architecture
Working with locally abundant goat’s hair, which is hand-processed into yarn by Bedouin women, is a process that Seikaly has been leading with ‘Weaving a Home’, following the realisation that these traditional tools could, in fact, be developed to combine other materials in order to respond to current needs and crises. What is equally important here is demonstrating the value of this material within a local context, in order to utilise available resources to generate income for a wider community. “We have an abundance of these materials that we are not really making use of – and that’s a huge problem. The narrative that has been developed and that we have grown used to, in Jordan specifically, is that ‘Jordan is a resource-poor country’, and this is something that I completely disagree with. I think
Jordan is a resource-rich country but, due to various circumstances, this has become embedded in our culture and we have become reliant on foreign aid and foreign income. Now, what I am trying to do is change that perception; and changing perceptions means you need to demonstrate that you need to take action to show it is possible.” Seikaly describes her work as part of a global direction of thinking that is aligned with the climate, the environment and sustainable practices in order to rethink the way we are living today. This new way of thinking is in tune with concepts around locality, local materials, supply chains, building and consumption. “What I am trying to do is trying to call attention to these topics through my own culture and my own context,” Seikaly concludes. id
Photography by Tanya Marar.
Abeer Seikaly has worked with Bedouin women in Jordan across a number of projects.
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