BEYOND IDENTITY

This project focuses on teaching sustainable skills within textiles to the community of Milton Keynes and spreading awareness on processes destroying native habitats of plant species such as the ginkgo plant, used for dyeing wool and currently facing extinction, making it unavailable for future generations. The Beyond Identities project focuses on the conversation around culture, land and identity, informing craft as a sustainable practice in preserving and protecting our earth today.

Participants were introduced to Indigo, a plant-derived grain, for dyeing with Shibori techniques on linen. Woodblock printing was introduced for its notable historical significance as well as its versatile use in the world of craft. Experimental methods were used to dye and print natural linen with intricate and detailed patterns. Century-old archives featuring Islamic geometric and arabesque patterns inspired by plant forms informed the laser-cut woodblocks. Under the creative guidance and supervision of the textile artist Abeer Kayani, the group analysed and blocked printed elements of repetition, composition, and border patterns from the archives to large-scale wall hangings. Historic, decorative ornamental items from the 13th–18th Centuries, such as Salor Main Carpet from Central Asia, Pierced Window Screen from India, Mihrab (Prayer Niche) and Silk Kashan Carpet from Iran, were used as visual references. These were curated to reflect the project ethos as well as the group.

Participants shared techniques, food and conversation, learning transferable skills with the potential for developing their textile projects. Despite language barriers, they reflected impressive independent visual communication skills by producing collaborative wall-hanging panels for the Art in the Park Festival

Produced by: Abeer Kayani

Presented by: Milton Keynes Islamic Arts and Culture

Supported by: Garfield Weston Foundation