an international stitching project
an invitation
requiem
Though often used to describe a piece of music, the word “requiem” refers to any act of remembrance or a composition honouring the deceased, even if not specifically religious.
Using undyed threads, stitch on a fragment of undyed cloth. The size is up to you, though you may wish to bear in mind that it will (I hope) eventually be sent to Australia by mail.
You might wish to stitch randomly, to add pattern or perhaps to stitch the name of a person or place you would like to be remembered.
It could be the name of someone* you love and have lost, a place dear to your heart, the name of an innocent victim of war, or simply the word ‘remember’ in the language of your choice.
requiem is intended as a secular project, open to all, so I respectfully request that the names of deities, religions and specific religious references not be included.
Participants in the project are invited to mail their stitched fragments directly to me. I will note the name of the contributor (so that they can be acknowledged in the exhibition) and keep the pieces safe until the time for joining them all together. Pieces will not be returned.
You may stitch one piece, or several. If you can spare any pearl buttons or clear/uncoloured glass beads to sew on as well, that would be lovely…I had imagined the work becoming a “blanket all covered in stars”** as much an object of hope as one of remembrance…but response has been so enthusiastic that I have decided to hang the work as a “cloud” instead.
Stitching the pieces together will likely form a project in its own right, to follow at some point after the exhibition concludes.
I hope to publish a catalogue on a “print on demand” platform so that interested parties will be able to order a copy and have it supplied by mail to wherever they are located on the planet.
Our composite cloth will be displayed as part of the exhibition “beloved” at Fabrik during the Adelaide Fringe in 2027.
Stitched pieces to arrive in Australia by November 1, 2026
Exhibition dates :: 12 February – 4 April, 2027
please mail to ::
India Flint
PO Box 209, Mount Pleasant 5235, Peramangk Country,
South Australia, Australia
* not necessarily human
** you may be familiar with the book “the tiny star” by Mem Fox & Freya Blackwood…the concept for our cloth was inspired by the blanket mentioned in it
https://www.penguin.com.au/books/the-tiny-star-9780670078127