Zollanvari will present 3 outstanding pieces of handwoven art at the first edition of Carpet Diem Paris which takes place from November 10-12, 2023. Zollanvari will exhibit alongside Art and Loom, Balmaceda Estudio, Bomat, cc-tapis, Coco Brun, Codimat Collection, Creative Matters Inc, Diacasan, Ebru, Edition 169, Floor Story, Galerie Triff, Knots Rugs, Laura Niubó, Little Cabari, Maman Rugs, Martine Dupuis, Maxime Mouroux, Meghan Spielman, Miksi Rugs, Nanimarquina, Pinton, Reuber Henning, Sitap, Stitch, Sybille De Tavernost, Toulemonde Bochart and Volver Studios.
Three signature Zollanvari pieces that represent the design creativity, excellence of execution and outstanding quality of production will be on show at the first edition of Carpet Diem Paris.
Zollanvari Studio’s Ikebana Kyoto is a design that looks East to Japan and celebrates color, nature, life is the first of the three pieces. All things Japanese were the rage in the late 19th century and greatly inspired and influenced the Art Nouveau and Art Deco movements. But the flow of inspiration worked both ways since these styles traveled back to Japan and in turn influenced meisen kimonos, which used abstract, floral and geometric designs in sophisticated color combinations. The subtle addition of a pelt-like ground adds the magical Persian touch. Persian tribal and contemporary weaving was unique.
The second of the Zollanvari signature pieces is Soltan 6 from The Lion Collection, one of the stars amidst the designs and collections launched to mark the company’s Diamond Jubilee in 2021/2022. An almost naturalistic depiction of a lion’s head appearing amidst profusely blooming hydrangeas and giant peonies is the apparent design of this creation by Studio NOV24 Vienna. What inspired the designers? The source of the lion is obvious – lion gabbehs and the heritage of the depictions of lions not only in Persian carpets but also in Persian iconography and culture stretching back centuries... Anahita, the ancient Persian goddess of fertility, water, health and healing, and wisdom was often portrayed standing on a lion, for instance. The large blooms are reminiscent of Chinese art and textile designs geared towards the export markets, particularly the European market. There are also references to highly ornate Persianate ‘Isfahan’ patterns and gol-farangi (‘western/foreign’ flower) designs of 19th/20th century Persian carpets. But the designers looked further afield to the fabrics and designs of the most fashionable catwalks – from Milan to New York, via Paris and London, awash with elaborate and exaggerated flora and fauna-inspired patterns, in even bolder clashing and contrasting colors. The result: a thoroughly contemporary carpet design but with much soul and heritage.
The third weaving is a signature baneh kelim woven in vertical strips and then sewn together. Squares Revisited from the Designer Flatweaves Collection has been created specifically for Carpet Diem Paris by Zollanvari Studio and completes the company’s offering at the show. The inspiration for this design comes from south Persian Gabbeh art. A Gabbeh is a hand-woven pile rug characterized by an abstract design that relies upon open fields of color and playful geometry. Gabbehs are woven by tribal women and are principally used as ‘bedding blankets’ by the nomadic tribes of the Zagros Mountains of Iran, including Kurdish, Luri and Ghashgha’i people. Gabbehs are quintessentially Zollanvari and geometric designs are quintessential Gabbeh designs. In their quest for a resource-efficient and sustainable production, Zollanvari continue to adapt traditional tribal iconography across all techniques, even reviving old weaving techniques (some almost extinct) to encourage the diversity of these techniques and to develop new ones. Here, Multicoloured squares within-squares are combined with irregular horizontal stripes to create a very modern look – a very Gabbeh-inspired design that is bewitching. But there is a further influence behind the creation of this kelim, namely the work of Josef Albers, the German Abstract painter and theorist.
In the words of Reza Zollanvari, the CEO of Zollanvari International: “We have never shied away from trying something new, pushing the boundaries. We are always innovating, finding inspiration in weaving traditions from across the globe, but always giving the designs the Zollanvari twist.”
