Think Again: V&A Dundee’s World Cup Scarf: Aoife Cawley | Bethany Watt
Illustrations by Sumaya Moustafa/Graphic by Bethany Watt
V&A Dundee has unveiled a commemorative scarf celebrating Scotland qualifying for the world cup.
The scarf was designed by a group of young Dundee creatives and the project was led by the artist Aoife Cawley, who spoke with Disobedient.
Aoife is a visual artist and designer from Kildare in Ireland who has lived in Scotland for four years, graduating here in 2024. When asked about her art style, she said: “My fine art practice is primarily using printmaking and textiles to create my work, and it's concerned with history, folklore, and mythology.
Aoife in the V&A Scotland World Cup Scarf
“I love research and I love presenting that research through really bright colourful screen prints. I began designing as a means to support my fine art practice and I now do both as my job. I am extremely fortunate to be in this position, but I think the response I receive is due to people of all ages being interested in history and folklore.”
Aoife added that she believes the keen interest in folklore and mythology in art is fuelled by resentment for the ever growing use of AI creations, she added: “Naturally while working with these themes, I am very interested in identity and how that manifests in symbols and in art. “
V&A Scotland World Cup Scarf
The popular artist, with nearly 30,000 followers on Instagram, is renowned for her unique and colourful scarf designs, they caught the eye of the V&A, who reached out to her with this opportunity: “While I had designed scarves before for clients, I had never worked on a co-design project or had worked alongside young people before. I was nervous as it was something I didn't have experience with but I wanted to broaden my skills and where better to learn that from, than Scotland's leading design museum.”
I knew I was creative but didn't know how to express that until after school. I really wanted to show the young people [in the team] that you can use your creativity in so many different ways and it is not just drawing and painting.”
Part of the design process was visiting Hampden Park for a tour and learning about the history of the Scotland team, Aoife said they could have made “100 scarfs” with the historic material, but added: “We were all a bit enamoured with the previous Lord Roseberry pink and yellow striped Scotland jerseys. We incorporated this into our design by using similar colours, and also something that was identified by young people was to have pink on the scarf as football felt quite too masculine to them. “
V&A Scotland World Cup Scarf
The first and last line of the Scottish National Anthem are on each side of the scarf, added not only for their iconography, but for how they represent young people in Scotland: “We discussed what it was like to be young and Scottish in this day and age and the same feelings came up again and again, feeling underestimated and overlooked. We also paired the 'THINK AGAIN' with a rather ferocious unicorn, challenging the timid and shy unicorn stereotype.
The combination of these two phrases, it's almost like a hardness and a softness. It just worked so well together. And the idea of it being a bit deconstructed, a bit more contemporary than using the full text of the song.”
V&A Scotland World Cup Scarf
On the scarf as an example of how art can be used as a form of resistance, Aoife answered : “This scarf project was all about expression, expressing pride, culture, identity. But I also think just going back to that phrase , "THINK AGAIN", you can also apply that phrase to Scotland. You can interpret that phrase as a form of resistance and how Scotland as a country should not be overlooked and underestimated in sporting events, politics, and in the wider world.
I have seen things online about in TV shows or interviews that they put subtitles over Scottish accents and not English ones. I think coming up against this while on top of being overlooked because you are young, like how frustrating is that?”
Two years ago, Aoife and her Mum visited V&A Dundee, her Mum asked if she would ever like to work with a museum like it, which she replied yes; “And now its come full circle and that goal has been reached and come true. Its so mad! And to have my work in a museum that champions design, like wow, what an honour to be sold in the shop and to have worked with the amazing staff on this project.
V&A Museum: Dundee
“[I feel] proud. Just so unbelievably proud. A bit emotional too. It was such a rewarding experience to be able to share my skills and knowledge while also learning so much. I am so happy the rest of the team can share the thrill of being in newspaper articles and seeing people wear the scarves out and about.”
Aoife & the Team of Young Creatives
I also love Scotland so much. It has been so good to me, giving me my degree and so many other incredible opportunities. So it was an honour to design this scarf to celebrate its beautiful history and culture.”
I am so thrilled for Aoife and the team of young creatives she worked with, the scarf is the epitome of Scottish pride and expression, and I can’t wait for mine to come in the post.
You can find the scarves for sale online here: https://shop.vandadundee.org/products/v-a-dundee-scotland-world-cup-football-scarf?utm_source=aoife_cawley&utm_medium=scarf_aoife
If you are interested in Aoife’s work you can find her on Instagram at aoifecawleyart.
About Bethany
She/her
Bethany Watt is Disobedient Magazine’s Deputy Editor and Current Affairs Editor. She has freelance experience with STV, the Royal Television Society, and the Scottish government. Her favourite subjects to cover include human interest stories, activism, and film. She’s always keen to hear new stories. You can contact her at bethanywatt90@gmail.com.
