With Lisa Reichmann (artist, embroidery workshop at Burg Giebichenstein University of Art and Design Halle)

We start with some thought-provoking questions: Is embroidery truly a feminine activity? How have traditional gender roles shaped women’s involvement in art? And how have they influenced perceptions of women, as well as the balance between family, work and household duties, which ultimately shaped everyday creative life? These days, we look at familiar objects differently: our grandmother’s embroidered kitchen towels bearing sayings such as “Home sweet home – happiness alone”, the monograms that appear repeatedly on the starched linens that belonged to our ancestors, and the tablecloths from the needlework shop. These would often be embroidered by diligent hands in the evening after the laundry was done. Is this merely a cliché of an inward-looking, embroidering housewife?
We explain what really lies behind it – and the enormous artistic potential that hand embroidery still holds today. The DIY movement has rediscovered traditional handicraft techniques and is spreading them worldwide via social media channels. Nevertheless, embroidery is more subject to clichés than almost any other technique. The technique itself is completely gender-neutral – yet many hesitate to use it freely as a means of artistic expression. In this workshop, we encourage you to think outside the box: learn about historical stitch types, boldly intervene in existing embroideries and develop embroidery as a powerful and free means of expression.
Feel free to bring old textiles, your own fabrics or clothing to embroider. No prior experience is required, only an openness to the process.

We are committed to respectful interaction. Discriminatory behavior has no place at our events.

Lisa Reichmann is a graduate artist, with hand embroidery her preferred medium. She works in the embroidery workshop at Burg Giebichenstein University of Art and Design Halle.

Due to the limited number of participants, please register here. Participation in public events is included with the museum admission. Meeting point: ticket counter in the foyer.