Weaving the future - historical carpet fragments on a world tour

For a long three and a half years, the Pergamonmuseum in Berlin will be closed for renovation work. The affiliated Museum of Islamic Art with director Stefan Weber and curator Anna Beselin is using the break for an elaborate joint project called "Cultural X Collabs / Weaving the Future": the reproduction of a Caucasian dragon carpet from the 17th century, which was partially destroyed during the Second World War, was cut up on 23 September 2023 as part of a public celebration. 100 fragments passed into the hands of selected actors who will take them on the road during a period of four weeks to six months to pass them on to other "temporary owners". The whole project is supported by DHL and will run until the reopening of the Pergamon Museum in 2027, when the pieces - and the stories they bring with them - will return to the newly designed rooms of the Museum of Islamic Art. The aim is to make ways of cultural exchange visible, to promote participation transregionally and to make social connections tangible. Together with the 17th century dragon carpet, old and new once again enter into a dialogue.

Carpet Home editor-in-chief Tim Steinert was also invited to participate. He cut his fragment with the number 50 himself from the specially made doppelganger carpet, manufactured by Rug Star. He wants to integrate the piece into his busy everyday working life and, as a "carpet ambassador of the present", convey the historical and cultural significance of the carpet beyond its use as a furnishing object.

Accompanied by the action on social media under the hashtag #culturalxcollabs, one can continuously find new contributions on the homepage of the Museum of Islamic Art at https://islamic-art.smb.museum.

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