Threads carry diverse Palestinian stories in a new exhibition at IAMM

A general view of the Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia’s newly opened exhibition ‘Tatreez: Reclaiming Palestine Through Embroidery’, which explores how Palestinian embroidery continues to serve as a vital medium of historical memory, resilience and cultural identity. Photo: The Star/Raja Faisal Hishan

Embroidery and textile arts are rarely afforded significant space in museums, making the Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia’s newly opened exhibition Tatreez: Reclaiming Palestine Through Embroidery a notable undertaking. The exhibition highlights the rich tradition of Palestinian embroidery and is accompanied by the publication of a book.

As the museum – located in the vicinity of Perdana Botanical Garden in Kuala Lumpur – aptly notes, tatreez is more than a decorative art form; it is “a visual language of memory, identity and cultural continuity, passed down by the skilled hands of women who have preserved its patterns over centuries”.

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