Back in vogue: Repairing and upcycling take centre stage in a London exhibition
Mending can also be about care and healing when it aims to bring (back) to life objects that are vectors of history and emotion. This is a point addressed by the exhibition "Eternally Yours," running in London until the end of the summer
Revived during the pandemic, fixing and mending are back on the agenda, extending the lifespan of our clothes and belongings. This age-old practice today serves more than one purpose, responding not only to economic but also to ecological challenges. But it can also be about care and healing when it aims to bring (back) to life objects that are vectors of history and emotion. This is a point addressed by the exhibition "Eternally Yours," running in London until the end of the summer.
In London, Somerset House is kicking off the summer season with a free exhibition entirely dedicated to the notion of repairing and restoring—on practical and emotional levels. By highlighting various examples of creative reuse, from old products to recent works, "Eternally Yours" is an invitation to reconnect with aged and worn objects, whatever they may be, and to appreciate the history and emotion that stems from them. The exhibition "takes the idea of 'repair' as a philosophy and a provocation, inviting us to reconsider our way of life and relationship to the planet, and everything that surrounds us."
Gee's Bend, Boro and Kintsugi
From the stories of survival sewn into the soles of Syrian migrants' shoes by Aya Haidar to the upcycling of objects salvaged after the 2011 tsunami in Japan by Aono Fumiaki, repair is shown for the first time in a new light, encompassing the power of healing and the duty of remembrance, heightening the emotional value of items that could have—as has been the custom for decades—simply wound up in the trash. "'Eternally Yours' seeks to spotlight the worth in the seemingly worthless," explain the organizers in a statement.
Also read: Right to repair: A movement that's good for the environment, and your finances
The visit begins with a tribute to the many creative expressions of mending from around the world, highlighting time-honored traditional methods. Examples include Gee's Bend quilts, created by generations of women in a remote Alabama hamlet; the Japanese art of Boro, which involves mending clothing with patchwork fabrics; and Kintsugi, a Japanese art form that repairs broken pottery with gold.
The "Eternally Yours" exhibition runs until September 25, and will feature workshops and demonstrations themed on repair and upcycling. These will allow visitors to discover techniques to extend the life of many types of objects, while offering them the opportunity to transform their personal belongings.
Last Updated :
June 27, 22 05:43:51 PM IST