Lotte van den Bosch

Thread of Resistance

Textile crafts are a centuries-old craft that is increasingly being forgotten. Yet, contemporary artists within craftivism are giving it a new meaning. Think, for example, of artists like Joyce Overheul and Marie Hazard.

The fact that textile crafts, such as knitting, are still seen as a typically feminine and sweet activity stems from the past.

The anti-feminist and feminist connotations attached to it are justified, as this textile craft was primarily practised by women for centuries. Women were working in a man's world.

However, this does not make it any less valuable. Today's artists and protesters continue to demonstrate that feminism remains necessary.

With my thesis, I hope to raise awareness of this history. I realised how recently it was that women had little say. Crafts offered them a way to stay busy, but also a way to prove that their lives weren't solely about having and raising children, as the church proclaimed at the time.

This topic remains relevant because in many countries, similar views on women still exist, and even in our own country, this is a growing threat. This is a form of anti-feminism that cannot be ignored.

These women fought and deserve recognition.

In my final project, "Thread of Resistance!", I will highlight the four waves of feminism on a very long canvas. I will embody this concept by creating a sampler banner approximately seven meters long, which will be hung in an undulating motion. On this canvas, I will create a visual timeline, supplemented with quotes and images that reflect the different views and developments within feminism. I give the 4 waves a humorous twist and push the boundaries.