
Tapestries from the Ramses Wissa Wassef Art Center in Cairo
A selection of tapestries and batiks from the world-renowned Wissaf Wassef Art Center in Harrania near Cairo will be exhibited on the upper floor of the James-Simon-Galerie. Admission is free.
Artworks from this celebrated institution feature in some of the world’s most prominent museums. These vibrant tapestries bring Egypt’s flora, fauna, and rural life to life with bold, colourful imagery, offering visitors a unique window into the rich, everyday life of modern Egypt and the personal stories woven into these "threads of life."
The tapestries on display are still being produced on handmade looms using wool and cotton threads dyed with natural colours. Each tapestry is created entirely from memory, with no preparatory sketches or notes. Even the most intricate pieces, which require many months to complete, are composed directly on the loom and are inspired by impressions of everyday life in Egypt. The exhibition will showcase the unique techniques involved in this intricate art of weaving.
A special exhibition of the Ägyptisches Museum und Papyrussammlung – Staatliche Museen zu Berlin in cooperation with the Wissa Wassef Art Centre in Cairo