Zainab Hussain

Our Stories Cannot Be Unlistened To

This work features materials sourced second hand from family and friends as well as from local markets in Mumbai, India. While in India during the pandemic I was struck by the number of formal wear shops and how they far out numbered casual wear. The culture of togetherness and celebration is incredibly strong there and I wondered how they might be surviving with no parties or weddings to attend. During the pandemic I haven’t even considered getting any new outfits, but I started gathering materials that would usually be slated for a new wedding or Eid outfit to make a new piece of art instead. The phrase stitched into the fabric “Our Stories Cannot Be Unlistened To” comes from thinking about finding connections through story sharing and the lasting impact of empathetic listening when physical connections feel distant and impossible.