Synthetic work imparts human experience

2000 bags with Emirati touches bearing "Messages from Beirut"

The work experience is shaped by the visitors' interaction with the bags hanging on the wall.

From the source

In cooperation with the “Heritage” Council for Contemporary Crafts, affiliated to the Nama Foundation for the Advancement of Women in Sharjah, Studio Te Sakhi, which specializes in architecture and design, based in the Lebanese capital Beirut, has designed an interactive installation with the aim of opening channels for dialogue about the future of Lebanon and its reconstruction.

The installation artwork under the title "Letters from Beirut" comes in honor of the Lebanese community, as it aims to strengthen ties between societies and provide an experience made up of multiple sensory factors, based on the power of the written word in conveying the human experience, through 2000 bags carrying the voices of the Lebanese citizens. They were affected by the explosion at the port of Beirut, on the fourth of last August.

The work was revealed in the fifth session of the European Cultural Center exhibition, which opens its doors to visitors in conjunction with the activities of the Venice Biennale of Architecture, which is being held this year under the slogan "How will we live together?", Until November 21.

For her part, Director of the Nama Foundation for the Advancement of Women, Reem bin Karam, said: “Our cooperation to accomplish the artistic work (Messages from Beirut) expresses the vision of the wife of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah, Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Muhammad Al Qasimi, President and Honorary Founder of the Council of« My Heritage », as it comes to broadcast A spirit of hope in the lives of the affected Lebanese, support for craftsmen and women, and sustainable design processes, in addition to preserving the cultural and craftsmanship.

She added: “The artwork will contribute to opening new spaces for dialogue between the public and those affected by the port explosion, and enabling the (Heritage) Council to collect the necessary donations to support the reconstruction of Beirut, through our partnership with the (Peace for Beirut) campaign, launched by the International Humanitarian Big Heart Foundation. Consequently, this cooperation defines the Council’s vision for the future of urbanization and its role, as it is a gateway to preserve, protect and pass on handicrafts to future generations in the Middle East, North Africa and Southeast Asia.

Elements and Techniques

The artwork employs elements and techniques from the UAE’s artisanal heritage provided by the “Irrithi” Council, and consists of 2000 perfumed bags displayed on a six-meter-long horizontal wall. 37 Emirati craftswomen from the “Badawah” program for social development of the “Irrithi” council in Sharjah, All bags are handcrafted from recycled felt fabric, using Sayer Yai technology, inspired by the Emirati sifah craftsmanship, which relies on palm fronds.

The work translates the vision of the “Heritage Council” through the “Badawah” program for social development, represented in the empowerment and support of women professionally and socially through crafts, in the UAE, the Middle East and North Africa, Southeast Asia and Central Asia, by providing opportunities for training and professional development, while at the same time preserving On the rich cultural legacies of traditional crafts in the Emirates and the region.

The experience of the artwork is embodied through the interaction of visitors with the bags hanging on the wall, as they can choose any of the bags and read the personal message inside them, which was written by one of the survivors of the port explosion, which shook the Lebanese capital, on the fourth of August, and the public can respond. On letters to achieve the vision of the artwork, as the wall begins to gradually disintegrate whenever visitors take bags from it, until it disappears with the withdrawal of the last bag.

Modern suit

The bags are characterized by a modern look, as the palm fronds, traditionally used in the Al Safifa craft, have been replaced by recycled felt cloth, which are lined with linen and sewn with silver zari threads, and contain seeds that symbolize a new beginning and a new life that can be grown and used, which are coriander seeds, zucchini and beans. All of them are edible plants and are used extensively in Lebanese cuisine, and the bags evoke the smell of natural plants available in Lebanon's environment, such as cedar wood, pine, wild thyme, and jasmine.

Memory recovery

The two Lebanese sisters, Tara and Tessa, who co-founded Studio Te Sakhi, confirmed that their feeling that the world is living in an era in which real communication and relationships are replaced by virtual communication prompted them to collect 2,000 influential messages from the Lebanese survivors of the explosion, to share their thoughts and feelings with others. They indicated that they aim to continue strengthening dialogue on rebuilding the future of Lebanon, and restoring the common collective memory of the Lebanese community.

Support

The purpose of the "Messages from Beirut" project is to collect the necessary charitable donations to support those affected by the Beirut port explosion, and to provide aid in various sectors including health care, infrastructure and education. The artwork offers visitors the opportunity to donate to four initiatives and charitable institutions, by scanning the bar code ( QR code) printed next to the work.

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