The Swedish mixed-media artist, Britta Marakatt-Labba, uses textiles to comment on pressing issues such as climate change, land use and her native Sámi heritage.
In these works embroidery takes its place alongside other techniques and media to create pieces that tell stories. In the 1970 and ’80s a proposal for the construction of a dam across the Alta river caused the Alta controversy in Norway, a series of protests by environmentalists, including Sámi. The protests were unsuccessful in stopping the project in the end but the gains made for indigenous peoples’ rights were put firmly on the agenda of the Norwegian government. In her artwork about the events black crows descend to the ground and march towards protesters, changing into police as they walk. This article has a photograph of the piece.
Another monumental artwork is a history of Sámi: Historjá. Embroidered over 23 and a half metres, this piece relates myth, reality, history and belief in thousands of stitches. This article has photographs of the piece amongst others in an exhibition that has just closed in Stockholm.
In these days of alarm and seeming chaos we need artists like this to help us see alternatives and give us a sense of hope and beauty. Long may Britta Markatt-Labba thrive.
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Google images of Britta Marakatt-Labba’s work
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