Item of the Month

The Collections Department presents Tisser le silence, a monumental embroidery created by Esteban Peña Villagràn and Federica Fratagnoli, which was added to the collections of the Museum and Memorial of Terrorism in 2024. The result of seven years of work, this 2.50-meter-tall textile work pays tribute to the victims of the July 14, 2016, attack in Nice.

The composition depicts the city of Nice and its Promenade des Anglais in vibrant colors, drawing on Chilean textile traditions. In its lower section, the promenade transforms into a network of roots; above the sea, silhouettes suspended from threads and metal rods float, representing the souls of the victims. A Mapuche flag is sewn onto the back of the work—a reference to the origins of one of the artists—affirming the idea of solidarity among cultures in the face of violence.

On the reverse side, there is also a pouch embroidered with an eye, intended to hold a message and a photograph of the artists, and eventually, of the victims of terrorism. This gesture continues a practice of Chilean women during the dictatorship, who concealed messages in their sewing projects. Future museum visitors may be invited to carry on this tradition by adding their own pouch containing a personal message.

Esteban Peña Villagràn is a self-taught visual artist, illustrator, dancer, and choreographer. A survivor of the July 14, 2016, attack, he lives and works in Nice.

© Benoît Pailley / GIP MMT

Don de Esteban Peña Villagràn et Federica Fratagnoli

© GIP MMT

Don de Esteban Peña Villagràn et Federica Fratagnoli