en
- de
- en
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...
...AND ON WE GO...
...with Valentin Hansen
A fragment of an antique carpet that is integrated into art projects by different artists on its journey around the world. Each contribution brings a new perspective and reflects the cultural exchange that connects us all.
For my contribution, I decided to use the carpet fragment as inspiration for a tattoo. The outline of the original remained, but instead of the carpet motif, I decided to depict a birch forest. The change in motif was a symbol for me: the birch, which in many cultures stands for growth, new beginnings and protection, was combined here with the structure of the antique carpet, which in turn brings with it centuries of history.
Dragon Carpet x Birch Forest Tattoo
This tattoo is more than just body decoration for me; it’s a symbol of the power of culture and history and their ability to transcend boundaries. Tattoos have always had the ability to convey messages that connect people on a deeper level. They are a medium that unites personal stories with universal experiences and has the potential to build bridges between different cultures.
Every tattoo tells a story, often blending one's own roots with new influences. In my case, it combines the story of an old carpet with the symbolism of a forest. In this way, the tattoo is not only a reminder of this project but also an expression of connection and cultural exchange. Such tattoos help create connections—between traditions, stories, and ultimately between people.
The journey begins...
...with Daniel Tamberg
Climate change. The coronavirus. The effectiveness of vaccines. Evolution. The Holocaust. The spherical shape of the Earth. The moon landing. Contrails. Photosynthesis. The origin of carpets.
We live in a world where it seems possible to deny anything, to declare it fake, a forgery. Deniers often resort to bizarre alternatives or conspiracy theories to explain the world to themselves and others—preferably in a way that aligns with their desires or their greatest fears, but always in a way that makes them feel they possess a secret, exclusive truth. A perceived truth. In this way, facts are degraded to mere opinions.
But it is actually possible to determine what is true and what is false if one looks closely. Sometimes it’s simple. Like, for example, with a piece of the CulturalxCollabs copy of the famous Dragon Carpet. Why is it not a piece of the “real” Dragon Carpet?
Let's Investigate!
The patterns are mirrored.
The parts that were burned in the original are in wool-white silk.
There are no signs of wear.
The knurled band is made of plastic, which did not exist at the time when the original was woven.
And let's not forget:
There are plenty of living witnesses who can attest that the copy was commissioned only recently. Then there are the statements from the people who wove, transported, and stored it.
And there are even more witnesses who were present when the copy was cut into individual pieces.
It Requires Science!
A more difficult question: Is the “original” Dragon Carpet really from the time it is supposed to be from? How do we know that it isn’t a copy or even a complete fake from, say, early twentieth-century France, instead of from the 17th century and the Caucasus, as the museum claims?
There are no more living witnesses. Therefore, it requires scientific analysis: carpet studies, history, biology, physics, chemistry, and logic.
Carpet Studies
- When were the motifs and patterns used?
- Were spinning, knotting, and finishing techniques from the claimed period used?
History
- Are there documents that trace the carpet's journey from the Caucasus to Berlin? Written reports? Letters? Delivery notes or invoices? Drawings, sketches, paintings? Photographs or even film recordings?
Biology
- What material was used?
- Are there specific properties that can identify the wool as coming from a particular breed of sheep, with origins traced back to the Caucasus?
- Are there other fibers, pollen, insects, or biological evidence of origin in the carpet, and can they be distinguished from later contaminants?
Chemistry
- Were the dyes used available during the claimed period?
- What method was used to apply them? Was this method available at the claimed time of manufacture?
- Are there signs of aging in the dyes that can help estimate their age?
- Are there signs of aging in the fibers that can be compared to those of carpets of known age?
Physics
- The radiocarbon method can fairly accurately determine the age of a carbon-containing object that is older than 300 and younger than 60,000 years—so it is close enough for the Dragon Carpet.
Logic
- Do all the answers to the questions fit together, or do they perhaps contradict each other?
All these methods cannot, of course, be applied by just anyone. That’s why there are scientists who specialize in various fields and often dedicate their entire lives to them.
To refute a claim about a matter (such as the age and origin of the Dragon Carpet), it is sufficient to disprove one of the aforementioned aspects. To substantiate it, the coherent interplay of all findings is required.
Is science infallible? Perfect? Of course not. But it is the best collection of methods we have to distinguish true from false. Do not be misled by superficially plausible claims from non-experts. Not with carpets. Not with climate change. Not with all the other issues. Everyone has the right to their own opinion. But not to their own facts!
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
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.
Fragment Journeys
100 carpet fragments part of the "CulturalxCollabs - Weaving the Future" project. Follow their journeys through the ever changing owners' over three and a half years.
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?
