A Thousand Knots Social Sculpture

"A Thousand Knots" unfolds as a living, participatory artwork—part ritual, part archive—rooted in the interplay of social connection and numinosity, those rare, awe-filled moments that open a threshold for change. In the spirit of Rumi’s reflection, “Even when tied in a thousand knots, the string is still but one,” a 53-foot strand of wool, twine, and fabric becomes a vessel for collective memory. Participants untie a knot while contemplating a burden, then weave on a strip of fabric, sealing an intention for renewal. Each gesture is small, yet together they create a visible, tactile record of empathy, resilience, and transformation.

The work stands in dialogue with Suzanne Lacy’s social practice projects, where participation sparks civic conversation and deepens communal presence. It carries forward Yves Klein’s belief that artists make mythologies, with each act becoming a thread in an ever-growing communal story. Like Cecilia Vicuña’s woven rituals, Caravaggio’s human drama, or Bill Viola’s immersive meditations, it engages affect as a catalyst for change. Gatherings in Manaus and Bogotá have already seen 127 knots released and replaced. When the thousandth knot is tied, the strand will be shaped into a great woven mandala—an emblem of shared action, numinous encounter, and collective transformation.