Bangladeshi women's journeys told in artwork

Eve ConnorNorth East and Cumbria
News imageSean Pollock Numerous tapestries painted with vibrant purple colours, each depicting various different scenes. These scenes include houses, greenery and people. Numerous people can be seen walking in-between the tapestries.Sean Pollock
The Stitching Light exhibition is a textile and light installation

The stories of Bangladeshi women who have moved to the UK have been used to create an art installation.

Women from Middlesbrough were among those involved in Stitching Light, a textile and light artwork on show in the town this weekend.

Their stories have been used to create Bangladeshi folk art in the form of textile panels which have been hand painted by an artist in Dhaka and which are on display on Saturday and Sunday at The Courtyard at Middlesbrough Town Hall.

Founder of Middlesbrough-based Bok Bok Books Rumana Yasmin said the project was "not just to reflect on where they or their families have come from, but to celebrate what they bring with them".

"Middlesbrough has been shaken by the riots last year," she said.

"A project like this offers reassurance that there is a counter-current of hope and solidarity."

As well as participants from Middlesbrough, the project involved people from Tower Hamlets, Leeds, Bradford, Worcester and Salford.

News imageSean Pollock A close up view of some of the tapestries. One in the foreground of the picture displays a scene with a person lying in a be, and is painted in bright colours, including green, yellow, blue and red. Another tapestry that is prominent in the image displays a scene with various buildings and also greenery. This second tapestry consists of bright yellows, reds and blues.Sean Pollock
Women from Middlesbrough and other parts of the country have been involved in the project

Borderlands creative producer Lou Scholes said: "The artwork has an extraordinary power and is full of passion.

"The stories of courage, resilience and cultural preservation speak directly to people seeing it."

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