A Global Artistic Project
Coser la Tierra (Sewing the Earth) is a global art project that explores the relationship between humanity and the planet through the symbolic act of sewing. Using the needle as a metaphor for connection, healing, and transformation, the project travels along the 40th parallel, uniting diverse cultures and landscapes. Through large-scale installations, performances, and workshops, Coser la Tierra invites us to reflect on how we can mend the fractures—both physical and emotional—between ourselves, each other, and the Earth.
The Needle, A Tool of Survival and Symbolism
The needle has been essential to human evolution since prehistoric times, when it was used to make clothing and shelters. Initially crafted from bone or ivory, it enabled the transformation of materials into functional objects. Its presence spans all cultures and eras: in Mesopotamia and Egypt, where textiles symbolized status and trade; in the Americas, with their intricate embroidery and sacred fabrics; in Africa, where textile art reflected identity and a deep connection to nature; and along the Silk Road, where fabrics, knowledge, and traditions were woven together.
More than just a tool, the needle is a witness to our history. Its silent yet constant work has stitched together communities and cultures, stitch by stitch, generation after generation..
The Act:
Sewing
Sewing has played a vital role in cultural exchange, social traditions, and identity formation. What we wear reflects who we are, and sewing does more than stitch fabrics—it weaves stories, creativity, and communities together.
An ancient practice, sewing transforms materials, sparks imagination, and preserves memory. Throughout history, it has been a source of empowerment for women, offering both a livelihood and a silent yet powerful form of comunication. Across cultures, sewing has served as a language of knowledge transmission, where skills, traditions, and emotions are interwoven into every thread.
Beyond its practical function, sewing embodies patience, resilience, and transformation. A single thread may be fragile, but when woven together with others, it gains strength—just like human connections, which grow stronger and endure when intertwined.
Mending What Is Broken
Humanity has scarred the Earth through wars, borders, and exploitation. Each fracture marks a moment when division triumphed over unity.
Yet, just as we have torn it apart, we also have the power to mend it. Healing the planet means restoring soils, revitalizing ecosystems, and rebuilding harmony between humans and nature.
The thread: Latitude 40°
A Global Path of Connection
The project traces the 40th parallel, symbolizing unity across cultures and geographies. Starting in Menorca, it passes through Italy, Greece, Anatolia, Samarkand, Beijing, Korea, Japan, California, Utah, New York, Portugal, Madrid, and returns to Menorca—connecting East and West.
The Origins, Menorca, Spain
Coser la Tierra began in Menorca, a land shaped by the passage of civilizations, where history and nature coexist in harmony. Its Talayotic settlements and the legend of Talatí de Dalt reflect the deep connection between humanity and the earth.
As a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, Menorca stands as a model of environmental and cultural preservation. Its spirit of respect and coexistence makes it the ideal place to launch this project, which seeks to unite, heal, and reconnect through the symbolic act of sewing.
Upcoming
Through site-specific interventions, Sewing the Earth continues its journey across diverse landscapes, exploring the connections between nature, memory, and human presence. Each action reflects on the balance between past and future, tradition and transformation, using symbolic materials from each location to weave a dialogue between history and the present.
New York, USA 2026
Nuria Román's residency in the Catskill marks a new phase of Sewing the Earth, Latitude 40º, exploring environmental fragility and our connection to nature through sculptural experiments with local materials like wood, clay, and ice. Incorporating wood from former Manhattan trees, the project establishes a symbolic link between the city's original landscape and its urban evolution, while a sculpture using Catskill wood recalls the historic transport of logs to build New York City.
Wooden Needle, the centerpiece of this phase, embodies connection, healing, and renewal, developed in collaboration with local artists and professionals. The work will culminate in a public presentation that deepens its cultural and environmental impact. Coinciding with the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence, this installation underscores the ongoing need to mend, rebuild, and unite.
Akita, Japan 2027
In Akita, a series of bamboo needles of varying sizes will rise in an organic pattern, symbolizing the human condition within a physical body that requires care and balance. These needles represent the connection between knowledge, tradition, and culture as essential elements of well-being.
