JEDDAH — The exhibition “Undiscovered Minimalism: Mazandaran Kilims" opens at Athr Gallery on Tuesday, Nov. 13, and runs until Nov. 22. In between the Caspian Sea and the Alborz mountains, the Mazandaran area hides little-known treasures of Persia. Werner Weber, a Zurich-based Oriental carpet dealer, first visited the Mazandaran area in northern Iran in the mid-1990s. In remote villages in the Hezar-jerib area, he and his colleagues discovered powerfully expressive heirloom kilims with “minimalist" abstract designs unlike any others known in the trade. These antique carpets hold colors and patterns that evoke modern paintings and architecture of the West. The resemblance between the Iranian kilims and Western art is completely coincidental. Heinz Meyer, an art expert, compares the kilims to contemporary artworks by Mark Rothko, Ad Reinhardt, and Barnett Newman. It seems serendipitous that the discovery of the Mazandaran kilims comes at a time when the world is becoming increasingly fascinated with Middle Eastern contemporary art. Discovering this new look in carpets that resembles contemporary minimalism also relates to today's minimalistic trend in interior design. The exhibition encourages the visitor not only to tune into the secret language of tribal woven art, but also to think outside the domain of ethnography, in an attempt to capture the underlying elements that connect “Textile Art" to simply “Art." Mohamed Maktabi, general manager of Iwan Maktabi, carpet expert and collector, delivers a lecture on Nov. 14 on the aesthetics of the Mazandaran kilims and the journey of modern designs in Persian tribal kilims. Another lecture, “Fantastic Silk Carpets from Iran" on Nov. 15, evokes the history and tradition of using silk in Persian carpets, and the famous silk carpets found in museums across the world (Polonaise carpets from 16th Century Isfahan, Heriz silk carpets from 19th century Qajar Persia). A show-and-tell will give the participants the chance to get their hands on some of the finest silk carpets woven in 20th century Iran by famous artists and artisans such as Rajabian, Khai Zadeh, Ashkeyoun, and Rahmani. Pre-registration is required, as seats are limited. For more information and bookings, please email [email protected]. — SG
