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This fragment is part of the "CulturalxCollabs - Weaving the Future" carpet.
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.
Follow this story to observe the transformations the fragment undergoes over the course of these years...
The journey begins...
...with Eleanna Santorinaiou
I will carry the fragment on this carpet with me - a woman that is between two cultures, two worlds - UK & Greece. Coincidentally our Easters (Orthodox & Catholic) are happening the same week this year 2025.
Diversity makes us more open, we discover our individuality and see the common ground, in families, in foods and mythology from the past. Dragons for instance - like our dragon carpet. In the end of this journey I will add parts of me on the carpet - showing how accepting one another is the only way.
Opening in my London flat, the fragment of the carpet...
...on my granmother's carpet who had in Greece - in her living room, under the dining table. When my mum came to visit in London she got emotional seeing her childhood carpet again, after so many years.
Having the fragment at home, looking at my family's carpet I couldn't resist thinking, who were the original owners of the dragon carpet. What where their aspirations and fears...?
Dragons remind me of cautionary tales, religion, childhood, movies, sometimes even seeing beyond appearance.
Diving in the world of dragons, I realised that it is an origin story for many cultures and countries throughout the centuries.
What fascinated me is that a symbol that most of the times represents fear or danger, in a very weird way, it unites us.
I wanted to focus on this symbol, even though our carpet's dragon doesn't resemble a dragon anymore. This archetype that teaches us about the world, imagination, the good and bad.
My first text was my proposal - when I received the carpet I felt more connected with the people that created this idea, the ones who made the replica, the fellow participants. In a world that can feel scary, initiatives like this unites us.
As I focus on the Dragon - I realised how universal this symbol is. In some cultures is about power, others the uknown, fear, aspiration, awe.
I ejoyed my journey through time, civilizations, people and objects - my conclusion is that we are more united than we think - if only we could focus on our similarities, our emotions.
I want to invite all of you to think about your dragons, your beasts, your monsters. Are they so apparent like the ones we were taught in childhood?
‘Once upon a time’ in 10 different languages
My addition to the fragment itself - The phrase/or equivalent "Once Upon A Time" written in 10 different languages, on 10 different paper textures and sewed with a golden thread on the carpet.
Front and Back
About the Project
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.
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.
Follow #CulturalxCollabs on Instagram as the project unfolds...
...or learn more here
Where is the Dragon?
The star of the "CulturalxCollabs - Weaving the Future" project is a so-called Caucasian dragon carpet from the 17th century. A dragon carpet - all well and good - but: where is the dragon?
Weaving the Future
Join us on a journey with 100 carpet fragments as they travel around the world for three and a half years, finding temporary homes while bridging cultural boundaries, fostering worldwide community united by the power of human stories.
