Orange the World – A Quilt Against Violence and for Visibility
Orange the World is a global campaign by UN Women held every year from November 25 to December 10, raising awareness about violence against women and children. Through orange light, public actions, and works of art, it sends a powerful message: violence must not be silenced.
With my quilt “Silence Tears Apart” I add my personal voice to this movement – a textile statement against silence and for the visibility of survivors.
When Silence Speaks Louder Than Screams
As a child, I experienced violence within my family — anger, fear, and moments of complete helplessness. Nights when voices thundered through the rooms. Days when silence weighed heavier than any scream. Always accompanied by the feeling of noticing everything — yet being unable to speak about anything.
This quilt reflects these very experiences. It tells a story of vulnerability, but also of strength. Of pain — and of the desire to no longer remain silent.
The Symbolism in the Quilt “Silence Tears Apart”
My work uses textile design as a deliberate visual language. Colors, lines, and forms express emotions that words cannot carry:
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The raised orange hand represents a desperate act of protection — for the child and the woman alike. In the spirit of Orange the World, the color orange embodies hope, courage, and the act of making violence visible.
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The solitary tear reveals silent pain — all that was never able to find words.
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The spirals in the background symbolize the emotional whirlwind of fear and helplessness that traps those affected.
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The sharply crossing quilt lines express inner rupture, pain, and emotional barriers.
My quilt invites observation — but seeks, above all, to be felt.
Textile Art as a Voice Against Violence
Through “Silence Tears Apart” I stitched not only memories, but healing. Each stitch is both a personal step toward recovery and a political act.
Materials and Techniques
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Dark, muted gray cotton fabrics mirror the heaviness of the theme.
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Hand-guided quilting produces nervous lines and expressive structures.
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Spirals and flowing quilting patterns enhance the feeling of inner motion.
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The orange appliqué draws the eye, consciously linking the work to the Orange the World campaign.
Orange the World – Why Being Seen Saves Lives
Domestic violence and violence against women and children are not private matters — they are issues of collective responsibility.
The Orange the World campaign makes visible, across the world, what is so often kept silent:
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One out of every three women will experience violence in her lifetime.
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Millions of children are raised in environments shaped by violence.
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Silence shields the perpetrator, never the victim.
Art can open spaces for dialogue, challenge taboos, and nurture empathy. My quilt is meant to invite people to look — rather than turn away.
With Thanks to UN Women Germany
Through the Orange the World initiative by UN Women Germany, I found the courage to share this profoundly personal work. Their dedication demonstrates how art can speak quietly, yet with great impact, within societal conversations.
