Britta Marakatt-Labba

Britta Marakatt-Labba (b. 1951), an artist of Sámi heritage, weaves the stories of her people – who live across the far north of Scandinavia and Russia’s Kola Peninsula – into thread and cloth. At the heart of this exhibition is Historjá, a 24-metre-long embroidery that captures the rhythms of Sámi life and legend. Unfolding not in a straight line but in a circle, it begins and ends in the forest – like a story passed from one generation to the next.

The exhibition Where Every Stitch Breathes showcases approximately sixty creations by Britta Marakatt-Labba, spanning her artistic journey from 1968 to the present. Embroidery, in her hands, becomes an art of intentional slowness—an exploration of time and space where every stitch carries with it layers of experience and profound insight, crafting intricate narratives. Set against the backdrop of majestic mountain vistas and snow-blanketed landscapes, Marakatt-Labba portrays a way of life intertwined with spirituality. This presence flows seamlessly through everyday moments, historical episodes, accounts of systemic oppression, and poignant meditations on the fragility of the natural world.