Call for Contributions!

Lee Mingwei shares:

“The inspiration for “The Fabric of Memory” is a childhood photograph of me and my mother. She’s holding my hand, and I’m wearing a jacket she made for me. The photo was taken on my first day of preschool, and the thought of being separated from my parents made me very sad. I finally agreed to go after my mother told me to think of the jacket as a hug from her.

For this project, I invite you to reflect on personal belongings – clothes and textiles –made for you by parents, grandparents, other relatives, or people with whom you have a close relationship. I would like you to search your home for such items – things you’ve cherished and kept – and write down everything you can remember about them: who made them, when, how they were used, and the memories they bring back. These items will be placed in wooden boxes in the autumn exhibition. When a museum visitor opens one of the boxes, they’ll discover not just the item, but also a deeply personal story that captures the connection between the recipient and the maker.”

WOULD YOU LIKE TO PARTICIPATE?

Email Fabricofmemory@modernamuseet.se by 31 July , 2025.
Send 1 – 3 photographs of a memorable handmade garment or textile, along with the story behind it. The text should be a maximum of 300 words. Include your full name, email address, and phone number.

Your contribution must fit in a wooden box – either 55 x 42 cm (larger) or 42 x 32 cm (smaller). We hope many people will want to share their photos and stories. The artist and museum will make a selection and present about 20 contributions. If your item is chosen for the exhibition, we will contact you to arrange for it to be dropped off at the museum or collected. The item will be displayed in a box throughout the entire exhibition period (September 2025 – January 2026). After the exhibition, your item will be returned to you.

About Lee Mingwei
Artist Lee Mingwei was born in Taiwan and lives in Paris, Taipei, and New York. His work centers around participation and artworks that are based on exchange and collaboration with others.