“Unpicking: The Gannex & I”
Memorial Gestures artist Laura Nathan has embarked upon a physical and metaphorical journey of unpicking. As the grandchild of Holocaust survivors, Laura’s work stems from a need to unpick and interrogate her past and its impact today.
Laura first approached the Holocaust Centre North Archive to help her learn from the experiences of other survivors and their families. She also explored “The White Line Here There And Now Oral History Project” held in Heritage Quay, which contained interviews with people who experienced the Partition of India and Pakistan in 1947. Laura wanted to explore the multicultural experiences of refugees and migrants who were brought together in the North of England through work, carrying the scars of their past.
Her explorations since have revolved around the textile industry in Yorkshire, notably Kagan Textiles Ltd. where Gannex fabric was invented. The Kagan family story is one of the 16 survivor stories central to Through Our Eyes, the permanent exhibition at Holocaust Centre North. Laura’s residency work has centred around the laborious unpicking and reconstructing of a Gannex coat, performed whilst listening to stories of those intertwined through threads of the past.
Jenny Kagan modelling a Gannex coat. Holocaust Centre North Archive, courtesy of the Kagan family.
Join Laura in conversation as she shares her process of unpicking, discovery, remaking, and repairing broken threads. She will reflect how these actions helped her process the experiences of others, whilst gaining insight into her own family’s story.
Tickets for this event are free but limited. Please book a ticket to register your attendance. Booking is not required to view the Memorial Gestures exhibition at Sunny Bank Mills. Event attendees are welcome to visit the exhibition prior to this event.
Laura Nathan (she/her)
Laura Nathan is a contemporary textile artist, based in Manchester, UK. Her work is directly inspired by her family history. As the granddaughter of Holocaust survivors, her work often incorporates archives, inherited objects, and symbolic materials. She currently works as textiles facilitator at Venture Arts, supporting learning disabled and neurodiverse artists to develop their artistic identities.
Exhibition Information:
Memorial Gestures
Curated by Paula Kolar.
Supported using generous funding from The Ernest Hecht Charitable Foundation, Arts Council England, The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, and the Henry Moore Foundation.
Exhibition Dates : 6th –28th June 2025 .
Sunny Bank Mills Opening Hours:
Tues–Sat: 10am–4pm | Thurs: 10am–7pm | Sun: 12–4pm | Mon: Closed
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