CulturalxCollabs: Fragment No. 54 highlighted © Museum für Islamische Kunst, Heiner Büld

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large_CulturalxCollabs: Fragment No. 54 highlighted © Museum für Islamische Kunst, Heiner Büld

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small_CulturalxCollabs: Fragment No. 54 highlighted © Museum für Islamische Kunst, Heiner Büld

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Fragment No. 54

...OR READ ABOUT THE OTHER 100 FRAGMENTS HERE

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...

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...with Eleanna Santorinaiou

I will carry the fragment on this carpet with me - a woman that is between two cultures, two worlds - UK &amp; Greece. Coincidentally our Easters (Orthodox &amp; Catholic) are happening the same week this year 2025.&nbsp;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.

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...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.

Opening in my London flat, the fragment of the carpet...

Fragment No. 53

Fragment No. 56

CulturalxCollabs: Fragment No. 54 © Museum für Islamische Kunst, Heiner Büld

large_CulturalxCollabs: Fragment No. 54 © Museum für Islamische Kunst, Heiner Büld

medium_CulturalxCollabs: Fragment No. 54 © Museum für Islamische Kunst, Heiner Büld

small_CulturalxCollabs: Fragment No. 54 © Museum für Islamische Kunst, Heiner Büld

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CulturalxCollabs: Fragment No. 54 Back © Museum für Islamische Kunst, Heiner Büld

large_CulturalxCollabs: Fragment No. 54 Back © Museum für Islamische Kunst, Heiner Büld

medium_CulturalxCollabs: Fragment No. 54 Back © Museum für Islamische Kunst, Heiner Büld

small_CulturalxCollabs: Fragment No. 54 Back © Museum für Islamische Kunst, Heiner Büld

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 <a href="https://www.instagram.com/culturalxcollabs/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#CulturalxCollabs </a>on Instagram as the project unfolds...

<h3>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. </h3>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?

<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>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.

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.

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.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.

<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>

Where is the Dragon?

From the opulent courts of ancient empires to the hallowed halls of modern museums, carpets have long created important global and historical connections, linking people across time and space.How did the carpet collection in Berlin became one of the most extensive and important collections in the world?

The carpets currently displayed in the Museum für Islamische Kunst represent a broad cross-section of the character of the collection, but also convey the losses and weaknesses resulting from their turbulent history.Existing gaps could certainly be minimized by loans, such as those from the Kunstgewerbemuseum, and gifts, and the museum continues to receive exceptional support from passionate and dedicated collectors. This support follows a long tradition of support without which the Museum für Islamische Kunst could not have attained its premier status.&nbsp;

Berlin Carpet Collection

<h3>From Pergamonmuseum in Berlin, the 100 carpet fragments start their journey to travel the world</h3>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 the doppelgänger 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.<h4> </h4><h4>Follow #CulturalxCollabs online as the project unfolds...</h4>

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. 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.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. In our <a href="https://islamic-art.smb.museum/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Broschuere_CxC_digital_small.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">CulturalxCollabs - Weaving the Future brochure</a> you can find out everything about the project.

Cultural x Collabs: Weaving the Future

Fragment No. 54

The journey begins...

...with Eleanna Santorinaiou

Opening in my London flat, the fragment of the carpet...

Look closely

Front and Back

About the Project

...or learn more here

Where is the Dragon?

Berlin Carpet Collection

Weaving the Future

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Cultural x Collabs: Weaving the Future

Fragment No. 54

The journey begins...

...with Eleanna Santorinaiou

Opening in my London flat, the fragment of the carpet...

Look closely

Front and Back

About the Project

...or learn more here

Where is the Dragon?

Berlin Carpet Collection

Weaving the Future