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Contribution short abstract

We showcase select pieces from the joint exhibition by artist-weavers and researchers from Iran and Germany "WE ARE NOT CARPETS - I tell you my story." We present two unique personal carpets and their stories, which are experienced in a poetic auditive and cinematic way and a sound installation.

Contribution long abstract

The exhibition and the carpets are the result of the collaborative research project “Weaving Memories” which provides weavers from the North Khorasan region in Iran with a platform to tell their stories by transforming their craft into a medium of storytelling and as works of art. "Weaving Memories" is a collaborative and multimodal project that examines the systemic marginalization and exploitation of carpet weavers who create handmade carpets. The project emphasizes the urgent need for a radical shift in the perception of weavers—from being seen merely as tools of production to being recognized as authors of their craft. The project adopts a co-curatorial research approach, transforming carpets from mere commodities into mediums of expression through storytelling. One of the outcomes of the project is the exhibition WE ARE NOT CARPETS. The exhibition was a collaboration between the Rautenstrauch-Joest Museum (RJM), the Cologne International Forum, the Global South Studies Center at the University of Cologne, and the FWO-funded research project "Weaving Memories" at Ghent University.

For the "Out of Focus" exhibition, we plan to showcase selected pieces from the project, including the carpet "I Want to Be a Gazelle" by weaver-artist Rabe' Rahimi, accompanied by a 3:45-minute video by Tahereh Aboofazeli and Arjang Omrani. Additionally, we will present the unfinished carpet by Masoomeh Mohammadi along with an accompanying audio piece. These two carpets will be complemented by a sound installation featuring nine personal stories from the weaver-artists, creating a rich and immersive experience.