KRAKATOA cloth

Krakatoa is a hand embroidery feminist textile art kitchen towel. This hand-embroidered cloth belongs to the Pandemic Series together with CALMA and MELIFERA. Together, these works reflect on gender, domesticity and social structures.

The series speaks about a species that confined itself indoors while simultaneously generating other forms of crisis. For example, stay-at-home orders limited the spread of the virus; however, they also created dangerous situations for many women living with violent partners.

According to data from the United Nations, 50 women die every week in Europe because of gender violence. In addition, one in three women worldwide experiences sexual or physical violence during her lifetime.

Violence against women and girls constitutes a violation of human rights. Furthermore, the UN estimates that society remains decades away from achieving full equality between men and women.

At the same time, the pandemic intensified existing gender inequalities. Women often occupy positions with greater job insecurity while also carrying most responsibilities related to domestic labour and family care.

Krakatoa hand embroidery feminist textile art erupting from the domestic

Although the COVID-19 pandemic showed a higher mortality rate among men, its economic and social consequences have had a particularly strong impact on women.

The Pandemic Rags Series seeks to revalue and decontextualise the narratives traditionally assigned to women. In this context, the domestic sphere and embroidery — historically understood as feminine labour — come together in a critical and symbolic way.

On the Krakatoa cloth, embroidery erupts and demands visibility. Instead of remaining decorative or secondary, the textile surface becomes a space of resistance and confrontation.

Historically, embroidery has been closely linked to the lives of women. Nevertheless, despite its technical complexity and ornamental richness, it has often been relegated to the category of domestic work rather than recognised as artistic practice.

Throughout history, embroidery has symbolised high social rank, opulence, industriousness, femininity and domesticity.

The hand-embroidered Krakatoa cloth uses textile art needlework to express a series of dualities, including:

inside / outside, active / passive, strength / weakness, domestic / fierce, luxurious / frugal, private / public, tradition / modernity.

Moreover, the Krakatoa cloth transforms the kitchen towel into a conceptual canvas. As a result, female roles associated with domestic labour are displaced and challenged. Consequently, the entire symbolic order trembles, and the kitchen towel no longer fulfils its expected function.

Finally, Krakatoa cloth is a unique piece from the Pandemic Series by Malimbus Studio.

The series was exhibited in Story #5 Exhibition.

KRAKATOA — hand embroidery feminist textile art kitchen towel, one of a kind. Pandemic Series, Malimbus Studio.