Lucerne: Roma Stories with Needle and Thread (Video included)

A Historic Moment at the Venice Biennale

In 2022, Małgorzata Mirga-Tas made history by becoming the first Romani woman to represent a country at the Venice Biennale. That alone is a powerful statement in the art world, which often fails to give space to marginalized voices. In the Polish Pavilion, she didn’t present traditional paintings or sculptures – instead, she created monumental textile works that told the story of the Roma community.

Through myths, family scenes, and symbolic figures, her work highlights the beauty and strength of Roma culture – while also confronting the painful reality of exclusion, oppression, and survival.

Soft Materials, Strong Messages

What immediately caught my attention was her use of fabric. These aren’t just pretty patchworks – they’re bold political pieces, stitched with memory and meaning. Embroidery, quilting, and appliqué are traditionally considered “female” crafts. Mirga-Tas reclaims and redefines them as tools of resistance.

The scale of her pieces is impressive. They dominate the space, full of vibrant colors and layered textures, each one telling a story that demands time and attention. I found myself leaning in, trying to understand the details – small gestures, family symbols, patterns loaded with meaning.

Telling the Stories We Don’t Learn in School

One thing that really stayed with me is how her work tells stories we rarely hear – especially in mainstream European culture. She gives visibility to Roma narratives that are so often overlooked or misrepresented. The pieces feel like living archives, woven from both personal experience and collective memory.

This isn’t just art to admire – it’s art to feel. Art that challenges. That reminds us how much we still need to learn, listen, and unlearn.

Why You Should Go

If you’re anywhere near Lucerne – go. This isn’t just a visual experience, it’s a conversation. One that continues long after you’ve left the exhibition space.

There’s so much power in seeing stories that don’t usually make it into galleries being placed front and center. And there’s something incredibly moving about realizing how fabric, thread, and history can come together to create something that feels like a living, breathing protest – and celebration.

🟡 Learn more: https://www.kunstmuseumluzern.ch/ausstellungen/mirga-tas/
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