CulturalxCollabs: Fragment No. 10 highlighted © Museum für Islamische Kunst, Heiner Büld

3 Frag_highlighted

large_CulturalxCollabs: Fragment No. 13 highlighted © Museum für Islamische Kunst, Heiner Büld

medium_CulturalxCollabs: Fragment No. 13 highlighted © Museum für Islamische Kunst, Heiner Büld

small_CulturalxCollabs: Fragment No. 13 highlighted © Museum für Islamische Kunst, Heiner Büld

thumbnail_CulturalxCollabs: Fragment No. 13 highlighted © Museum für Islamische Kunst, Heiner Büld

CulturalxCollabs: Fragment No. 13 highlighted © Museum für Islamische Kunst, Heiner Büld

Fragment No. 13

...OR READ ABOUT THE OTHER 100 FRAGMENTS HERE

<h4>This fragment is part of the "CulturalxCollabs - Weaving the Future" carpet.</h4><p>Through the fragment we trace the journey of the fragment owners and their collabs as they explore, experiment and creatively advance socially relevant themes. Here is the fragment as we are sending it on this three and a half-year journey.</p><p>Follow this story to observe the transformations the fragment undergoes over the course of these years...</p>

The journey begins...

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<h3>...with Raphael Moussa in Mali</h3><p>It has been a long journey for me to find my family in Mali. Finally I am united with them. I hope that the Dragon Carpet will share a similar story. Scattered around the world it will be reunited one day.</p>

Fragment No. 12

Fragment No. 18

CulturalxCollabs: Fragment No. 13 © Museum für Islamische Kunst, Heiner Büld

large_CulturalxCollabs: Fragment No. 13 © Museum für Islamische Kunst, Heiner Büld

medium_CulturalxCollabs: Fragment No. 13 © Museum für Islamische Kunst, Heiner Büld

small_CulturalxCollabs: Fragment No. 13 © Museum für Islamische Kunst, Heiner Büld

thumbnail_CulturalxCollabs: Fragment No. 13 © Museum für Islamische Kunst, Heiner Büld

Look closely

CulturalxCollabs: Fragment No. 13 Back © Museum für Islamische Kunst, Heiner Büld

large_CulturalxCollabs: Fragment No. 13 Back © Museum für Islamische Kunst, Heiner Büld

medium_CulturalxCollabs: Fragment No. 13 Back © Museum für Islamische Kunst, Heiner Büld

small_CulturalxCollabs: Fragment No. 13 Back © Museum für Islamische Kunst, Heiner Büld

<p>The Museum for Islamic Art's project, #CulturalxCollabs - Weaving the future, celebrates the transformative power of cultural exchange and the shared threads that unite us all. All the things we love, have loved and will ever love come from cultural exchange, migration and diversity, or as we like to call it #CulturalxCollabs.</p><p>100 carpet fragments, cut from a replica of the iconic dragon carpet, will travel the world (delivered by DHL). The fragments will ignite #CulturalxCollabs with co-creators, inspiring human ingenuity, fostering community and ultimately demonstrating how cultural exchange enriches all our lives.</p><p><em>Follow </em><a href="https://www.instagram.com/culturalxcollabs/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>#CulturalxCollabs</em></a><em> on Instagram as the project unfolds...</em></p>

<h3>From Pergamonmuseum in Berlin, the 100 carpet fragments start their journey to travel the world</h3><p>The Museum for Islamic Art's project, #CulturalxCollabs - Weaving the future, celebrates the transformative power of cultural exchange and the shared threads that unite us all. All the things we love, have loved and will ever love come from cultural exchange, migration and diversity, or as we like to call it #CulturalxCollabs.</p><p>100 carpet fragments, cut from the d<span style="color: rgb(32, 33, 36);">oppelgänger </span>of the iconic dragon carpet, will travel the world (delivered by DHL). The fragments will ignite #CulturalxCollabs with co-creators, inspiring human ingenuity, fostering community and ultimately demonstrating how cultural exchange enriches all our lives.</p><h4><br></h4><h4>Follow #CulturalxCollabs online as the project unfolds...</h4>

