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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...
Fragment #79 was from the summer of 2024 until May 2025 our guest at the Dr & Dr Culture and Food Lab in Berlin. We, Sahar and Forough Sodoudi, are both scientist (Atmospheric physics and Geophysics) and after many years of teaching, research, and research management, we decided to change our lives and present our culture. The motivation behind this was that Persian culture is often hidden behind politics and religion, and its fascinating aspects are not well represented in Germany. Therefore, we left our academic positions and created the Culture and Food Lab in 2019 to share finesses of the Persian culture.
Our food lab is a vibrant space dedicated to celebrating Persian culture through authentic cuisine and cultural exchange. We strive to create meaningful experiences that highlight the richness and hospitality of Persian traditions.
Food brings people together and enables cultural exchange, therefore we offer cook events, private fine dining persian style, catering, cultural events and culinary cultural trips to Middle East.
Fragment #79 experienced a private dining and was on the drink bar, next to our Persian ingredients Sekanjebin, rose water and Egyptian willow, which are used for our special long drinks.
One of our guests made Persian Zereshk Polo (Rice including Saffron crust, topped with caramelized barberries and pistachios) during a cook event.
A group of international lawyers from a company visited us for a cultural cook event and we shared with them the story of the fragment. They cooked with us and we talked about different middle eastern cultures, as some of them spent some years in Middle East.
A table of finger food presented by Dr & Dr at Ingrid and Thomas Jochheim‘s apartment in Berlin. The apartment is filled with beautiful artworks, reflecting their passion as art collectors.
Advanced chemistry students from Eckener High School visited us for a cooking class. We explored the chemical processes involved in Persian cooking and discussed the importance of food as a cultural element. The students came from various countries, making it a truly enriching cultural exchange.
A private fine dining setting at the Dr & Dr Culture and Food Lab for the spring reception. The table is adorned with Fragment #79, fresh spring flowers, small watermelons, and delicate candlelight. Suspended birdcages above evoke themes of freedom and Middle Eastern tradition, while the brick wall behind—featuring Persian calligraphy that reads ‘Love flows here’—frames the scene with warmth and cultural depth. A celebration of Persian hospitality in full bloom.
Fragment #79 rests on our Haftsin table, the heart of the Norouz celebration at the Dr & Dr Culture and Food Lab. Norouz, the Persian New Year, marks the arrival of spring and is deeply rooted in themes of renewal and hope. The Haftsin table features at least seven symbolic items, each beginning with the letter ‘S’ in Persian—such as ‘sib’ (apple), ‘sir’ (garlic), and ‘sabzeh’ (sprouted greens)—representing health, rebirth, beauty, and prosperity. Surrounded by candles, hyacinths, and traditional elements, this table reflects both the spirit of the season and the richness of Persian cultural heritage.
An unforgettable 86th birthday celebration at the Dr & Dr Culture and Food Lab, beautifully combined with a hands-on cooking session. Surrounded by wonderful, cultivated guests with rich and valuable life experience, we shared not only Persian flavors but also meaningful conversations and cultural exchange. The presence of Fragment #79 added a symbolic layer to the gathering, reflecting our shared values of memory, hospitality, and human connection. A day filled with laughter, learning, and lasting impressions.
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...
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.
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.
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?