The Weavers of Mampujan Share Their Art in Hackney

The armed conflict in Colombia wrought violence and brutal displacement on the people of Mampuján, Colombia. Their response was to make beautiful tapestries as a collective to tell their story. As part of the Peace Accord’s reparations, they requested a Museum of Art and Memory of Mampuján. Their tapestries are displayed there.

On 21 November 2023, indigenous activist, teacher and maker Juana Alicia Ruiz Hernandez and anthropologist Juliana Campuzano Botero came from Mampuján to make and share work with the Foundation for Future London’s creative communities. The Foundation recognised synergies and similar aspirations to empower communities through culture.

The women weavers shared their communities’ story and made tapestries with artists from Skaped, Catalyst in the Communities and Colechi, grantees of our Westfield East Bank Creative Futures Fund, backed by Westfield Stratford City. The session was hosted at Westfield Fund grantee Eastside’s venue in Hackney.

We are now pleased to share a new film that documents the session and story shared, created by Eastside, and also photos, taken by photographer Anne-Marie Michel.

Thanks to all involved in this special day especially Juana, Juliana and Adriana Sandoval Trujillo, Head of Press and Culture, Embassy of Columbia to the UK; and to Alice Devitt, Director of Fundraising and Development, and Sarah Nelson, Interim CEO, for organising it.

A big thanks to Westfield Stratford City for supporting this Colombian-UK creative sharing opportunity through our Westfield East Bank Creative Futures Fund.

Photography by Anne-Marie Michel
Video by Eastside — Louise Kent and Wren Harley

Thank you and acknowledgements

Westfield Stratford City
Embassy of Colombia
Juana Alicia Ruiz Hernandez
Juliana Campuzano Botero
Adriana Sandoval Trujillo
Skaped
Catalyst in Communities
Colichi
Eastside
Matt Lane
Louise Kent
Wren Harley
Foundation for Future London
Sarah Nelson
Alice Devitt
Amy Zamarripa Solis
Anne-Marie Michel