When: Feb 18 to April 27

Where: West Bund Museum, No 2600 Longteng Avenue, Xuhui district

Shanghai's West Bund Museum has launched an innovative public art project called "Weaving Together" in collaboration with Paris cultural center and art museum, the Centre Pompidou.

The Centre Pompidou is a multifaceted complex in the Beaubourg area of the French capital. Inaugurated in 1977, it was envisioned by then  President Georges Pompidou as a unique venue for art and culture, bringing together various disciplines in one location.

The big weaving initiative invites the public to step from the outdoors into the museum's atrium, where they can participate in a special, relay-style weaving creation.

Designed by French architect and artist Emilie Queney in collaboration with the Centre Pompidou, the project features a series of movable looms and weaving stations — providing participants with the opportunity to craft fabrics together.

Originally conceived in northern France, the project made its debut at the Centre Pompidou in Paris before evolving into a cross-cultural and cross-city experience at the West Bund Museum in Shanghai.

Within the museum's atrium, a continuous flow of red fabric, about 10 centimeters wide, cascades from above.

Participants are invited to wrap the fabric around 11 positioned columns, forming textured red bands. In contrast to the looms, the surrounding weaving stations offer greater creative freedom.

Each station is equipped with yarn in four colors — orange, yellow, green and blue — allowing participants to interlace, knot and weave together a range of unique patterns.

The project caters to both experienced weavers and first-timers. Whether a visitor is specifically coming to participate or is just simply passing by, they can join in the creative process and enjoy the communal experience.

Emily, an expat handcraft enthusiast, shared her excitement after participating. Though she had attended several weaving workshops before, this collective activity at the West Bund Museum offered her something special.

"When you weave alone, you have your own ideas and sometimes you give up halfway. Here, everyone works toward the same goal," Emily said.

The "Weaving Together" project will remain open to the public until April 27. During this time, the West Bund Museum will also offer a series of workshops and themed discussions exploring the relationship between art and community.

Source: thepaper.cn