PHOTO
Sharjah : Irthi Contemporary Crafts Council, an affiliate of NAMA Women Advancement (NAMA), recently hosted a panel discussion at The Arts Club Dubai, to highlight the role of Emirati women in preserving cultural heritage through cross cultural and sustainable design practices. The discussion, led by practitioners at the cutting edge of cultural heritage preservation, focused on Irthi’s latest curated ‘Zenobia Collection’ drop that debuted at Design Miami/ Podium x Shanghai, and which merges Emirati and regional craft traditions with artisanal techniques and cutting-edge design.
Panel members Farah Nasri, Acting Manager of Design and Curation, Irthi Contemporary Crafts Council, and Levantine designer Nada Debs, also explored the connections between design and tradition and discussed how the new contemporary collection is creating innovative pathways for supporting sustainability, employment, and craft and cultural preservation. The discussion was moderated by Sybel Vazquez, Head of Cultural Programming, The Arts Club Dubai.
A virtual panel discussion held last year by Irthi with Design Miami shortly after the August 4 blasts in Beirut, Lebanon, paved the way for the collaboration between Irthi and Nada Debs to forge new ways of preserving the cultural heritage of Beirut.
Merging the intricate, handwoven braiding tradition of Emirati women with the wood-working heritage practiced predominately by men in the Levant, the Zenobia Collection drop features a contemporary collection of three multifunctional bowls of varying sizes. The bowls feature a solid French oak natural finish and incorporate woven Talli and Marquetry strips that lend itself to a new identity by bringing together the expertise of craftsmen and craftswomen from different parts of the region.
Nada Debs, whose work spans product and furniture design to craft, art, fashion and interiors, said: “The Beirut blasts triggered a strength in me that led to an extreme creative surge. In my work, I aim to elevate craft by injecting the design element which is vital for the sustainability of traditional crafts practices. The collaboration with Irthi, for instance, led to the use of modern pop colours.”
Weaving two craft cultures together leads to a crosspollination of design and craftsmanship and encourages out-of-the-box thinking, added the Lebanese designer. “Our main challenge with the Zenobia Collection drop was to integrate Talli – a fabric, into the wood, as this had not been attempted before. The products in this collection reflect a contemporary interpretation of a traditional design and has enabled both our craftsmen and the younger generation to see their cultural identities in a new light.”
Anything that is handmade stands the test of time, stated Debs, adding: “I believe that design should not only look good but also feel good. Creating pieces that resonates emotionally and reveals the soul of the craftsman/woman is the most important aspect of craft.”
Commenting on Irthi’s new collaboration, Farah Nasri said: “The Zenobia Collection drop weaves the worlds of Talli and Marquetry together and initiates a dialogue between two crafts from two different worlds. What we wanted to do with this collection is to democratise the craft and the handmade; and to showcase it in ways that everyone – across all age groups and cultures - can relate to, and thereby take the indigenous handmaking heritage of the region into the future.”
Highlighting Irthi’s ongoing cross-cultural collaborations with designers from different cultures and artistic backgrounds, Farah Nasri, said: “One of the most significant aspects of collective design is the contribution of many players including artisans and designers, researchers, and even scientists. Such cross-cultural collaborations help us integrate tradition and design and creates a new and sustainable ecosystem for handmade crafts.”
She added: “At Irthi, our main aim is to empower artisans, and the ‘Zenobia Collection’ drop supported 50 artisans from the UAE and 10 from Lebanon. More importantly, the design innovations are giving greater momentum to Irthi’s efforts in revitalising and safeguarding the region’s tangible and intangible cultural heritage.”
-Ends-
© Press Release 2021
Disclaimer: The contents of this press release was provided from an external third party provider. This website is not responsible for, and does not control, such external content. This content is provided on an “as is” and “as available” basis and has not been edited in any way. Neither this website nor our affiliates guarantee the accuracy of or endorse the views or opinions expressed in this press release.
The press release is provided for informational purposes only. The content does not provide tax, legal or investment advice or opinion regarding the suitability, value or profitability of any particular security, portfolio or investment strategy. Neither this website nor our affiliates shall be liable for any errors or inaccuracies in the content, or for any actions taken by you in reliance thereon. You expressly agree that your use of the information within this article is at your sole risk.
To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, this website, its parent company, its subsidiaries, its affiliates and the respective shareholders, directors, officers, employees, agents, advertisers, content providers and licensors will not be liable (jointly or severally) to you for any direct, indirect, consequential, special, incidental, punitive or exemplary damages, including without limitation, lost profits, lost savings and lost revenues, whether in negligence, tort, contract or any other theory of liability, even if the parties have been advised of the possibility or could have foreseen any such damages.
