Repetitive Acts: The Power of Weaving and Textile in Contemporary Art.
Weaving
began as a fundamental need for humans to cover and protect their bodies. Yet, over time, this craft blossomed into an art form that allowed cultures to cultivate social bonds and connections. It also became a powerful medium for rebellion and self-expression, reflecting the deeper currents of human creativity and identity.
The exhibition Repetitive Acts: The Power of Weaving and Textile in Contemporary Art take place at Nicosia Municipal Arts Centre, Associated with the Pierides Foundation [NiMAC], in Cyprus From 6 December 2024 – 26 April 2025 discusses the significance of weaving and how it is reflected in the realm of contemporary art.
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Weaving heritage
The tradition of weaving and its heritage are reflected in contemporary art through a variety of mediums and materials. The exhibition Repetitive Acts: The Power of Weaving and Textile in Contemporary Art take place at Nicosia Municipal Arts Centre, Associated with the Pierides Foundation [NiMAC], in Cyprus From 6 December 2024 – 26 April 2025 discusses the significance of weaving and how it is reflected in the realm of contemporary art. Through video, sound, photography, installations, paintings, and drawings, artists are able to shed light on contemporary social issues, express personal experiences, and explore profound themes such as memory. The tradition of weaving and its techniques serve as a wellspring of inspiration for the participating artists, who weave their own artistic identities into the craft, creating works that mesmerize and engage the viewer.
Julia Astreou-Christoforou, Textile Designer/Artist and Researcher, Dr. Eleni Papademetriou, Ethnographer, and Vassia Adamou Vanezi, Artist, bring together their different perspectives to tell the story of traditional art forms in Cyprus in a unique way with their installation.
“The exhibition unpacks both the processes and meanings of contemporary reinterpretations of weaving and explores the political, cultural, and mnemonic meanings of what has been historically associated with undervalued housework or folk art …”
— Dr. Elena Stylianou
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Urban environments
Artists and Artisans explore how local artistic techniques reflect society and their significance. Photographic archives, interviews and embroidered works are displayed in installations that invite the viewer to experience traditional embroidery through the eyes of Cypriot women, combining research with artistic intervention emphasizing the significance and pivotal role of weaving in the sociopolitical landscape of Cyprus, past but also and foremost contemporary.
Works made from contemporary materials such as Neon LED Stripes, where the cypriot artist Mariandrie integrates them into an installation, Hot like hot pink?, 2024, connect modern urban environments and nightclubs with the traditional nature of weaving. The arrangement of the piece evokes a masculine phallic symbol, with the unexpected pink color filling the space, challenging the boundaries of gender and the stereotypes surrounding them.
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Existence, place, and memory
Maria Loizidou, in her work Date of Bird (2015), emphasizes the strong connection between drawing, embroidery, and weaving. The artist delves into the methodology of embroidery, transferring it onto paper and highlighting the repetitive motion inherent in the act of stitching.
The repeated patterns create pathways that invite the viewer to wander, searching for answers to questions related to existence, place, and memory. The process of embroidery, which combines repetition with a sense of continuous flow, integrates not only the technique but also the concepts of time and history.
“The works often challenge patriarchal structures, normative trends, and power relations. Alternative materials like luminous neon threads, unyielding basalt fibers, wire, and glass carry narratives of persistence, resilience, labor, and our connections to the land, while also examining themes of memory, gender, identity and historicity.”
— Dr. Elena Stylianou
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Like water falling on a rock
Lefteris Tapas presented a video installation showcasing his unique patterns, crafted from paper cutouts and collages. He transforms these patterns into video, creating the illusion of a three-dimensional textile curtain. Inspired by the repetition inherent in weaving, he evokes a continuous flow of shifting patterns, resembling flowing water, a semi-transparent curtain, a shelter enveloping the viewer, or a Waterfall cleansing the body.
The repetition of these patterns vividly underscores the swift passage of time, symbolized by the waterfall, with the intention of purifying and transforming the inner self. Like water falling on a rock, gradually altering its shape over time, this work offers a radically different take on weaving, reimagined as digital sound and imagery, drawing the viewer into a deeply introspective journey.
To bridge the past to the present
The most captivating element of this exhibition lies in the diverse range of materials and mediums used by the artists to express their unique ideas and concepts. What stands out even more is how they draw inspiration from threads and traditional textile techniques, creating a powerful bridge between the past and present. Whether in an anarchic or more structured way, the artists either pass down the knowledge of traditional embroidery and weaving or transform that very knowledge into contemporary materials, imbuing their work with new meaning. The 15 artists, each with their distinct approach, respond with great sensitivity and creativity to the exhibition’s theme, offering a fresh and thought-provoking perspective on the rich tradition of textile arts.
As the curator Dr. Elena Stylianou writes “The exhibition unpacks both the processes and meanings of contemporary reinterpretations of weaving and explores the political, cultural, and mnemonic meanings of what has been historically associated with undervalued housework or folk art … The works often challenge patriarchal structures, normative trends, and power relations. Alternative materials like luminous neon threads, unyielding basalt fibers, wire, and glass carry narratives of persistence, resilience, labor, and our connections to the land, while also examining themes of memory, gender, identity and historicity.”
We invite you to tell your story, submitting your perspective and the authenticity of fashioning practices.
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