Abu
Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi) is organising a series of
specialised Emirati traditional handicrafts workshops focusing on transferring
the skills and expertise of Emirati artisans to new generations.
Supervised
by TCA Abu Dhabi-accredited Emirati craftswomen, the workshops will feature
three crafts adroitly mastered by Emirati women over the years including
‘Talli’ embroidery, ‘Khos’ palm frond strand braiding and ‘Sadu’ weaving, and
will be organised at Abu Dhabi National Theatre from 26th July to 20th August,
2015.
The
workshops’ artistic production will then be displayed at an exhibition that
will accompany the second National Traditional Handicrafts Festival, which is
set to return to Al Ain’s Souq Al Qattara in October 2015.
Participants
will learn the intricate techniques of ‘Talli’ using ‘Zari’ bright threads to
decorate women’s clothes and ‘Sadu’ wool and cotton yarn weaving to make
colourful, decorated fabric used in Bedouin tents. The workshops will also
feature ‘Khos’ dried palm frond braiding to make baskets, mats and various other
items.
"Aligning
with our commitment to preserve the UAE’s heritage and culture, the workshop
series complements the authority’s support of expressive arts and cultural
events that contribute to promoting Abu Dhabi’s heritage, balancing deep-rooted
tradition with the creation of modern customs that can make our ancestors
proud," said Sumayya Al Suwaidi, Community Events Manager at the Culture
Sector of TCA Abu Dhabi.
"The
traditional handicrafts practiced by UAE women throughout history are
characteristically innovative, pay much attention to minute artistic details
and require highly technical skills to retain the piece’s aesthetic elements,
particularly the ‘Sadu’ which has recently been inscribed on the UNESCO List of
Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, becoming a world heritage component.
These workshops will keep the skills of artisans alive by transferring them to
new generations, in conjunction with developing new products to help crafts
maintain their value and position as important elements of Abu Dhabi and the
UAE, and for all humanity," added Al Suwaidi.
Accredited
craftswomen receive TCA Abu Dhabi’s support with the aim of protecting
traditional artisanship by giving women the chance to participate in cultural
and heritage-related events, heritage competitions and productive families’
programmes inside and outside the UAE, thereby developing traditional products
with modern day use.
The
return of the National Traditional Handicrafts Festival follows a successful
inaugural 2014/15 season, and the introduction of the new exhibition will cast
a modern light on traditional products and arts in an effort to further develop
handicrafts and inspire art from them. – End-
Image by: www.uaeinteract.com
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