<p><strong>Pergamonmuseum and thus, Museum for Islamic Art closes temporarily in October 2023 for renovation and will reopen in the spring of 2027 with a completely redesigned permanent exhibition that will almost triple its previous size.</strong> During the closing period, the 100 carpet fragments will travel with the support of DHL Group. They serve as a tangible connection between the museum and the people. The ever-changing owners of the fragments contribute to the cultural exchange on the online portal <a href="https://islamic-art.smb.museum/stories?lang=en" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Islamic·Art</a> with their creative stories, simultaneously building a continuously growing network.</p><p>With the return of the fragments for the reopening of the Museum for Islamic Art, the narratives of the 100 fragments will reunite into a shared story. The people involved will come together, exchange ideas and share their experiences.</p>

Weaving the Future

<p>Since the launch of the <a href="https://islamic-art.smb.museum/en/story/culturalxcollabs" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">'CulturalxCollabs: Weaving the Future'</a> project in September 2023, we have sent 100 fragments on journeys with individuals worldwide. Collaborating across various fields such as music, food, play, entertainment, handicrafts, art, family, science, and sports, these fragments continuously evolve as they change owners and foster collaborations.</p><p><strong style="color: rgb(34, 32, 30);">Follow their journeys through the ever changing owners' over three and a half years here.</strong></p><p><a href="https://www.instagram.com/culturalxcollabs/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#CulturalxCollabs</a> unites people to learn from the past, celebrate the present, and collectively shape a future founded on appreciation, shared responsibility, and mutual curiosity.</p>

Fragment Journeys

<h3><span style="color: rgb(52, 53, 65);">How does a mythical creature from China end up on a carpet produced in the Islamic regions? And if it's called a Dragon Carpet why can't I see the dragon? Let's find out in this story how cultural transformations happen over time by investigating the origins and journey of this mythical dragon. </span></h3><p>The star of the "CulturalxCollabs - Weaving the Future" project is a&nbsp;so-called Caucasian dragon carpet from the 17th century. The carpet was woven in Caucasus region. A territory that today includes Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Iran. A dragon carpet - all well and good - but: where is the dragon?</p>

<h4>We now know what a dragon can look like and how its motif came to the Caucasus region. The question remains: where is the dragon on our 17th century carpet?</h4><p>Of around 150 known Caucasian dragon carpets (16th-18th centuries), the oldest in the Berlin collection can be dated to the 16th century due to its clear motifs, exact drawing and strong Persian influence. The Caucasus belonged to Persia at that time. Its geographical location made it a melting pot of numerous artistic, religious and political influences over the centuries. The pointed diamonds, which are red and yellow here, go back to Persian influences. It is typical that the dragon is always woven into the centre of some of the pointed diamonds. This is where we have to look for it. The original features of the dragon are recognisable: ripped mouth, long tongue, scaled and spotted skin, wing- or flame-like appendages.</p>

<p>On the carpet that serves as a template for the project carpet, the dragon is no longer preserved. A fire destroyed the carpet in exactly these places. But there is still a black and white photo.</p>

<p>Four of the five Berlin dragon carpets clearly illustrate this pattern decay. The oldest carpet (I.3) is from the 16th century. The dragons show scales, flame wings, a torn mouth and claws. On the carpet I.2 the dragon is also still visible. But not on our project carpet. The youngest carpet from the 18th century (I. 8/59) shows again a recognizable dragon.</p><p>Only when the weavers and we understand the history of the dragon in the Caucasus, can we recognize him when he comes across our path.</p>

<h4>Now that we know what a dragon can look like on a carpet and how it has morphed over several centuries into a toothless, leaf-like structure, we understand why our dragon carpet is still called a dragon carpet.</h4>

Cultural x Collabs: Weaving the Future

Fragment No. 13

This fragment is part of the "CulturalxCollabs - Weaving the Future" carpet.

The journey begins...

...with Raphael Moussa in Mali

Look closely

Front and Back

About the Project

...or learn more here

Weaving the Future

Fragment Journeys

Where is the Dragon?

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Cultural x Collabs: Weaving the Future

Fragment No. 13

This fragment is part of the "CulturalxCollabs - Weaving the Future" carpet.

The journey begins...

...with Raphael Moussa in Mali

Look closely

Front and Back

About the Project

...or learn more here

Weaving the Future

Fragment Journeys

Where is the Dragon?