Military Objects, Symbols, and Signs in Textile Ornaments

Abstract

The article examines traditional textile ornamentation as a form of visual language whose symbols and signs encode and convey contemporary meanings. It explores how motifs associated with war have been reflected in the traditional textile ornaments of various peoples, the narratives these motifs communicate, and how their perception evolved in peacetime. The study describes how, in the 19th century, wounded soldiers created ornamented patchwork blankets from the remnants of the military uniforms belonging to their fallen enemies or comrades, thereby artistically documenting their personal participation in battles, showcasing their patriotism and pride, and expressing their desire for a happy, peaceful post-war life. The article provides examples of Japanese agitation textiles from the 19th and first half of the 20th centuries, which served as propaganda tools for national mobilization, as well as textile works created under the influence of the Vietnam and Afghan wars. In these contexts, artisans used textile production as a means of preserving cultural traditions and surviving amid occupation forces. The article also analyzes how, from the beginning of the Russian-Ukrainian war – particularly after the full-scale invasion – the symbols and signs of war have been reflected in contemporary Ukrainian artistic textiles. These works demonstrate the transformation of artistic practices and the search for new, relevant methods of reinterpreting traditional visual language, forming new metaphors and symbolic frameworks, and integrating personal experience with collective traumatic memory. It is revealed that war-related symbols in textile ornaments have played a role in cultural preservation and in strengthening national identity. Military ornamentation is considered both a means of understanding historical experience and an instrument of resistance. The evolution of its perception and interpretation at various stages of the war, both within and outside the countries engulfed in conflict, is examined. The article concludes that military ornamentation constitutes a complex and multifaceted commentary on wartime events. The images of lethal attributes embedded in these textiles serve as reminders that, to maintain peace and prosperity, protect culture, and safeguard the nation, vigilance must never be lost.