2024-2025
Ya Reit Zamani Maysaheneesh (I Wish Time Wouldn’t Wake Me Up)
Artists: Dina Danish and Jean-Baptiste Maitre
Title: Ya Reit Zamani Maysaheneesh (I Wish Time Wouldn’t Wake Me Up)
Dimensions and medium: 190x130 cm per textile piece , Khayamiya hand-sewn appliqué, embroidery, and textile
Overview: We propose to showcase two unique textile works hand-sewn by Khayameyya craftsmen, whose workshops are located near the Citadel, in Cairo. The textile banners feature a cinematic screen and a representation of light, with hand shadows depicting varying gestures.
Artistic Concept: The hand shadows, captured in the textile, suggest signs, such as a heart, bird, or animal. These gestures propose a moment just before a narrative unfolds, highlighting the use of hand gestures as a means of communication, symbolism, and storytelling.
Cultural Connection: The Khayameyya craft has historical ties to the Citadel of Cairo, particularly during the Mamluk era. The textile works not only celebrate the craftsmanship but also the enduring connection between the Citadel and Khayameyya traditions.
Significance: By sewing hand shadows into the textile, the fleeting nature of cinema and time is contrasted with the permanence of the crafted image, thereby externalising an image made of light.