Bita Ghezelayagh: Namad: A Perisian Journey in Felt
The exhibition brings together for the first time in the UK, a stunning collection of embroidered felt garments created by Iranian artist/costume designer, Bita Ghezelayagh, created between 2001 and 2009.
Made locally, felt in Iran is a much valued material with a wide variety of applications from the traditional coats worn by shepherds to burial shrouds. Inspired by travels throughout her native country, Bitas garments are decorated with verses from poems and symbols associated with indigenous tribes.
Supported by an illustrated catalogue, a short documentary film on traditional feltmaking in Burujerd and Khorramabad, and a one day seminar on Persian Art and Craft.
Press Release
Bita Ghezelayagh
Namad: A Persian Journey in Felt
3 October – 14 November
The exhibition brings together for the first time in Scotland, a stunning collection of over 20 embroidered felted garments designed by Bita Ghezelayagh.
The namads or thick felted, “T” shaped cloaks traditionally worn by Iranian shepherds are produced by hand at workshops in Borujerd and Khorramabad from fleeces sourced in the foothills of the Zagros Mountains. They are then hand-embroidered with brightly coloured silk using pokhtedoozi, a labour intensive technique of tight stitches favoured in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and Turkey. Others are embellished with screen-printed designs and the application of metallic coins and tags.
Ghezelayagh’s tunics which are decorative as opposed to functional, provide a poignant validation of Joseph Beuys’ elevation of felt as an Artform, and serve as canvases on which she expresses her memories of growing up in Iran.
In addition to Turkoman motifs, including geometric forms, stylised tulips and birds, and symbols and talismans drawn from the folklore of indigenous tribes, her designs often incorporate lines of Iranian poetry and references to her country’s recent political history, from the 1979 Revolution to the present day.
Ghezelayagh, who has practised as an architect, interior designer and film producer/costume designer in Iran now splits her time between London and Tehran.
The exhibition is supported by:
Illustrated catalogue
A DVD documentary produced by BBC Persia
Two-day Masterclass: 12 & 13 November: Constructing felted tunics with Jeanette Sendler
Symposium: Saturday 14 November including presentations by Bita Ghezelayagh and Pedram Khosronejad
For further details & booking forms, please contact: Laura Hamilton, Collins Gallery, University of Strathclyde, 22 Richmond street, Glasgow G1 1XQ.
Tel: 0141 553 4145
Email: collinsgallery@strath.ac.uk
Namad: A Persian Journey in Felt Two -day Felted Tunic Masterclass With Jeanette Sendler
This two day masterclass, run by one of Scotland’s leading felt makers, will offer participants the opportunity to construct a full sized felted tunic, similar in design to the traditional shepherds’ cloaks displayed in the exhibition.
Day one, from 10am – 5.00pm, will address the rudiments of making a felted tunic in one single piece, through the construction of a mini garment.
There will also be time for discussion and exploration of decorative designs, inspired by symbols and motifs particular to the makers’ own lifestyles, interests, histories etc
On the second day, from 10am – 4.30pm, participants will complete a full -sized garment which can then be embellished with an embroidered or appliquéd design.
Your fee, of £150.00, includes all materials, buffet lunches c/o the wonderful FRESSH catering company, refreshments throughout and a celebratory glass of wine at the end of the course.
The course will take place in the Collins Gallery and the exhibition “Namad: A Persian Journey in Felt” should provide a rich source of inspiration for all.
The numbers of participants is limited to 8, so early booking is strongly advised!
Please complete the attached form and return it to the gallery with your remittance by Friday 30 October.
More about the tutor…
Jeanette Sendler moved to Scotland from her native East Berlin in 1991 to study Theatre Costume Design at Edinburgh College of Art, degrees which led to her design and creation of costume for various theatres including the Bertolt Brecht Theatre and Comic Opera in Berlin, the Scottish Opera and the Australian Opera in Sydney.
Since then, she has taught at ECA on a part-time basis and in both 2005 & 2007, students from her Millinery Summer School beat 10 other summer schools to scoop won top awards for their work.
In addition to residencies, teaching and commissions which have taken her across the world to Mongolia, Finland, Lithuania, Kazakhstan and Kirgizstan, Jeanette has exhibited widely in both solo and group both nationally and internationally.
In 2007, Jeanette settled in Newburgh, Fife, having been enhanced by the vibrant arts scene during her year-long residency in the town.
She now continues her multi-facetted practice from her studio in Clinton Street.
Two-day Felt Tunic Masterclass with Jeanette Sendler
We now running a second Two-day Felt Tunic Masterclass with Jeanette Sendler on Thursday 29 & Friday 30 October. We regret that due to popular demand theTwo-day Felt Tunic Masterclass on the 12 & 13 November is fully booked.
Thursday 29 & Friday 30 October booking form
Namad: A Persian Journey in Felt Symposium
Presentations by
Bita Ghezelayagh and Dr Pedram Khosronejad
To mark the closure of the exhibition and offer visitors a last chance to view the show, meet the artist and learn more about Iranian Art, the Collins Gallery will host an afternoon symposium with a buffet lunch followed by two presentations.
Dr Pedram Khosronejad will present an illustrated talk based on *“The Art and Material Culture of Iranian Shi’ism: Iconography and Religious Devotion in Shi’I Islam”, a forthcoming publication in which ten eminent academics explore their experiences of the art and material culture of Shi’ism in Iran.
Shi’ism has been the official religion of Iran since the beginning of the 16th century and numerous academic studies have focused on this phenomenon: on the Muharram rituals, the Ta’ziya plays, Shi’ite theology and the post-revolutionary politics of Shi’ite Iran. However, until now, very little has been written about the impact of Shi’ite theology and rule on Iranian architecture, art and the material culture from the Safavids (1501-1732) to the present day.
Dr Pedram Khosronejad’s studied Visual Art at the University of Art in Tehran and attained further degrees in Art and in Anthropology in Paris. He is currently Research Fellow at the Institute for Iranian Studies in the Department of Social Anthropology at the University of St Andrews.
*Dr Khosronejad’s book is to be published by I B Tauris & Co Ltd, Jan 2010
ISBN-10:1848851685
Bita Ghezelayagh will discuss her practice in the format of a conversation with exhibition curator, Laura Hamilton, during which, members of the audience will be very welcome to put forward their own questions.
Areas to be covered include: Bita’s own practice and her decision to move into the field of Art Textiles from a background in Architecture, Theatrical Costume and Film, the sources, selection and the symbolic relevance of the indigenous iconography which appears in her work, traditions and techniques associated with feltmaking and embroidery in Iran and the current state of such home industries, and the status of the Fine and Applied Arts in today’s Iran in general.
Cost: £10.00/£8.00 conc rate.
To book a place, please complete and return the attached form with your remittance to the Collins Gallery by Tuesday 10 November.
