© Peiyu Cao
© Qianqian Feng
The BiPoC Tapestry Project: How to Survive Winter is an ongoing collective work initiated by members of the BiPoC Student Group (Safer Space for BIPoC) at HfG Karlsruhe. Rather than being created by a single author, the tapestry grows through the contributions of many participants over time.
Winter can be understood both literally and metaphorically. It refers to periods of uncertainty, isolation, exhaustion or difficulty, experiences that many people encounter within and beyond academic institutions. Against this backdrop, the project asks a simple question: How do we survive winter together?
Rather than proposing a single answer, the tapestry emerges through collective action. Every thread, stitch and contribution becomes part of a shared effort to create warmth, support and connection. The work therefore understands survival not as an individual achievement, but as a practice sustained through relationships, care and participation. During regular meetings, students, staff, alumni and friends of the group gather to weave, embroider and exchange experiences. The tapestry therefore functions not only as an object, but also as a record of encounters, conversations and forms of mutual support.
Presented during Rundgang in its unfinished state, the work emphasizes process over completion. The visible wooden frame, loose threads and evolving structure reveal the collective labor behind its making and invite visitors to consider authorship, belonging and community as ongoing practices rather than fixed outcomes.
The BiPoC Student Group (Safer Space for BIPoC) is an autonomous collective at HfG Karlsruhe. It welcomes people of colour, individuals who have experienced marginalization, and those who identify with minority perspectives. The group aims to provide a space for exchange, mutual support and collective learning. Through regular meetings, discussions and collaborative projects, it fosters connections across different experiences and backgrounds while creating opportunities for community-building within the university.
Instagram: @hfg_bipoc