Roses of Ties
Memory, Transformation, and the Power of Sisterhood
For many of us from Belarus and Ukraine, the absence of grandfathers is a silent yet profound legacy of WWII. Our mothers grew up without ever knowing their fathers, and our grandmothers raised children alone—managing homes and farms, ensuring survival, and keeping the warmth of the hearth alive.
How many children today grow up without fathers?
How many women lie awake alone at night?
What does the hearth represent, and where does true strength come from?
Over time, fashion has faded into shades of grey, black, and white—symbols of conformism or feminism? Roses of Ties seeks to reintroduce color, not just to our wardrobes, but to our lives. It brings kindness, warmth, hope, joy, and a reason to give love.
This project bridges our shared history of loss with feminism through the symbolic transformation of ties. Once a symbol of masculinity, they are now reimagined as tributes to the women who carried on—fragile yet strong, like roses.
Swedish women are key contributors to this project, donating ties from their fathers, husbands, or partners. In the hands of Ukrainian and Belarusian women, these ties are transformed into symbols of memory, love, and resilience.
Through the process of shaping unique brooches, we celebrate the experience of being, becoming, and feeling like a woman.
Roses of Ties invites you to reflect:
When does life feel warm, safe, and joyful?
When does each day feel meaningful, filled with moments that matter?
When do you experience laughter, passion, and beauty?
When does the world around you grow brighter, making your heart beat with purpose?
This project is not just about remembrance—it is a celebration of love, resilience, and the courage to share our stories. Stories of the men who shaped our lives, and of the women who carried on. By transforming grief into something beautiful, we rediscover strength in sisterhood, warmth in connection, and a way to make our hearts whole again.
Roses of Ties Workshop with Tanya – Get inspired now!
Workshop: Upcycle Your Tie
Donate your old tie and join a creative workshop at the Artten Gallery.
🔹 No sewing skills needed
🔹 350 SEK /person
OPEN CALL: We Collect Ties & Stories from Women Around the World
Do you have a tie with a story? A memory woven into its fabric? We invite women from around the world to donate a tie and share its story. Together, we will create a global exhibition that brings these memories to life. Become part of something meaningful!
Send us your tie & story to:
Ludmila Christeseva @Artten Gallery
Artillerigatan 10
11451 Stockholm
