Alke Schmidt: Tangled Yarns

A fascinating new exhibition from artist Alke Schmidt at the William Morris Gallery, Tangled Yarns is an exploration of the politics and morality of the textile industry and cotton trade throughout history. In a comprehensive study spanning from the 18th century up to the present day, Schmidt skillfully tells the story of prints, cotton, and numerous fabrics, without once passing judgement or putting forward a political agenda, despite the somewhat sensitive subject matter. And considering it's always been an industry blighted by controversy, the most interesting part of this exhibition has to be the way in which Schmidt refuses to shy away from such complexity.
From the violent campaign by English weavers against imported Indian cotton in the early 1700s, when gangs attacked women wearing patterned cotton gowns or petticoats, to the collapse of the Rana Plaza factory building, an incident which left 1,138 Bangladeshi garment workers dead, Schmidt uses carefully curated individual pieces of textiles to examine and shed light on each different episode of the industry's deep - and often dark - history. 
And aside from the enlightening storytelling aspect, there is also an wonderful visual side to this new showcase, with beautiful and timeless Morris prints displayed alongside more provocative pieces, showing the huge evolution the industry has undergone. Thought provoking and aesthetically tantalizing, this exhibition is one of the cool places to visit in London.