Imaginary Knots: Celebrating the cultural origins of Persian carpets

Imaginary Knots: Celebrating the cultural origins of Persian carpets

Time: November 24, 2009 from 7pm to 9pm
Location: LACMA; Bing Theater
Organized By: LACMA event, made possible in part by the Farhang Foundation

Event Description:
TICKET INFO: FREE tickets will be available ONE HOUR prior to the start of the show at the LACMA box office, starting at 6 p.m. Show starts at 7.
Your RSVP on Farhang.org doesn't guarantee tickets.

Three of Iran’s most creative and innovative artists present an evening celebrating their rich Persian heritage and the cultural roots they draw upon.

Green Volume by Mamak Khadem Ensemble
Singer Mamak Khadem seeks to explore the intersections of Eastern and Western musical traditions. By collaborating with traditional performers from Iran as well as world-aware instrumentalists from the West, Mamak hopes to inspire people from around the world, particularly the young, to contemplate, observe, and celebrate the value of Persian heritage.

Imaginary Knots a Collaborative production by Hamid Saeidi and Shida Pegahi
Producer - Composer Hamid Saeidi & Choreographer Shida Pegahi present the premiere of Imaginary Knots, a multimedia production exploring the cultural origins of Persian Carpets. Like an intricate silk carpet, this multimedia project weaves live music, dance and video art as it explores aspects of Persian culture.


Project Management: Bita Shafipour (SoCiArts Productions)
Short Film Director and DP: Afshin Javadi
Dancers: Shida Pegahi, Doriss Martel, Wiley Naman Strasser
Musicians: Greg Ellis (Percussion)- Hamid Saeidi (Santoor)
Video Performer: Sheila Vand
Video Editor: Alborz Kamalizad
Video Musicians: Reza Abaee(Geichak)- Mehran Khalili (Electric Guitar)
Lighting Designer: Sohail Najafi
Costume Designer: Karyn Wagner
Set Designer: Marika Stephens
Painting on Fabric: Farbod Sadjadi
Graphic Designer: Arash Kolahi

Discover Why Ardabil Carpets Were Created

Discover Why Ardabil Carpets Were Created

The city of Ardabil, located in northwest Iran, is said to be where the Ardabil carpets were first created. Although this area has become famous for the birthplace of the Ardabil carpets, it is also the shrine of Sufi leader and mystic, Sheikh Safi. During his lifetime, Sheikh Safi originated a dervish order at Ardabil. Followers were very loyal to Sheikh Safi, and years after his death in 1334, the area was taken over in 1501 by Shah Isma'il, one of Sheikh Safi's descendents.

A new era

Shah Isma'il founded the Safavid Dynasty, united Iran and was also responsible for implementing Shi'ite Islam as the Safavid state religion. During this time, Shah Isma'il encouraged people to travel to Shaykh Safi's shrine in Ardabil. In addition, Shah Isma'il's son, Shah Tahmasp, increased the size of Sheikh Safi's shrine and also put in the order for the now famous Ardabil carpets to be made. It is said that this was Shah Tahmasp's way of praising the Safavid dynasty.

Before Safavid rule, carpet weaving was considered a relatively unsophisticated skill. However, it is said that Shah Tahmasp was a great supporter of the arts. And it is during this era that a variety of artistic specialites flourished, such as tile making, book binding, pottery making and, more specifically, carpet weaving. An entire movement developed around carpet weaving, both nationwide and internationally, resulting in the construction of many royal workshops by Safavid rulers.

Creating the carpets

These carpets were not just any carpets, but were considered as some of the best examples of carpet weaving. They were made with exceptional detail and striking characteristics. In addition to a large center medallion and two lamps above and below the medallion, the two, identical carpets contain an assortment of colors and are dominated by one complex design. This design includes an array of flowers, leaves and vines.

It is said that the carpets took three to four years to complete and involved the hard work and dedication of up to 10 weavers. Additionally, carpet weaving was usually performed by women, but because of such an important task of weaving the Ardabil carpets for royalty, it is speculated that men were also involved.

Symbols of change

For more than 200 years, the Safavid Dynasty ruled and it goes to show that the Ardabil carpets were a part of a very prominent time in history. Religion, politics and culture in Iran were experiencing a dynamic metamorphosis. At the same time, an artistic awakening was also in progress. As a result, two spectacular and highly regarded carpets were created and, to this day, continue to hold enormous historical significance.

Khosrow Sobhe
Certified Rug Specialist (CRS)
www.rugidea.com
310-770-9085

Ardabil carpets: A Brief Historical Review

Ardabil Carpets: An Interesting Journey Around the World

In addition to their beauty, incomparable qualities and dynamic place in history, Ardabil carpets have also been put in the hands of many people throughout their long existence. For more than 300 years, the carpets were located in a shrine in the city of Ardabil in northwest Iran. However, an earthquake in the late 19th century damaged the shrine and the carpets. This resulted in a chain reaction of events that would change the history of the Ardabil carpets forever.

Beginning of the journey

It is said that about 30 years before the earthquake, English visitors caught their initial glimpse of the carpets. Speculation says this may be the reason why the English were the first to purchase the carpets. Furthermore, it has been reported that possible reasons for selling the carpets to the English were to help cover the costs of repairs.

Nevertheless, the English carpet trading company, Ziegler & Co. bought the damaged carpets. Even though both needed repair, the only logical thing to do at the time was to take various pieces of one and use them to help restore the other. This resulted in one large carpet (in Victoria & Albert Museum in London) and another smaller, borderless carpet kept in Los Angeles Museum of Art.

Large Ardabil carpet gains notoriety

Approximately, in 1891, Vincent Robinson & Co. of London received the carpet from Ziegler & Co., and then Vincent Robinson & Co. put the carpet on public exhibition. The fact that the Ardabil carpet was hundreds of years old, contained an authentic inscription and had a one-of-a-kind existence, it gained much praise from popular newspapers and prominent community figures.

Even the famed artist, designer and painter, William Morris was in awe. He was so impressed with the carpet that he aggressively worked to obtain the carpet for the Victoria & Albert Museum in London – where it currently resides today.

Smaller, secret carpet revealed and sold

A few years later, it was rumored that there was another Ardabil carpet in existence. So in order to help sustain the value of the larger carpet, Vincent Robinson & Co. secretly sold the smaller carpet to Charles Tyson Yerkes, a wealthy American collector whose reputation was a bit questionable. Regardless, the goal was to keep the existence of a second carpet concealed, which meant Yerkes had to make sure the carpet never made its way back to England.

However, by 1910, Yerkes' entire collection of carpets, including the smaller Ardabil, was auctioned off. As a result, Dutch immigrant Joseph R. De Lamar bought the "secret" Ardabil carpet. Eight years later, well-known London art dealer, Sir Joseph Duveen, purchased the Ardabil after De Lamar's estate was sold. About 20 years later, J. Paul Getty bought the carpet from Duveen, and later gave it to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, where it has remained for past several decades.


Khosrow Sobhe
Certified Rug Specialist (CRS)
www.rugidea.com
310-770-9085