Threading the Needle: Vestiges of Colonialism and Femininity

 

Gluklya’s work is a powerful example of socially engaged art at the intersections of gender, class, and cultural identity. By focusing on experiences of female textile workers in Kyrgyzstan, the artist explores the often-overlooked stories of women affected by Soviet and post-Soviet colonialism. "Threading the Needle: Vestiges of Colonialism and Femininity" retells their stories using a diverse range of media — film, sculpture, watercolors, and felt tapestries. Unfolding the implications of economic and societal pressures on women, Gluklya explores issues of poverty, isolation, and exploitation among the garment workers.

Personal stories are woven into a broader social context — such as the legacy of the "Likbez" (liquidation of illiteracy) campaign among women in Central Asia during Soviet rule and entrenched patriarchal traditions, like "Ala Kachuu" (bride-kidnapping). This dynamic — where colonization and modernization intertwine the individual lives they touch — raises questions about cultural identity and the ethical borders of decolonized research.

This exhibition was curated by CREES alumna Dianne Beal (BA REES '79).

 

​Threading the Needle: Vestiges of Colonialism and Femininity, an installation by Gluklya

on view through May 2, 2025

LSA International Institute at the Weiser Center in collaboration

with The Center for Russian and East European Studies in Gallery 547

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