Invasion

Considering time and body, carpets capture these concepts beautifully. As an Iranian, I feel deeply connected to carpet-making, having grown up surrounded by these rugs and their culture. My mother and grandmother taught me about the value embedded in the process—the long hours, the patterns and stories traveling through centuries, influenced by each artist's touch. We believe rugs bring comfort, family, and completeness to our homes. However, I've observed that in the West, carpets are often seen primarily as material objects or luxury items. For Iranians and many Middle Easterners and Asians, removing shoes when entering homes is crucial to keeping environments and rugs clean. Seeing Westerners walk on carpets with shoes always made me think about cultural respect and understanding. Initially planning to weave a complete tapestry depicting men's formal shoe soles, I instead chose to present my work unfinished on the loom. This frozen moment reveals different stages in layers, embodying our cultural belief that art encompasses not only the final product but also the time, labour, and skills invested in creation. The accompanying soundtrack features traditional "singing patterns" from Persian rug-making—songs that include patterns, folk stories, and prayers.