L’arte della tessitura a mano

Autore: Meirui Qian

CV: Bachelor’s Degree (Three-Year Program) and Master’s Degree (Two-Year Specialist Program) in Public Art from the School of Decoration.

Tutor: Rossella Maspoli

L’arte della tessitura a mano

In an era dominated by mechanized textile production and digital technologies, the ancient and precious techniques of handloom weaving remain alive, passed down through centuries primarily by women to the present day. An antique floral-patterned fabric forms the background on which rests a handcrafted wooden loom producing a modern geometric fabric, topped by colorful warp thread spools. A woman’s hands testify to the importance of skills involved in preparing the warp and operating the shuttle with its bobbin, as well as the tactile sensory experience of twisted textile threads. This work invites reflection on the significance of connecting with the memory of the past through a centuries-old tradition practiced in contemporary times as a collaborative activity, fostering a sense of belonging to a socially inclusive community.

Within the integrated Masterplan on “industry culture,” this refers to a sector where the relationship between the production territory and the city is historically rooted
over centuries, drawing a parallel with similar realities in China. From proto-industrial wooden vertical looms to large-scale production, the evolution through wool and cotton mills forms a collective memory stretching from Chieri and Biella to Turin.

This industry, in its various forms, is represented precisely on the walls dating back to the railway industrialization era. The representation recalls a frequently forgotten historical reality, using simplified forms drawn from historic wooden looms, based on those in the Chieri museum, and the bobbins collecting threads, highlighting manual and female labor in proto-industry