The Art of Mankind: Man Met lecturer to feature in major London textile exhibition
- Article by Ella Venn, Daimon Parmar, Ellie Double, and Tilly Snaith
- Featured image credit: Paul Daly
The work of a senior Man Met lecturer is set to feature in a major London exhibition this weekend.
In a short film produced by Man Met’s journalism department, textile lecturer Dr Lynn Setterington shared her thoughts and career journey ahead of her exhibition in the London Museum of Fashion and Textiles.
Born in Yorkshire, Setterington began her textiles career at York College of Arts & Technology before later going on to study at Goldsmiths College, London. In her words, her stitching journey began with personal, ‘quite autobiographical’ pieces.
“Over a number of years, I started working with Asian women’s groups, because my own practice was kind of informed by a type of stitch that originates in Bengal,” she said.
“It made me realise that there’s a lot of connections: even though we didn’t necessarily speak the same language, there was a connection there.”
In 2018, she completed her PHD study on the benefits of collaborative stitch, which involved engaging with overlooked communities and diverse organisations to broaden the creative process.
It also led her to become a trustee at the Venture Arts charity, an organisation dedicated to creating art with adults who have learning difficulties.
In the years since it all began, her work continues to dedicate itself to marginalised communities across the globe, including the UK, India, Bangladesh, Brazil, and the USA.
The Art of Mankind
The exhibition, ‘The Art of Mankind’, opens 28 March and features a wide range of textile art from across the globe, including several pieces of Setterington’s own work from her ‘Connecting Threads’ collection.
It focusses on celebrating the relationship between humans and textiles, reflecting Setterington’s use of craft to challenge contemporary societal issues.
“It’s about how textiles pervades, and is part of all aspects of society and life,” she said.
The Art of Mankind will not be the first time Setterington’s work has featured in a museum: her art has also been displayed in multiple other galleries, including the V&A, Crafts Council, and the Whitworth Art Gallery.
‘Connecting Threads’, Setterington’s debut book, was released in January ahead of the exhibition. It features 12 of her works from 1981 to 2024, with each acting as a ‘social history document’ of the untold stories of people and places, conveyed through stitch.
The book also delves into the processes of a textile artist, from creative thinking, to project management, to the hurdles encountered while working in a socially-engaged practice.
“With what’s happening in the world, I think we do just need to keep talking to each other,” she said.
“Opportunities to do that across communities is really a big part of what drives my practice.”
Tickets to The Art of Mankind are on sale now on the Fashion and Textiles Museum website.