Jaffar Avari is not a rich man. But he is rich in ideas and creativity. The 43-year-old Iranian from Tabriz not only weaves carpets but also recreates visuals with the use of silk and wool to transform photographs into large canvasses.
Jaffar doesn't talk much. He doesn't need to. His carpets do the talking for him. He has created one of the most striking carpets at this year's Carpet Oasis, being held in Hall No. 2 at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC).
The carpet shows a visual of General Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and UAE Defence Minister, on horseback against a backdrop of desert sand dunes. Hundreds of visitors to the Carpet Oasis stop to admire it.
Jaffar and his team spent a year completing the work, assigned by Dubai-based Morning Glory General Trading.
"The carpet was woven using 60 knots per square centimetre to give the visual a more definite look and we have used thousands of colours to portray it," said Jaffar.
"We have used both silk and wool for this carpet. This is one of our finest creations and we have taken great care in doing this."
Jaffar has been weaving carpets for 25 years. It is a trade that was practiced by his forefathers. A family business, his factory now employs more than 60 professionals, weaving about 60 pieces a year.
Each worker makes carpets for at least 10 hours a day and earns a modest living. His factory has produced many carpets which portray Islam's holy sites the Kaaba in Makkah and the Prophet Mohammad's (PBUH) mausoleum in Madina as well as calligraphy-based illustrations.
He also creates images, visuals and artworks on carpets that command higher prices on the international market.
This is the second in a series of carpet portraits planned by them.
"We have not yet named it. This is also not for sale as it is too precious to us," said Mohammad Al Jassmi, owner of Morning Glory General Trading, one of the largest importers and trad-ers of Persian carpets.
"We have one more in our showroom, displayed for the customers. We are not selling them.
"This is a mark of our respect for General Shaikh Mohammad. We have captured this image for re-creation on a carpet due to his deep love of horses. This is one of many carpets we are planning on him."
Jaffar is one of thousands of Tabriz residents for whom carpet weaving is in their blood.
"Our tradition in carpet making goes back 25 centuries of Persian history. We are the first nation to use silk and woollen materials for making carpets," he says.
"Initially, we used wool as it was in abundance in those days due to the easy availability of sheep.
"Then when the trade route with China was established, Chinese silk began to enter Iran through the famous Silk Route. Now both silk and wool are equally used in carpet weaving in Iran."
Iran produces the best carpets in the world.
The Carpet Oasis has been an integral part of the Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) since its inception in 1996. It was moved to the DWTC this year to attract more shoppers.
With the widest possible collection of silk, wool and silk-wool combo carpets from Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India, the Carpet Oasis 2005 is a must-see exhibition, even for those who have little interest in carpets.
The sheer size of the colourful collection, live demonstrations on carpet weaving, the carpet museum that displays literature, books and samples of ancient carpets and the artwork created on designer carpets can be an exciting, educational and memorable experience for a visitor.
Besides the usual and average ones, the Oasis displays a good number of artworks on carpets that tell the history and culture of a particular place, leaving the visitor spellbound. All 100,000 carpets that are exhibited and sold at the Carpet Oasis are handmade.
"Most of these have been especially created for the Carpet Oasis," said Abdullah Khamis Hareb, member of the DSF organising committee.
"We asked the participants to come up with something extraordinary. Almost all have come up with some extraordinary creations at the Oasis. This year, we have limited the participation of exhibitors due to lack of space. We want more space to be able to accommodate all the carpet traders."
More than 4,000 carpet lovers visited the Oasis during the first four days of the exhibition.
Shoppers also have the opportunity to win Dh500,000 worth of goods, carpets and gift items in prizes by just spending Dh500 in carpet products.
Dubai is one of the largest markets for handmade carpets. Imported through Dubai's ports and airport, they are worth more than Dh1 billion a year. Sales may exceed Dh80 million at the Carpet Oasis 2005.
Gulf News
