Secret War Conflict Textiles Bear Witness, Telling Stories of War & Displacement
There was a time from 1965-1973, when I was a child living in northern Thailand, when 6.7 tons of bombs (including over 270 million cluster bombs) rained down on Laos, a small country not at war….but strategic for the US, during the US Vietnam War, where a Secret War was being waged.
A genre of hand-woven textiles interspersed with imagery of bombs, fighter jets, parachutes, and guns……. a little-known category of ‘conflict textiles’ bears witness, and tells the stories of war and displacement, in intimate personal narratives. They speak of the immediacy of the violence……..The war ‘ended’ 50 years ago, but these voices continue to speak. I honor and preserve these memories.
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Tai Leu circa 1970’s, sinh skirt with alternating bands of helicopters and oxen. On first glance we don’t even see the ‘non-traditional’ motifs….they have been transformed into the mythical vocabulary of the weaver. It is exquisitely balanced artistry and storytelling in weaving.
Tai Leu sinh c 1970’s, collection and photos, Julia M. Brennan
This Tai Lue blanket, below, from 1970’s is based perhaps on the weaver’s memory of the war. It was likely made for a temple or ceremonial use. The helicopter motifs appear to replace the traditional lion or singha motif, common to these blankets. (Tai Leu blanket, collection and photos Julia M Brennan).
...what appears like a fast swimming fish in the central band is a whizzing bomb.
At first glance the skirt appears traditional in color, form, motif………but it is a schematic of the Secret War. It depicts a mélange of life, good and evil; the necessities and aggressors…….ducks and buffalo mix with machine guns, helicopters and bomber planes…..what appears like a fast swimming fish in the central band is a whizzing bomb.
(1960’s phasin, private collection S. Stem)
And, for more coverage, explore the NBC News article published on April 17, 2023 featuring images from my collection.
Rahim, Saqib. “Textiles Show History of Secret War in Laos and How Women Perceived Conflict.” NBC News. NBC News, April 17, 2023. https://nbcnews.to/3L76AS7.
To learn more about the Secret War and how you can help to clean up the UXO in Laos, visit Legacies of War.
A very telling and inherently unexpected insight into the impact of decades of conflict upon a peaceful people
This is fascinating and disturbing.
Thank you so much for the valuable work you do and for letting the rest of us see these remarkable textiles.
thanks very much Julia for these sad but true events weaved into textile