It is 35 meters long, 2.5 meters high and made by hundreds of creative Brabanders: a gigantic tapestry that tells the slavery past in our province. More than 750 volunteers worked on for months. “He is not only very beautiful,” says creator Ricardo Burgzorg, “but making it also caused awareness and the covenant between people.”
According to Ricardo, the colonial slavery past is not only a story of the descendants, but of everyone. This project contributed to that realization. “All volunteers initially only came to make the wall dress and to be cozy together. Not because they wanted to learn something about the slavery past, Ricardo says.” But because they were there, the conversations started. That worked so fantastic. ”
Volunteer Maritée Onderdenwijngaard (68) can confirm that. “It was great,” she says enthusiastically. “There was so much solidarity with each other. Every time I saw people again with their own part of the tapestry and then I thought:” They worked with heart and soul “. It moved me deeply,” she says with tears in her eyes. “That so many people felt like working on it for hours.”
“It’s just fantastic when you see how detailed it is.”
In several places in the province, the tapestry grew more and more. Especially in Schijndel, enthusiasm was great. According to Ricardo, 250 people were already working on the artwork there. People also rolled up their sleeves in Helmond, Breda, Eindhoven, Den Bosch and Tilburg.
Ricardo surprised how many people know something about textile techniques, while it is not their job at all. “If you see how many meters they have made and how detailed it is, that’s just fantastic.”
Maritée watched her eyes when she saw all those different techniques; tufting, quilting, embroidery. She didn’t know much about it in advance, she says laughing. “I had never heard of cutting dust and I had never done tufting before.” With a little practice, that worked out well.
“My uncle thought he was doing well with winning souls.”
Karin van Leengoed (68) was one of the volunteers who was introduced to part of her own history through the project. “I myself have become aware of the fact that I had a gentleman (priest) won those souls in Indonesia. He thought he was doing well with that, but with today’s knowledge we know that it is not.” She mentions that awareness thanks to this project.
Hope creative people
After months of collaboration, the tapestry is now finished and you can view for free in the Textielmuseum in Tilburg until 9 November. “There are no words for it,” says Maritée. When I walk past here, I think: “What a lot of creative people in the world.” How nice, how nice, how nice! “
Do you want to know more about the Brabant slavery past? Then listen to our podcast black and white past.
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