The Red Thread
2022
The Red Thread (2022) is an installation of six industrial sewing machines, which are operated remotely—and in real time—by sewing machine operators in the Pret Interpret Clothing factory in Bengaluru, India. As the operators perform their everyday work duties as assigned by their line manager, the movements of their foot pedals are reproduced instantaneously in the installation, triggering the needles into action. This is achieved with an Internet of Things system of sensors and motors, which records the foot pedal operations and recreates them in the installation within milliseconds. Since each operator performs a different task in the production line and has a personal style of operating their machine, each machine in the installation exhibits a unique behaviour reflective of the real-time working process in Bengaluru.
The Red Thread at The Complex, Dublin. Film: Anthony O’Connor and Kerry Guinan
The Red Thread originally took place in The Complex, Dublin, a gallery in an industrial building, which is located in an urban neighbourhood that was formerly a hub of garment production in Ireland. Ireland’s modest garment industry has since been almost entirely outsourced. India is currently one of the largest garment producing countries in the world and Bengaluru is its production capital. Pret Interpret Clothing is a small factory of approximately 30 workers; they specialise in producing luxury garments detailed with traditional artisan techniques.
The time difference between the two cities is 4.5hrs, such that the installation was operated in the afternoon in Bengaluru and active in the morning in Dublin.
The Red Thread film excerpt (2022). Film: Anthony O’Connor
The Red Thread installation is accompanied by a contextual film by Anthony O’Connor, which documents the production of the project between Ireland and Bengaluru. The film weaves observational documentary, interviews with participants, and functional imagery captured in the making of the project, such as online meeting recordings, video communications between the project team, and video captured by the garment workers. The film was translated into Kannada and later screened for the workers at the garment factory, as well as for the local arts community in Bengaluru.
Also accompanying the installation is a visitor notebook, which invites the audience to write messages to the participating workers. Following the original edition, these messages, along with press material, were translated into Kannada and compiled into a publication and audio book for the project participants.
The participation of the garment factory and its workers is made on a voluntary basis, grounded in the shared vision of creating a space in which the long-distance relationship between the operators and their consumer base can be mutually experienced. This relationship is ongoing, with the project acting as the central mode of exchange.
Press
Exhibitions and Screenings
The Red Thread was exhibited at The Complex Gallery, 2022
The Red Thread film has been screened at the Royal Institute of Art Stockholm (2025) Ormston House Limerick (2025), the Douglas Hyde Dublin (2024), Maraa Collective Bengaluru (2023), Pallas Projects/Studios (2022), and The Complex Gallery Dublin (2022).
Production Credits
Artistic-Direction
Kerry Guinan
Partners
Pret Interpret Clothing, The Complex, Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands Midwest
Operators
Niranjan, Krishnamurthy, Shashikata, Prema S, Veni, Rekha, Nirmala, Gowramma, Dhanatakshmi, Lakshmi C, Vidja J, Vijayalakshmi, Lalitha, Lakshmi B, Nargesh, Sudha M, Shoba S, Vidya R, Varalakshmi, Sangeetha, Parijatha, Sarojini, Anitha, Maheda Banu, Sayeeda, Banu, Saritha, Bishakha Bala Das, Sunitha M, Nagarathna, Suguna, Nataraj
Technological fabrication
Space Forms, Robbie Collins, Sai Mulpuru
Film
Anthony O’Connor
The Red Thread was created with support from the Arts Council of Ireland, Fingal Arts Office, Dublin City Council Arts Office, and The Art Factory at The Complex.