3 October – 14 November (preview on Friday 2 October, 5-7 PM)
Collins Gallery,
University of Strathclyde
22 Richmond Street, Glasgow, Scotland
The exhibition brings together for the first time in Scotland, a stunning
collection of over 20 embroidered felted garments designed by Bita Ghezelayagh.
The namads or thick
felted, "T" shaped cloaks traditionally worn by Iranian shepherds are produced
by hand at workshops in Borujerd and Khorramabad from fleeces sourced in the
foothills of the Zagros Mountains. They are then hand-embroidered with brightly
coloured silk using pokhtedoozi, a labour intensive technique of tight
stitches favoured in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and Turkey. Others are
embellished with screen-printed designs and the application of metallic coins
and tags.
Ghezelayagh's tunics which are decorative as opposed to functional, provide a
poignant validation of Joseph Beuys' elevation of felt as an Artform, and serve
as canvases on which she expresses her memories of growing up in Iran.
In addition to Turkoman motifs, including geometric forms,
stylised tulips and birds, and symbols and talismans drawn from the folklore of
indigenous tribes, her designs often incorporate lines of Iranian poetry and
references to her country's recent political history, from the 1979 Revolution
to the present day.
Ghezelayagh, who has practised as an architect, interior designer
and film producer/costume designer in Iran now splits her time between London
and Tehran.
The exhibition is supported by:
Illustrated catalogue
A DVD documentary produced by BBC Persia
Two-day Masterclass: 12 & 13 November: Constructing felted tunics with Jeanette
Sendler
Symposium: Saturday 14 November including presentations by Bita
Ghezelayagh and Pedram Khosronejad
For further details & booking forms, please contact the gallery direct.
... Payvand News - 09/30/09 ... --
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