Unveiling of “Ceci N’est Pas un Tapis”

The art installation Ceci n’est pas un tapis was unveiled early in June during an open house held at Hadi Maktabi Gallery, in the presence of distinguished guests, art collectors, artists as well as friends and representatives of the media, a press release said.

A lecture was organized by Dr. Hadi Maktabi and the artist Niloufar Afnan, during which the guests were invited to view and handle the objects. The live talk guided them through the phases of the design process of the art installation.

Envisaged jointly by Hadi Maktabi & internationally acclaimed artist Niloufar Afnan, Ceci n’est pas un tapis vividly demonstrates the unfolding of the various design layers of an Oriental carpet, and intentionally mixes materials and viewpoints not normally associated with the ancient art of carpet weaving, the press release added.

It was installed in sequential layers to bring out the complexity and independence of each segment of the design process. The art installation, made of inorganic and industrial materials such as aluminum, plexi-glass, and iron was proudly conceived, produced and assembled in Lebanon.

By deconstructing symbols and patterns, Ceci n'est pas un tapis aims to allow the viewer an understanding of how the design process initially happened and what went through the artist’s creative mind. It is a re-interpretation of what embodies the design of a carpet, leading to a re-evaluation of the symbolism & meaning behind the different motifs that abound on old rugs.

The artwork invites the viewers to decompose and recompose the Oriental carpet in their own mental space and engage in a new discovery with every unfolding layer, it added.

According to Maktabi “The journey we embarked on with this installation was greatly sensitive and emotional to the cultural context of the inspired designs. This artistic exercise taught us humility and heightened appreciation for all the unnamed and dedicated weaving artists who learnt their craft by observing the design of the natural world around them.”

He explains “Weavers of antique carpets (pre-1900) did not enjoy formal artistic schooling yet their woven art forms express remarkable complexity and sophistication of design, with intricate patterns formed from the piling of numerous layers of individual motifs or design elements. They never left documentation so we will never really know how these complex patterns were conceived.”

The display of the art installation and a special thematic exhibition of related antique textile art will continue until Friday July 10th, daily from 10:00 am until 7:00 pm.

This event is part of the Beirut Design Week.