Poems, embroideries and other texts made in self-defence

(Please note you can view the full version of this film at Armour Documentary)

Armour was a project that used words and stitches to explore the ways we protect ourselves. It was a collaboration with veterans of armed conflict and with people who have lived experience of homelessness. We asked people to describe their personal “armour”, physical and mental. Artworks inspired by gambesons, the quilted jackets worn under suits of armour, were made out of rust dyed fabric and embroidered with poems, and other writings.

We asked people to describe their personal “armour”, physical and mental. And to imagine what might happen if was taken off. That spark of imagining is what gave life to these poems. Out of much heart-searching, during the art and poetry workshops, came many pieces of writing. Some were embroidered, or inscribed on suits of armour made of cloth.

How can people who’ve experienced physical and psychological violence live peacefully with their memories? In our workshops we discussed how we protect our deeper selves and how we heal. This project was devised to allow emotional/artistic exploration of difficult areas of personal history. The poems come out of the experience of conflict – but our hope is that they might help people to find some peace.

Participants 235 people at The Booth Centre Manchester, Tom Harrison House, Liverpool.

Locations: The Booth Centre, Manchester. Tom Harrison House, Liverpool. Imperial War Museum North   Royal Armouries Leeds

More information 

Armour blogs and diaries

Documentary  film at Armour Documentary

Poem collection in the form of a PDF (downloadable leaflet)

Exhibitions  

2017     Museum Association Conference and Exhibition. Audience: 1500 people

2017     Booth Centre, Manchester. Audience 100 people

Armour was supported by Arts Council England  The Booth Centre, and Walking with the Wounded

This body of armour that 
is the weight and size 
of my heart 
is the shield and protection 
to my soul and eyes 
when touched I breathe sweet air

Eliot