Santiago: Over 120 Embroiderers Bring Palestinian Poetry Exhibit to Life at Espacio MNWAL

Espacio MNWAL (Santa Filomena 357, Santiago) has launched the exhibit «I Just Want to Die in My Land,» part of the Poemario SUR-Versivo for Palestine project. This is a collectively created textile art piece directed and produced by Alejandra Bustos Sabal, in collaboration with Ana Apablaza, both artists contributing to this initiative.

The exhibit features five poems by Palestinian writers embroidered in large format during collective sessions held between 2024 and 2025 across Santiago, Concepción, and Puerto Varas.

«Embroidery is a political act of remembrance: each stitch is a gesture of resistance that keeps the presence of Palestine alive amid attempts to erase its historical and cultural identity,» reflects Alejandra Bustos.

Inspired by Chilean arpilleras, Zapatista embroidery, and the pañuelos of the Madres de Plaza de Mayo, the project acknowledges collective manual labor as a tool for denunciation, organization, and re-existence. The curation and setup of the exhibit have been crafted by the Espacio MNWAL team, marking their third exhibition since their establishment in 2025.

Additionally, as part of the programming associated with the exhibition, a community embroidery workshop will be held during the exhibit’s duration. Participants can learn various textile techniques and contribute to the creation of a new piece, which will be publicly installed upon completion. More information can be found on Instagram at @espacio.mnwal.