In Japan, the health of the body and mind has always been a fundamental pillar of education and tradition. The choice of bamboo is no coincidence: this natural material, both strong and flexible, embodies the harmony between resilience and adaptability, emphasizing the importance of caring for and honoring our body as a temple.
Each needle will serve as a reminder of Japan’s ancestral wisdom: the care of oneself as an act of respect and continuity, where tradition and modernity converge in the pursuit of harmony.
Beijing, China 2027
A temporary installation is proposed in one of Beijing’s art centers: a needle-shaped sculpture created in collaboration with local artists and artisans. The work reflects on the immense cultural value of porcelain in China’s history—a material whose secret was coveted by the West for centuries.
More than just an object, the needle symbolizes the interwoven relationships between civilizations, shaped by exchange, competition, and shifting power dynamics over time. Through this intervention, the project aims to create a space for dialogue that transcends historical divisions, inviting us to rethink our connections as humanity in a constantly evolving world.
Samarkand, Uzbekistan 2028
Along the ancient route of the Silk Road, near Samarkand, Uzbekistan, a monumental sculpture stands tall: a metal needle threaded with a vibrant fiber. This symbolic gesture marks the path that once gave rise to trade between East and West—a journey that has fostered both wealth and knowledge, yet also conflicts and divisions.
"Stitching the Earth" is a call for reflection. Just as the needle pierces through space to bring together scattered materials, we turn our gaze toward the need to mend the fractures of the past. More than a testament to trade and connection, this piece is an invitation to reconciliation, dialogue, and the weaving of a future built on respect, understanding, and balance.
Ani, Turkey 2028
This stone monument stands in the heart of the ruins of the ancient city of Ani, a historic settlement in the Anatolia region. The city, whose roots date back to the Hellenistic and Roman periods, was an important center of trade and culture, strategically located along key trade routes.
Excavations in the area have uncovered ceramics, inscriptions, and building remains indicating the presence of various civilizations, from the Hittites to the Byzantine Empire. The needle, with its imposing presence, remains an archaeological enigma, inviting visitors to imagine the grandeur of the city of Ani at its peak.
Mount Olympus, Greece 2028
As part of the Latitude 40° Earth project, this artistic intervention on the mythical Mount Olympus takes the form of a needle of light and projections, symbolizing the eternal connection between the divine and the human. Inspired by the principles of harmony, justice, and wisdom from Greek mythology, the installation will create a mystical atmosphere that invites reflection on the balance between humanity, nature, and ancestral beliefs.
By casting light over this sacred landscape, the artwork stands as a bridge between ancient teachings and contemporary challenges, reminding us that spirituality and connection with the divine remain essential to a balanced world.
Naples, Italy 2029
Guardian of Stone is a sculpture made of volcanic stone that explores the relationship between nature’s power and human history. Using a material that has shaped landscapes and determined the fate of civilizations, this installation examines how natural forces, such as volcanic eruptions, transform and redefine our environment.
The work highlights the fragility of human structures in the face of nature’s forces and how societies have adapted to these changes over time. Its presence in the landscape creates a direct connection with the environment, emphasizing the deep link between geological history and human development.
This project invites reflection on resilience, memory, and the continuous transformation of our world.
Menorca, Spain 2029
The Needle of the Giantess is a sculptural project in development, proposing the creation of a monumental structure carved from piedra de marés, the native stone that has shaped Menorca’s landscape since ancient times. Its vertical form will reference Menorcan legends and the megalithic traditions of the Mediterranean, establishing a connection between land, sea, and sky.
The installation aims to integrate the sculpture within a site where geology, history, and culture intersect, engaging in dialogue with the island’s Talayotic heritage and identity. Conceived as a meeting point between nature and heritage, The Needle of the Giantess reflects on the concept of cultural landscape and human habitat, encouraging an approach to the territory based on coexistence and respect.
The project is being developed in collaboration with the Líthica Foundation, with the goal of linking Menorca’s material heritage with a contemporary perspective on art and the memory of the landscape.