Times in Tapestry

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Far from being confined to a decor­at­ive role, tapestry has always been a power­ful tool for storytelling. From medi­eval times to contem­por­ary creations, it provides a space for dialogue at the cross­roads of collect­ive aspir­a­tions, histor­ical narrat­ives, and contem­por­ary issues.

The exhib­i­tion brings together major works from the Toms collec­tion, woven in the pres­ti­gi­ous Brus­sels work­shops between 1660 and 1725, along­side contem­por­ary creations by Goshka Macuga and Grayson Perry. Tapestries, such as The History of Scipio Afric­anus and The Emper­ors Titus and Vespasian, depict glor­i­ous and symbolic epis­odes from Roman narrat­ives. At this occa­sion two tapestries will be presen­ted to the public for the first time, high­light­ing the value and prestige of this collec­tion, owned by the State of Vaud.

These histor­ical master­pieces reson­ate with the power­ful creations of Goshka Macuga and Grayson Perry. Through tapestries such as Perry’s The Vanity of Small Differ­ences or bespoke works by Macuga, the exhib­i­tion explores contem­por­ary themes of social struggle, critiques of consumer soci­ety, and power dynam­ics. For this occa­sion, Macuga will create a unique textile work, specially created in dialogue with the Toms collec­tion, which will enhance the exhib­i­tion with a distinct­ive and contem­por­ary perspect­ive.

The confront­a­tion of ancient and contem­por­ary works will high­light the time­less power of tapestry, with its visual language capable of convey­ing complex messages and foster­ing reflec­tion on univer­sal issues.