Press release: Three powerful textile exhibitions on Victory over Japan (VJ) Day 80

Coin Street neighbourhood centre is proud to present three powerful textile exhibitions on Victory over Japan (VJ) Day 80: Tapestry of Black Britons, Voyage to the Islands Quilt, and Faces and Fabrics of Coin Street Community Quilt. 

These exhibitions celebrate inclusive histories, community creativity, and intergenerational storytelling through the medium of textiles. The public is invited to view the works on Friday 15 August 2025, from 1pm to 4pm.

Tapestry of Black Britons: Weaving Inclusive Histories

Created by Paula Ogun Hector and woven in collaboration with Bristol-based textile innovators Dash + Miller, the Tapestry of Black Britons is an evolving artwork inspired by the Bayeux Tapestry and African woven traditions. It tells a more inclusive story of British history, with an initial focus on the often-overlooked contributions of Black British, Caribbean, African and Indian service personnel during the Second World War.

At the heart of the exhibition is a striking Second World War panel, marking the 80th anniversary of VE + VJ Day - based on archival imagery from Getty Images Black History & Culture Collection and the Imperial War Museum. Also featured is Out of Many, a hand-woven piece by award-winning expert weaver Doreen Gittens, based at London’s Oxo Tower Wharf for the past twenty-five years.

A new panel designed by artists Adwoa Botchey and Solomon Adebiyi of Adeche Atelier debuts at this event. Drawing from Yoruba mythology, their tapestry depicts a Yoruba creation story, adding a spiritual and cultural dimension to the historical narrative.

Voyage to the Islands Quilt, by artist Jahnavi Inniss, will also be on public display, re-examining the overlooked roots of scientific discovery. Inspired by the Hans Sloane Herbarium; a collection of over 1,000 plant and animal specimens gathered from former British ‘West Indian’ colonies in the late 1600s, this piece highlights the crucial, yet largely unrecognised, role of enslaved Africans and indigenous communities in shaping modern science.

As the tapestry travels across the UK, it will grow through contributions from artists, embroiderers, poets including Grace Nichols FRSL and John Agard FRSL, schoolchildren, academics, and cultural institutions such as the University of Birmingham Culture Forward, Crafts Study Centre, Manchester Central Library, Hastings Museum, and the Great Tapestry of Scotland Museum.

“This innovative and imaginative project, a modern interpretation of both the Bayeux and Akan commemorative traditions will provide a valuable educational resource for generations to come,” said The Rt Hon Lord Paul Boateng CVO, Chancellor of the University of Greenwich, and Co-Chair of the Grenfell Tower Memorial Commission.

“Tapestry of Black Britons spotlights inclusive British history, fostering deeper understanding of our shared past and present,” said Paula Ogun Hector, Founder and Creative Director. “The World War II design honours contributions that historically have been marginalised, while the Yoruba creation story celebrates mythology and storytelling that connect us all. Out of many threads, we are one fabric. This exhibition was made possible thanks to public funding from the National Lottery through Arts Council England.”

Faces and Fabrics: A Community Quilt of Identity and Belonging

Faces and Fabrics of Coin Street Community Quilt is a joyful and collaborative project between the Coin Street Over 50s Art Group, ESEA Unseen, and the wider community. Led by Nishi Begum and Libbie Jackson-Bell from the Coin Street Youth and Community Team and Sue Man and Kim Chin from ESEA Unseen. Inspired by a group visit to the Barbican’s Unravel exhibition in early 2024, the exhibition explored textiles as protest, healing, and resistance. The group asked if they could create a textiles project to celebrate the Coin Street community. The quilt literally stitches together people, place and community.

Over the summer ESEA Unseen, were commissioned to run a series of 5 intergenerational workshops introducing process, techniques and ways of making a portrait. More than 80 people contributed to the quilt, including local children, young people, art group regulars, neighbours, volunteers, and Coin Street staff. The youngest participant was 7 years old, the oldest 80.

Each patch is a personal self-portrait, not just of faces, but of identity, culture, and memory. The final quilt is still being hand-stitched by staff and volunteers and will be a lasting symbol of what community art can achieve. It’s not about perfection, it’s about participation, pride and the stories we share.