Zenobia Collection
With Studio Nada Debs for Irthi Contemporary Crafts Council
By weaving the worlds of Talli and Marquetry, a contemporary interpretation of the vessels traditionally carried by Bedouin women is born.
The crafts, although similar in appearance, involve very different processes and materials. One practiced predominately by men is produced using wooden cross-sections that are assembled together and shaved using machine tools, while the other is hand-woven by women using wool threads. Through their application, an exchange happens as the Talli becomes solid and lends its supple characteristics to the Marquetry. The forms, typically used for copper pots, are translated in solid oak and woven with narratives uniting the journeys and expertise of craftsmen and craftswomen from different parts of the region.
Team: Sacha Abdo - Photography: Mansour Dib, Irthi Contemporary Craft Council, Bachar Srour, and Gosha Plant Studio - Date: 2022
From its base in Sharjah, a dynamic emirate known as the cultural capital of the UAE, the Irthi Contemporary Crafts Council has been establishing pioneering programs —both locally and globally— that preserve, engage, elevate, and empower the art of crafts and their creators.
Unique in its mission, Irthi gives a voice for the woven creations and the tireless meticulous hands that craft them. Irthi’s story has many threads, and here we discover how each thread has a purpose, and a legacy.
