Bridging Threads: Stitching Belonging in the Tapestry of Migration

The thesis support document examines the ways in which communal textile art practices are transformed by migration and lack of resources. The textile installation work delves into the reimagining of traditional tools by utilizing locally available materials to create non-traditional tools that still produce similar marks, symbols, and patterns on textile. Through techniques like beading, dyeing, and block stamping on worn fabric, I investigate how traditional Bangladeshi textile methods are adapted when faced with limited material and resources. By using preloved fabric worn by elders as a foundation, the addition of beads and stitching radiates care and significance to each of the installations. The textiles adorn the white gallery walls, occasionally interrupted by vibrant painted patterns. The visual imagery on each of the textiles encapsulates memory of land both near and afar and refer to the embodied experience of a migrant. Textile practice being a communal craft in South Asian cultures becomes a solitary practice due to migration. This thesis project examines and explores the different outcomes produced as a result of absence of social support, displacement and lack of cultural touchstones. Moreover, this support document explains the ways which engaging in traditional and ritualistic textile practices contributes to developing a sense of belonging in the context of migration.