Social Fabric: A Community Textile Activation

Drawing on the textile traditions reflected in Anahita Akhavan’s new mural, West Block becomes a place for shared making. Working with SHEEEP Studio, visitors of all ages will assemble textiles throughout the afternoon, gathering colour, pattern, and the gestures of many hands.

A living artwork unfolds at West Block with Social Fabric, a large-scale participatory installation inspired by the textile traditions and visual language of Iranian rug making found in Anahita Akhavan’s recent mural commission, مجلس Majles / Sitting Room, presented at the West Block staircases earlier this summer.  

Drawing on motifs and patterns found in Akhavan’s artwork, participants use simple acts of weaving and social connection to stitch together our social fabric. Developed by SHEEEP Studio, this installation invites all ages to become co-creators, assembling colourful fabric elements together. Their collective effort grows throughout the night to create a monumental textile composition. 

Spanning the staircase landing and gathering areas, the final artwork becomes a vivid record of the many hands that shape it. Local facilitators guide visitors through the process, creating an opportunity to experience textile-making as a living, shared practice that connects people across generations and cultures at West Block. 

Curated by The Bentway and presented in partnership with Choice Properties.