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A collection of environmental stories
Across continents, landscapes, communities, and histories, this collection of stories explore the many ways people connect with the environment. Inspired by fragments of the dragon carpet, they reflect on ecology, stewardship, local knowledge, and the relationships between people and the natural world, revealing how environmental challenges and responsibilities are shared across borders.
This story is part of the CulturalxCollabs - Weaving the Future project.
Ecological Journeys
Fragments that explore connections between people, landscapes, and nature.
Sara Domingos connects the Caucasus and Portugal through shared patterns of meaning.
“In the Caucasus, Mount Ararat is believed to be the final resting place of Noah’s Ark after the great flood, a symbol of survival after forty days and nights of rain. In Armenian mythology, the dragon is seen as a powerful force tied to the elements, especially rain. Dragons are considered guardians of nature’s balance, bringing both storms and life-giving rain that nourishes the land. These creatures are revered as beings capable of controlling the skies, making rain a source of both renewal and strength.
In Portugal, after years of severe drought, dam levels are now nearly full, with some even having to release water. This reminds us of the need to protect, restore and manage nature better, which has been ravaged by intensive agricultural practices in this region.”
Mauricio Tolosa co-created a poetic composition with the dragon carpet fragment and the quiet presence of plants.
“As when I explore the world of plants, or any “new” realm I enter, I bring no intention—only presence. I let the carpet speak, just as I let the leaves speak. I observe gently, with affection and quiet perception, and let the concepts and stories grow slowly from there.
Even in their apparent lifelessness, the spirit of the plant whispered from the Kingdom Plantae, carrying a quiet message of resilience, beauty, and renewal. The fragile and weightless dried branches of Carthamus tinctorius that I gathered last year transformed into a small garden of colour on Fragment #86 of the Dragon Carpet.”
Sooyeun Ahn is a photographer from South Korea exploring the relationship between environment and people of Jeju, an ancient volcanic island.
“Through photography, I have come to live the life of a voluntary migrant, moving my living spaces to follow my subjects. The reason for my move to Jeju was to pursue a project centered on the ecology and historical significance of a forest called the "Gotjawal", an ancient, 10,000-year-old forest formed during the creation of this volcanic island.
The different spaces that unfold as I follow different subjects, along with the distinct encounters and vicissitudes of life that occur within those spaces, feel much like the process of weaving a fabric using threads of entirely different colors and textures.”
Mohammad Abu Al Hasan reflects on working in a multicultural team caring for Antarctic heritage as a shared global responsibility.
“Working on Antarctic heritage has taught me to think a lot about stewardship. Antarctica does not belong to one nation or one community in the way that many heritage sites do. It is shaped by international frameworks, scientific presence, and shared responsibility. That shared responsibility is not always simple, but it is meaningful. It asks us to practice care beyond our immediate borders and identities. It invites us to ask: What does it mean to protect something we may never “own,” but still value? How do we honour histories that are complicated, multinational, and sometimes uncomfortable?”
Guillermo del Valle's exhibition explores the impact of human activity on wetlands and the forced displacement of the birds that inhabit them.
“Migratory birds are displaced from the wetlands where they rest and feed by the logistical needs of airplanes; similarly, the dragon carpet was destroyed by bombs dropped from those very same machines. This parallel should force us to reflect: how, and for what purpose, do we humans use technology?
I recently opened my exhibition, "Desplazados II" (Displaced II), at the Espronceda Institute of Art & Culture in Barcelona, Spain. This project revolves around the anthropogenic impact on wetlands and the birds that inhabit them, which are being forced into displacement. Fragment #86 of the Dragon Carpet was integrated into the main body of this work.”
What is CulturalxCollabs?
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 to follow the fragment journeys...
...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.
Culinary Journeys
Culinary stories of taste, memory, and exchange inspired by fragments of dragon carpet. Part of the CulturalxCollabs - Weaving the Future project.
Expression Journeys
Stories of dance, music, theatre, and sound performances inspired by fragments of dragon carpet. Part of the CulturalxCollabs - Weaving the Future project.
