We Will Find Them: Arpilleras and the Political Art of Chile Under Pinochet

Through their textiles — the arpilleras — they defied censorship, preserved memories and connected the wider world to Chile’s struggles. Blending history, art and testimony, Jess White explores how creative practice became a lifeline during a dark period of Chile’s past. Through their sale overseas, facilitated by the Catholic Church, arpilleras also raised international awareness of what was happening in Chile, with many artworks focusing on the act of ‘disappearing’: the capture of individuals suspected of politically dissident activity by the government, never to be seen again.

It also brings into focus the radical work of queer artist Pedro Lemebel, whose performance and writing expanded the boundaries of political resistance and identity, as well as connecting this rich lineage with the contemporary artists that have continued in the shadow of Pinochet, such as Isabel Allende and Cecilia Vicuña.

Featuring a selection of arpilleras that have been newly discovered, photographed and published here for the first time, alongside works held in national collections, We Will Find Them offers an intimate glimpse into the creativity and courage of Chilean makers.

Jess White is a writer based in Liverpool, UK. She has a PhD from University of Liverpool on representations of the textile industry and textile labour in nineteenth-century literature. Her work has appeared in The Guardian, Dazed, i-D, Little White Lies, The Face and others.