When we hear the words activism and protest, we immediately think about storming the streets with placards in our hands, fists hanging in the air, and chants of rallies that nerve the resistance of the masses. But there are far more ways to express our protests: through songs, poetry, and writing, and by joining social media rallies—boycotting, even. But art is the way to go when it comes to a more intricate way of liberating our ideals.
While art is a general concept to even dissect, it naturally goes hand-in-hand with activism. They both magically turn toward a meaningful cause. Just look at Ja Turla, an embroidery artist from Samar, who felt the need to explore a different art form to verbalize her calls and dissents.
The thread of it all
By grabbing an embroidery hoop, a white fabric, a needle, and a thread, Ja Turla carefully weaves her rattling protest for the people to hear and see. According to the artist, she gradually found interest in embroidery after searching for a new art form that did not limit its digital nature. In doing so, her dauntless take on societal issues became her space for our wavering problems. From time to time, the artist makes her artistry worthwhile by incorporating salient issues of equality and LGBTQ+ rights, environmental awareness, voter rights, and even calling out the attacks on farmers.
Not only that, but Ja Turla creatively separates her ideas through her different Instagram art accounts, which you can visit at @emo.broidery, where her embroidered protests are seen, and @dagum_embroidery, where different embroideries are made for other people! Yes, you can commission her to do an embroidery of your liking! But what’s even more fascinating is her mental health awareness embroidery series, which shows different forms of distress and troubles.
Her careful thought into weaving and stitching the threads into a message is definitely a way to translate her thoughts and process. In a way, Turla curates a safe space for people suffering from mental health issues and for art activists, due to the fact that activism really does take a lot of time and energy to even begin with. But with her strong views and persistent intention, she manages to amplify the calls while doing the thing she loves the most.
