fragments, 2021

SELECTED - UK

invited - GERMANY

Fragments examines the fashion and textile industry in Berlin in the 1930s, and the impact of Nazi policies of that period on Jewish clothing manufacturers, designers, design houses and fashion stores.

A clothing union, The Working Group of German-Aryan Manufacturers (Arbeitsgemeinschaft deutsch-arischer Fabrikanten der Bekleidungsindustrie), known as ADEFA, was set up in 1933 and its focus was to eradicate Jewish people from all areas of the German fashion world. They used a combination of antisemitic propaganda, blacklists, economic sanctions, intimidation, violence and aryanisation to achieve their goal.

By 1938, the thriving and innovative Jewish fashion industry in Germany was eliminated.

In-situ at The WhitakerImage courtesy of Linda Pearl Izan

In-situ at The Whitaker

Image courtesy of Linda Pearl Izan

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Fantastic work. Amber Butchart, writer and broadcaster specialising in the cultural and political history of textiles and dress. 24 October 2021

Oswiecim is known for being the site of Auschwitz concentration camp during the Second World War when Poland was occupied by Nazi Germany. The town can be seen to the right and below Katowice.
In-situ at The WhitakerImage courtesy of Linda Pearl Izan

In-situ at The Whitaker

Image courtesy of Linda Pearl Izan

I felt some sadness that your exhibit at the Whitaker will be no longer be shown in that beautiful setting. It was a valuable experience for me to share my personal life story and background with others while gazing at the meaningful and beautiful artwork. I certainly built up an appreciative resonance with the work and thanks go to you for the opportunity to share its message with others. Member of Jacob Tuteur family

Jakob Tuteur was married to Lena Seifert, a model, who was not Jewish and came from poor circumstances. When the Nazis took power, they expropriated Jakob's villas, and sent him and his wife to a boarding house. Seifert turned on her husband, demanding that the “Jew-boy” leave. Forced to move out and stripped of his wealth, Jakob first killed his beloved dog and then committed suicide by an overdose of Veronal. Member of Jacob Tuteur family

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A textile swatch catalogue has been created using a vintage atlas. The colourful textile fragments have been cut from the fabric of donated kuppels.

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Measurement: 56cm x 38cm x 7cm

Process: Hand stitch

Materials: Vintage atlas, textile, silk threads, fabric from donated kuppels

Exhibited in:

Connected Cloth: exploring the global nature of textiles, The 62 Group of Textile Artists, British Textile Biennial, The Whitaker, Lancashire (25 September - 28 November 2021)

Fairy Tales, Myths and Stories, (Mächen, Mythen und Geschichten), Galerie Handwerk, Munich, Germany (3 May - 11 June 2022)

Fabricated? Solo Exhibition, London, England (1 October 2024 - 31 January 2025)

COMMENTS

  • This is a great memorial and the superimposition on the map is very effective

  • Once again you find a powerful way to use textiles in telling a story that must never be forgotten

  • You’ve done wonderful research and beautiful, meticulously crafted work

  • Apt touch using the material swatches to drive home the message of a lost people, lost skills and a lost industry

  • These stories are so, so sad. Thank you for sharing

  • Amazing piece of work, everyone should see it

  • Fascinating that the swatches are made from yarmulkes

  • I am deeply moved by this extraordinary and poignant project

  • Your work is so wonderfully moving and beautiful

  • Impressive

  • Your work is truly original and thought provoking

  • A powerful artwork

  • I wish I could see your work in person to absorb its full impact

  • This is another piece that leaves me without words to describe how fully it represents the horrendous crimes with such deceptive simplicity

  • Thank you for continuing to tell the stories so they are not forgotten