Threads of War

About this exhibition

For over 40 years Jenny Matthew’s documentary photography has concentrated on the effects of conflict on women and communities. Since 2020 she has been making photo quilts/hangings with edits of her photos, which have been printed onto cotton linen.

Some images have had embroidery or other embellishments added and then the individual photos have been sewn together and backed onto an appropriate piece of textile (usually from the same country as the images).

So far Jenny has completed 19 pieces, as well as a series entitled ‘Facial De-recognition’, which is compiled of 25 portraits of Afghan women with embroidery obliterating their features. This is to mark the effect of the Taliban retaking Afghanistan in August 2021, and the subsequent negative effect on women’s lives, with a loss of their freedom, rights and identity.