This incredible moving documentation/ art work has been instigated by Mary Evers. After a visit to Tate Modern to see an exhibition by Bangladeshi artist Yasmin Jahan Nupur. (see below)
Yasmin Jahan Nupur's embroidered world map of British colonial territories stirred something within Mary. “It struck me how powerful such a simple act was – using thread to document history and provoke thought,” Mary Evers
The idea for the "The Gaza Martyrs Project" materialised and Mary set about putting it in motion.
Mary spent months carefully planning. She sourced Egyptian cotton for its durability and nostalgic ties to her childhood “It also symbolises a shroud – honouring the lives lost,” she explains.
To reflect the Palestinian flag, Mary chose specific colour codes for the embroidery. Black threads represent Gaza men, red for women and green for children. The creamy white Egyptian cotton represents the white of the flag. Each panel, even without reading the names, visually conveys the demographic impact of the deaths. Some panels, overwhelmingly green, are a haunting reminder of the countless Gaza children killed. It has become a collective endeavour shared between communities with people hearing of it and joining the effort. While Mary plans to limit the project to 30,000 names, the rising death toll may lead to it continuing indefinitely. (source)
"I’ve been sitting with these thoughts today as I prepare the list of names and wonder about each person, who they were, what was their favourite colour, were they in love, did they dance at parties, normal every day things." Mary Evers
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