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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...
...and on we go...
...with Aida Dzhafarova
What do a Caucasian rug and an aperitivo have in common?
Since 2012, I've lived in a small, beautiful town in southern Italy – Lecce. Here the soft light of the setting sun turns the ancient sandstone architecture of the historic center golden, darkening the exquisite, yet so distinctive, silhouettes of bougainvillea and succulents to an engraving-like vibrant beauty. As the indescribable blue of the evening sky deepens, the streetlights, simplistically yet sincerely, pick up the sunset's baton, diligently yellowing the walls and floors of the old town, immersing you in the atmosphere of home. Lecce is a city that "sees" you; you can't get lost in it, and therefore, you can't lose yourself. And so, in Lecce, you're always at home.
Lecce, like many other Italian cities, has a well-developed and popular aperitivo tradition. An aperitivo in Lecce is a socio-cultural experience of all-encompassing significance. It's not about food and drink, at least, because here it's always excellent quality by default. It's about the joy of lively, relaxed communication; it's always a small or large, depending on the occasion, celebration of life. Friends, friends of friends, guests of friends and friends of friends, their relatives, colleagues—indeed, anyone—gather for aperitifs in the open air of the city's many bars. People mingle with each other, and often with neighboring groups, everyone talking at once, laughing, sharing news, and making plans. A passing acquaintance is always invited to join the group.
Caucasian rug making is historically a collective effort among women. In almost all national cultures, women gather together for needlework. Each weaves her own lace, knits, or crochets her own piece. But a rug, like a fabric, is made together. When I received fragment #69 of rug, I immediately wanted to share this extraordinary news with friends and acquaintances. To that end, I took it with me to aperitifs several times. The first place was the Lido Turrisi bar in the seaside San Cataldo district of Lecce.
The second place is Marenna, located in the historic center of Lecce – a small, authentic establishment with good music, wine, authentic appetizers, a magical view of the blue sky, and the charming owner, Lidia. Lidia serves appetizers on wooden boards, creating beautiful and delicious arrangements. The carpet's palette perfectly matches the colors of typical appetizers at Marenna: the bready beige and light cream shades of puccia, frisa; sand and light brown colors of friselline, almonds, the golden yellow of taralli and lupins, the red of ripe tomatoes, the pinkish red of bresaola and prosciutto, and the green – violet shades of olives, turnip greens and paparine.
In the mists of time, an unknown group of women gathered and wove this carpet, a fragment of a masterfully crafted copy of which was delivered to me by DHL. I like to think they were happy and prosperous. And now we, women of the 21st century, look at the magnificent creative result of their labor, and through this fragment our views are united and directed towards the future. Better future for everybody.
The journey begins...
...with Steven Yeung
It is the transmission of a culture from generation to generation. A culture that I have acquired through my family or through the society in which I grew up. My ancestors fled China during the Qing dynasty because of political instability, famine, and perhaps persecution of the Hakka minority, of which my family is a part of. After a long journey, they settled in the French Establishments of Oceania around 1870, now known as Tahiti.
A culture that has been enriched over generations through external influences such as those of France, America, and of course, Polynesia. Friendly or hostile exchanges have shaped who we are today. Our openness, adaptability, and capacity for integration depended entirely on these exchanges. This openness of mind could only work through acceptance of others, as a gesture of respect towards others.
I am part of the fourth generation on the island.
A fifth generation is already exploring new horizons and new cultures.
My culture has continued to expand since I began sharing my life with my partner, my husband, a Bavarian German, descendant of a family that has been settled since the 1400s. This relationship has once again opened the door to a new culture for me, a culture rich in its customs and dialect.
Today, we have the opportunity to share this culture with our three-year-old son, thanks to a family project with three parents, including a friend, the child’s mother.
This piece of carpet is therefore not just an object that shares a culture and history, but it is also a way of passing down our heritage and that of others to our son and to future generations. The carpet here becomes a symbol of this entire process of transmission, a symbol of the cultures that surround us and our son.
"Culture Shock" - My work of art with the carpet
And soon, this object of cultural transmission will become part of an artistic project, an element that will be integrated into one of my future paintings. Another way to transmit this story, to share our experiences, to preserve the memory of our existence, as well as our identity and even our culture - a message of hope.
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
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.
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.
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?
Cultural x Collabs Tutorial + FAQs
How can I upload my material? These and many other questions are answered here.
