4 minute read
Interwoven
Bellhaus x Karakulia
It is an uncontested fact that carpets do indeed tie a room together. Nothing warms up a space, connects the other objects and completes the bigger picture, like a rug does. Carpets are so essential to decorating that the entire plotline of the film The Big Lebowski revolves around seeking restitution for a ruined rug. But what happens, in reality, when you seek to repair a ruined rug? How will the room be pulled together once more, perhaps even better than before?
The ruined rug, in this case, is our tourism industry in the wake of a global pandemic. The very industry that feeds many different, seemingly unrelated industries, like the business of Moses Helao. Maybe you have heard of his rise to success, starting as a cleaner many moons ago, to becoming the sole owner of Karakulia Weavers. The iconic Swakopmund weaver’s biggest support came from foreign visitors to the country.
Co-founder of Bellhaus and keen purveyor of practical art, Andrea Behnsen, saw this as an opportunity to get involved with tapestry. She invited four artists with whom she had previously worked in her capacity as a curator to submit their designs. These were meticulously reproduced by the craftsmen and women of Karakulia, who source wool from the deep south of Namibia and use only natural dyes.
The result is a small collection of utterly unique carpets sporting the designs of Marcii Magson, Tina Basson, Michael Chandler and E Tunga Studios. Their respective rugs and the guidance of Andrea have encouraged weaving that honours ancient tradition, yet aligns with the design and decor trends of today. Mutually beneficial for both parties in the Bellhaus and Karakulia collaboration, the Interwoven exhibition from 23 June to 23 July offers a rightful place in the spotlight for remarkable handicraft, while making art more accessible and practical.
Each artist brings their unique aesthetic to the collaboration:
E Tunga Studios (Founder: Elisia Nghidishange, Windhoek & Eemeuxu)
Title of carpet: I know now
Being a potter and sculptor by profession, this was Elisia’s first experience designing a carpet. She drew inspiration from traditional patterns used in Oshiwambo basket weaving and pottery and opted for organic colours found in nature.
Marcii Magson (Founder of Atelier 7881, Windhoek)
Title of carpet: Rhythms of the Womb
“I imagined rolling myself up inside a carpet, imagining the feeling and it reminded me of the intense and full feeling of being pregnant with my daughter, Freya. It was the most special experience of my life. I wanted to weave that feeling into the design.”
Tina Basson (Founder of Martina Margarethe Illustration, Windhoek)
Title of carpet: Swakop se klippies
“Picking up rocks on the beach is a tactile but also meditative experience for me. I think the Namibian coast presents the most beautiful natural colour palette. My design is a local story of foraging along the coastline. It speaks of childhood memories, sentiment and nostalgia. My art is always a reflection of my faith, through which I hope to bring joy and happiness.”
Michael Chandler (Founder of Chandler House, Cape Town)
Title of carpet: Serpent
“Nature, because of Namibia. The snake design spreads a pattern over the surface, with the stripes speaking to each other. I think it adds a bit of danger to a space, a bit of zest, like lemon to lamb. What do you need to know more than do you like it or not? I like to keep it simple, joyful and whimsical. Not all art needs to change the world. It can sometimes change a room and that is enough.”
Charene Labuschagne
