GOSHKA MACUGA

Far from simple decoration, tapestry has always been a powerful storytelling medium. Spanning from the medieval period to today, it reflects shared histories, cultural ideals, and contemporary issues. The exhibition “Times in Tapestry” at mudac, Lausanne, brings together rare tapestries from the Toms Collection, woven in Brussels between 1660–1725, with contemporary works by Goshka Macuga and Grayson Perry. Roman-era scenes meet modern perspectives on identity, power, and consumer culture.
Comissioned by mudac, Macuga created a unique textile work in close dialogue with the Toms collection, revealing tapestry as a timeless art form that continues to speak to the world we live in now. In the same spirit, Macuga’s large-format 3D tapestry series “From Gondwana to Endangered, Who is the Devil Now?” is being showcased: The work addresses the current environmental problems we face as part of the Anthropocene. It depicts a forest set on fire, reminiscent of the many devastating fires the world has endured in recent times. The perspective 3D effect of the fabric draws the viewer into the conflagration and makes them part of the scenario. Figures of protesting animals, dressed as humans, try to escape the fire that would mean their death and the possible extinction of their species. The animal protesters denounce today's political inferno in a humorous and critical manner, as if we were already in purgatory.

07 November 2025 – 08 March 2026