A series of colourful, tactile macramé models developed by Arts University Bournemouth (AUB) researchers and their collaborators will be exhibited at Imperial College London as part of the prestigious Textile Intersections conference and exhibition.
Running from 17–20 September, the exhibition explores cutting-edge textile research through the theme of "Material Intelligence".
Dr Emma Shercliff, Associate Professor of Textiles and Participatory Making at AUB, is leading the project alongside a wider team of academic collaborators, including Professor Amy Twigger Holroyd (Nottingham Trent University), Professor Berit Bliesemann de Guevara (Aberystwyth University), Professor Fiona Hackney (Manchester Metropolitan University), Dr Chinelo L. Njaka (Peckham Rights!), and Dr Asha Ward (AUB).
The exhibit, titled Thinking with Knots: Materialising creative participatory research data using a macramé-inspired evaluation framework, showcases a methodology developed since 2023.
“We’re really looking forward to the exhibition," says Emma. "This is the first public outing of the series of macramé models created by me and a group of fantastic research collaborators.
"Each model reveals the power of textile concepts and material crafting in their capacity to both show and explain the incredible complexity of these types of research projects.”
The team has been using a macramé-inspired framework to evaluate the effectiveness of creative and hands-on participatory research, using the craft as a material metaphor to trace complex research journeys and outcomes.
The models on display were crafted during a research workshop held at AUB in January 2026. Designed to test the team's original prototype framework, the workshop tackled unconventional participatory formats, such as asynchronous creative participation in the Fashion Fictions project and the embroidered narratives created across multiple locations for the (Un-)Stitching Gazes project in Colombia.
Each model represents a real-life participatory project or phase, demonstrating how the material intelligence of macramé can help articulate the intricate complexities of interdisciplinary, participatory research.
The free, public exhibition will take place from 17–20 September on the Ground Floor of the Dyson Building, Imperial College London South Kensington Campus.
