Courtesy of the Artist and Green Art Gallery, Dubai. Photo by Anna Shtraus
Curated by Murtaza Vali, ‘Reverberations: Textile as Echo’ at Green Art Gallery converges the works of four contemporary artists – M’barek Bouhchichi, Sayan Chanda, Himali Singh Soin, and Swapnaa Tamhane – to delve into the rich heritage and diverse practices of textile arts across South and West Asia and North Africa. Collaborating with skilled artisans, these artists employ traditional dyeing and weaving methods, utilising materials such as wool, vintage quilts, Ikat fabric, and cotton embellished with woodblock printing and mirror embroidery. By celebrating Indigenous textile traditions often marginalised by colonial and modernist perspectives, the exhibition reinstates their significance as contemporary modes of expression.
Natural weaving and dyeing, 230 x 160 cm. Courtesy Selma Feriani Gallery and artist. Photo by Anna Shtraus
Challenging conventional distinctions between object and process, form and ornament, the artworks blur boundaries, intertwining the handmade with the digital. Bouhchichi’s ‘Terra’ series, for instance, reflects on cultural exchanges between southeastern Morocco and northeastern Mali through wool fabric dyed with henna paste, evoking landscapes and architectural motifs.
Chanda’s ‘Jomi’ series draws inspiration from Bengali literature, repurposing vintage Kantha quilts into abstract compositions laden with personal and collective memory.
Soin’s ‘Mountain, pixelated in the water’ translates natural phenomena into a double Ikat tapestry, resonating with historical narratives of resistance against colonial exploitation. Meanwhile, Tamhane’s ‘Bird’s-Eye’ series and ‘Achadiya V’ explore the intersection of cartography, architecture, and textiles, infusing them with intricate handwork and vibrant colours.
Through their craftsmanship and collaborative endeavours, these artists amplify the enduring significance of textile art, weaving together narratives of cultural heritage, identity, and resistance. ‘Reverberations: Textile as Echo’ serves as a testament to the dynamic interplay between tradition and innovation within the realm of contemporary textile and fibre art, inviting viewers to explore the multifaceted dimensions of this ancient yet ever-evolving medium.
Location: Green Art Gallery, Dubai
Dates: 7 May – 27 July 2024
Of an exceedingly mischievous and disgraceful nature, 2024 Cotton cord, vintage quilt, gamchha
(traditional towel), dyed cotton
240 x 210 cm
Courtesy the Artist and Jhaveri Contemporary