Abu Dhabi, UAE; October 2022: UAE social enterprise 81 Designs and Moroccan artist Bouchra Boudoua will unveil a new collaborative collection at Abu Dhabi Art that is set to take place from 16 to 20 November 2022 at Manarat Al Saadiyat. The annual fair is held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Member of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council and Chairman of Abu Dhabi Executive Office.
‘Autumn Harvest’ is a culmination of a seven-month project, ushering in a time to celebrate cultures through earthen elements and sustainable materials, and polished with sophisticated Moroccan pottery and Palestinian embroidery. Drawn into the therapeutic effect of pottery and ceramic’s humble material that can transform into shapes, Bouchra adds her signature asymmetrical patterns to the series of pots in the collection. The ceramics, ranging between 50 to 75 cm in height, were transported from Marrakech to Ain El-Hilweh refugee camp in Lebanon, where Palestinian refugee women skilfully used the intricate Tatreez embroidery method to stitch raffia fibre from a palm tree onto the surface — pushing the boundaries of traditional crafts while keeping the essence of handmade work that unifies geographies and humanity.
Refugee artisans employed by 81 Designs Nadine Maalouf, Co-Founder of 81 Designs, says: “We narrate the creative story of a time-honoured tradition in hopes of preserving our Arab heritage. Through our partnerships, we’re able to give Palestinian refugee artisans stable employment and help them rebuild their lives. Working with Bouchra Boudoua exemplifies both our commitment to community and the convergence of craft and design, uncovering the art of Tatreez in a different light.”
Nesrine El-Tibi Maalouf, 81 Designs Co-founder
Moroccan artist Bouchra Boudoua recounts: “When I was contacted by Nadine Maalouf to work on this project, I immediately said yes because I quickly sensed that 81 Designs shares similar craft values and craft preservation endeavours as mine. My work would not be possible without the magical work of the potters I work with here in Morocco. As such, a lot of what I do revolves around collaborations as pieces are handled by several hands throughout the process. When I learned about the work 81 Designs is doing with Tatreez, I was very keen on collaborating on my pieces in a similar way. I was interested in creating ceramic pieces that would act as a sort of shared canvas.”
“The pots were created by a group of seven potters and assistants and myself with an aim to leave space for pattern work in the form of Tatreez. I wanted to share a bit of what I do with these women by inviting them to explore patterns through the art of Tatreez on my pots. Using clay as an embroidery support meant a lot of careful planning and meticulous handling during the pottery-making stages. It also meant that we would have to push the boundaries of Tatreez by exploding cross stitches and working on different scales. The result of this ‘Autumn Harvest’ is a series of intricate, earthy coloured, ceramics created by a group of artisans in Morocco and embroidered by Palestinian refugee artisans in Lebanon,” she continues.
‘Autumn Harvest’ in the making 2 The ‘Autumn Harvest’ collection delves into the revolutionary use of traditional crafts – pottery and Tatreez embroidery – and reflects the desire to unite artists, artisans, makers, and designers to weave together design, craft, art, and culture. For more information, please get in touch with @81DesignsME on Facebook / Instagram / its official website 81designsme.com.