exhibition

Fabric has been used for decades by artists – on a par with painting, sculpture or graphic art – as an important tool for communicating important truths about the world around us. Working with fabric offers almost unlimited possibilities. The variety of its textures and its ductility allow it to be shaped freely. At the same time, it requires the artist to calm down, contemplate and establish personal contact with the material.

The International Triennial of Tapestry, taking place in Łódź for almost 50 years, is one of the world’s most important events of the kind, attracting artists and lovers of tapestry from all continents. It is also a review of the most important trends and achievements in contemporary textile art. The event is cyclical, held every 3 years. This year it has its 17th edition.

The exhibition, which will open on 8 October 2022, will show 56 works selected by an international jury from almost half a thousand submissions from around the world. The winners of this year’s edition will also be announced on that day.

The competition’s open formula with the main theme, that is the “Entangled State”, indicated left the artists with a wide field for interpretation and their own explorations in the medium of fabric. The works selected for the exhibition are very diversified, both in terms of form and meaning.  They include works that refer to classical, traditional tapestry or embroidery techniques, as well as installations exemplifying bold experimentation with fabric. The exhibition will provide an overview of different methods and techniques, thus showing the richness of materials used by the artists and different points of view resulting from geographical and cultural differences.

Despite these differences, all the works share a common element – the themes addressed by the artists revolve around contemporary problems that affect us all, regardless of our origin, gender or social position. In this respect, the Triennial has always been a forum for the exchange of ideas and experiences, not only as regards artistic practice, but also the perception of reality.

Among the objects to be shown in the exhibition, issues relating to the sense of danger caused by the pandemic, the war or climate change and the associated need for security, bonding and the search for one’s own identity resonate particularly strongly. 

Many works refer to remembrance, showing the passage of time and drawing from the past associated with personal or family memories.

The artists of this year’s edition just as often address the subject of the condition of contemporary man and his dependence both on other people and on phenomena that seemingly do not concern him. This has been most distinctly demonstrated by the events of recent months, the pandemic or the war in Ukraine.

In relation to the current world situation, the motto of the 17th ITT, “Entangled State”, takes on an exceptionally topical meaning.

As in previous editions, the 17th ITT will be accompanied by other tapestry presentations. An event associated with the Triennial for many years is the National Exhibition of the Polish Tapestry, which is a review of domestic creativity phenomena. This year’s exhibition, entitled “Material Fatigue” and curated by Jakub Gawkowski, will present about 30 works by 19 artists.

As part of the 17th ITT, the 4th Young Textile Art Triennial YTAT will be held – a presentation of achievements of Polish and foreign art school students, prepared in cooperation with the Academy of Fine Arts in Łódź. In addition to the exhibition displayed at the City Gallery of Art in Łódź, there will be also an international conference on the medium of textile in both artistic and design terms.

The main presentation of the Triennial will be accompanied by lectures, workshops and curatorial tours.