 and 67 cm. width respectively are on the way to the studio. Hemmola has 2 toilets, one on the first (main) floor and enother on in the downstairs. Toilets are not accessible, the entrances to them are both 54 width. There are 2 cats living in Hemmola.
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Event language:
English, Ukrainian
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Tickets:
The event is free of charge
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Links:
