The Shirt is one of the earliest known garments. The oldest known example is a linen shirt discovered in an Egyptian tomb and dated to around 3500 BCE. Throughout history, the shirt has signified class, occupation and belonging – from the durability of the work shirt to the starched white shirt and its associations with cleanliness, discipline and power. In its seemingly simple construction, the shirt carries traces of norms surrounding the body, gender and control, while continually being redefined through fashion, work and resistance.
The exhibition centres on craftsmanship and artistic expression. The process from hand-printed textile to finished garment is slow and meticulous, offering a deliberate counterpoint to today’s fast-paced and standardised production. Each shirt bears traces of time, material and the presence of the hand.
The installation of classic shirts highlights the unique expressions and possibilities of craftsmanship while questioning the view of textiles as fast, inexpensive products with short lifespans.
Participating artists
Eva Ahnoff, Jenny Andersen, Elisabeth Björkbom, Eva Ericsson, Adrienn Görgenyi Andersdotter, Margareta Heijkenskjöld Holmgren, Sofia Kroon Walter, Sofia Boy Lindeberg, Karin Olu Lindgård, Matilda Ekström Rosenberg, Teresa Montesino Hammarskjöld, Jytte Olsson, Matilda Pernryd, Pernilla Rozenberg, Klara Stigner, Marie Wetterstrand and Dyveke Zadig.