When the World was Tired
2020
Cotton, wool, silk organza, mylar rescue blanket

Does a blanket have the capacity to absorb and protect vulnerability? Can the universality of a blanket manifest our collective responsibility to one another?

We are living in a world facing multiple humanitarian crises further compounded with environmental crises, all of which are the result of a globalized kleptocracy that has its roots in a racialized colonialist history. There are too many instances where basic human needs are not being met and the upward mobility of many more are hampered by the structural inequities of our systems. With such divergent expressions within the world, how can we move forward as a community?

The making and materiality of these blankets draws upon the historical identity of a blanket.Yet the unconventional surface design of the blanket reveals moments when those who are under distress seek comfort. Furthermore the disrupted state of the surface design represents the vast experiences brought to a blanket. “When The World Was Tired” is an experimental response to collectively navigate our contemporary landscape, which has us wanting to simultaneously seek cover, and draw upon the resources to create community and closeness. There is an understanding of tolerance, empathy, recognition of suffering and willingness to help others absorbed into this object. Reimagining the context of the blanket beyond its intended use discloses details of the joys and pains of human experience and acknowledges humanity’s fragility.

“When the World was Tired” is imagined as a large-scale public installation, in order to reinterpret the narrative between the individual and the collective, as well as public space and private space, as represented through ephemeral architecture. It immerses participants into a blanket’s space while maintaining the textile’s tactility and movement.This active public sculpture calls for a moment to recognize the collective responsibility for the people under our blanket.