Thread Memory: Embroidery from Palestine

curated by rachel dedman for victoria & Albert museum

Thread Memory: Embroidery from Palestine at the V&A Dundee examines the historical, cultural, and political dimensions of tatreez, the traditional hand-embroidery of Palestine. The exhibition presents tatreez as an expressive language shaped by regional styles, gendered social histories, and the interrelation of art, identity, and resistance. It brings together traditional embroidered dresses that bear motifs, cuts, colors, and stitches recording a woman’s milestones, social status, and transformations in Palestinian rural and urban life. The exhibition also underscores the historic twinning relationship between Nablus and Dundee, drawing upon material from Dundee’s collections as well as Palestinian sources to articulate a story of cultural connection and shared history.

I was commissioned by V&A Dundee as a contributing designer to produce a suite of components in support of this exhibition. My responsibilities included the Common Threads Community Project, which brought together members of the Dundee community to learn and study Palestinian embroidery and their connections to Scottish culture. My work also included the development of interpretive materials and interactive resources that deepen public engagement with tatreez and the material on display to foster reflection on its role in heritage, resistance, and identity, and expand access for diverse audiences across ages. My work, in collaboration with Cara Rooney and Skye Sutherland, contributed to the exhibition’s educational framework by creating resources that extend beyond the museum into libraries and community settings.

Activity Sheets

I collaborated with Scottish illustrator Cara Rooney to create a series of activity sheets for the Thread Memory exhibition. These resources introduce tatreez, the thobe, and the art of close-looking as I once learned from my mother as a young girl. It was an honor to work with Cara to develop ideas that could engage a wide range of age groups. The activities invite participants to explore tatreez motifs, thobe decoration, the twinning of Nablus and Dundee, and playful landscapes that honor Palestinian people and culture. Our aim was to create materials that spark conversations about Palestine in many different ways and open up pathways for learning and cultural preservation. The sheets will be used inside the museum and in community spaces, including local libraries in Dundee. This ensures that the resources reach audiences beyond the exhibition walls and continue to inspire reflection and dialogue.

About Cara Rooney, illustrator from Dundee, Scotland: She encourages playful connections to the world through interactive books, activity resources and creative workshops. By combining bright colors, bold compositions and handmade textures, Cara creates illustrations with a sense of child-like wonder. Through all of her work, she aims to inspire a sense of curiosity for the world, and empathy for the creatures and people we share it with. Photo credit: Jilly Noble