Exhibition opening – 36 towels

Susanne Nielsen's exhibition "36 towels - fragments of a rural culture" is an embroidered tale of major changes in the past 200 years.

The changes are told in embroidery – a slow medium – which is why the project has been underway for 15 years.

A Zealand village history unfolds with old town maps and texts about the village's replacement in 1796.

A collection of letters, written in the 1950s by the artist's mother, tells in detail about the landlady's work. The selected and embroidered quotations from the letters are about slaughtering, harvesting, beet weeding, large-scale washing, establishing a freezer and much more.

A number of family photos from the period 1903-2001 are printed in large format on some of the towels.

The individual towels represent a diversity of weaves, qualities and name markings. From unused towels to completely worn and holey ones. Together, they form an underlying narrative in the work.

"36 towels - fragments of a rural culture" documents a lost culture, and is at the same time a work in which the individual can reflect himself and his own memories.

Susanne Nielsen was educated at the School of Crafts in Kolding 1979-83. Pupil of Jette Nevers and Anne Marie Egemose 1984-85. Has participated in numerous exhibitions at home and abroad.

The exhibition can be seen until 15 June.

It is free to attend the exhibition opening. The museum offers light refreshments.