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.