Whispering Reeds in Woven Gardens
“As a jannah or a bustan the Islamic garden and its archetype of
paradise is nature in its tamed state and the serenity and harmony this
provides. The arrangement and structure of my woven gardens - with articulated
fields of plant-imbued fabrics irrigated with water-like indigo blue areas -
are a reference to the Islamic garden paradigm. In the sequel, cotton, linen or
silk cloths are dyed naturally with roots, barks, leaves or flowers and filled
with their protective qualities. I explore the concept that in many traditional
societies and cultures cloth is believed to be a living thing, it records
life. And, as a storyteller narrates, filled
with signs and permeated with plants, it can be a messenger emitting healing
and protective essences.
In Islamic culture script is considered to have
magical force and the written word provides supernatural protection
My whispering reeds - which are both ornamental amulets and writing
implements - are inscribed in Arabic with the verses of the Syrian poet Adonis,
offering in this way their protection through art”.
Irini Gonou
Irini Gonou
The exhibition "Whispering Reeds in Woven gardens is part of the
1st International Conference Aspects
of Islamic gardens: Multi-meanings of paradise, organized by
I.M.A.R.E.T. (Institute Mohamed Ali for the Research of the Eastern Tradition) and EMATTECH (Eastern Macedonia & Thrace
Institute of Technology).
The exhibition will take place from October10th
to the end of December 2014 at Imaret and at the Mohammed
Ali Museum
in Kavala , Greece
You can watch the video here: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x26umqd_whispering-reeds-in-woven-gardens_creation
For further information you can
visit the links:
