ABOUT THE EXHIBITION

In Spanish, the phrase "hilos conductores" can mean two things: conductive threads and the main idea or theme of a story. Hilos Conductores explores the threads that connect life in Chile with Canada in uneven ways. These include copper mining, private water utilities and other extractive schemes, but also refuge, art and networks of transnational solidarity. To do this, this exhibition brings a sample of arpilleras (political textiles) created during the Chilean dictatorship together with the recent work of textile artists and collectives: Bélgica Castro, Soledad Muñoz, Tamara Marcos, Memorarte and Autorretazo. Spanning three countries and various decades, the presentation of these works seeks to honour generations of textile artists who have drawn on unsuspected materials, like thread, fabric and sewing needles, to denounce human rights violations, free-market economics and extractivism. Conceptualised during the 2019-2020 anti-establishment revolts in Chile and resulting constitutional referenda, Hilos Conductores highlights the power of political textiles to uncover complex geopolitical relations that stand in the way of social change and decolonial futures.

Given the uneven geographies that emerge from the state global political economy, transnational demonstrations of solidarity and hopes for transformative change require that we consider our own positionality within extractive schemes. They also require that we re-imagine North-South and human-nature relationships in more just and sustainable ways. It is by attending to these complexities that the thread of hope that runs throughout the works featured in this exhibition emerge.
 
Curated by Nathalia Santos Ocasio.

Co-presented by Textile Museum of Canada and Agnes Etherington Art Centre at Queens University.

LOCATION

Sur Gallery Exhibition: 39 Queens Quay East, Suite 100

Embroidering Collectivity with Bélgica Castro Fuentes and Soledad Fátima Muñoz Textile Museum of Canada

Saturday, January 14th, 1-5pm

Embroidering Collectivity with Hector Maturana Bañados and Soledad Fátima Muñoz Textile Museum of Canada

Thursday, January 21st, 1-5pm

Opening reception at Sur Gallery

Thursday, February 2nd, 7-9pm

Curator Tour with Nathalia Santos Ocasio

Sur Gallery, Toronto

Saturday, February 11th, 1-3pm

Artist Talk with Erika Silva from Memorarte and Tamara Marcos

Thursday, March 2nd, 7-8:30pm, online via Zoom.

Register here.

Studies in National and International Development, A conversation with Bélgica Castro

Hybrid event at Queen’s University

Thursday, March 16th, 1-2:30pm.

For more information click here.

Closing Event: Walking Tour from Sur Gallery to Textile Museum of Canada with Soledad Fátima Muñoz and Nathalia Santos Ocasio

Saturday, April 1st, 2-5:30pm

Register here.

Gallery Hours (during exhibition):

Thursday - Friday noon-6:00PM

Sat 11 AM-5 PM

Location:

100-39 Queens Quay East, Toronto