Interwoven Catalogue
INTERWOVEN
BELLHAUS © Karakulia
Product development and value addition initiatives between art and trade lie in the heart of BELLHAUS’s vision. Destined to break new ground and create an ode to Namibian craftmanship and the age-old Karakul carpet weaving trade, the collaboration between BELLHAUS Atelier & Galerie and Karakulia Weavers was meant to be.
Karakulia Weavers situated in Swakopmund is a Namibian weavery with world-class craftsmanship whose operations run like clockwork. Every single part of the process is done by hand. The weavers can produce absolutely any design they are presented with. This paired with magnificent, vastly different creative expressions by Marcii Magson, Michael Chandler, E-Tunga Studios and Tina Basson results in an intriguing and unexpected display that ranges from abstract to a modern take on traditional Oshiwambo handcraft design to pastel proportions and even an enourmous serpent! What makes this project particularly interesting is the fact that none of the artists - all well established in their various mediums - have produced designs for weaving before.
“We want to identify crafters with exceptional skill who are constrained to break into the current requirements of the market and support them with contemporary design and product development that will appeal to a wider, international audience. At the same time, we would like to give artists the opportunity to explore different mediums from what they are used to and further discover their own potential”, Andrea Behnsen Co-Founder of Bellhaus explains.
ARTIST BLURB / INSPIRATION
E-Tunga Studios (Founder Elisia Nghidishange, Windhoek & Eemeuxu; https://www.instagram.com/e.tungastudio81/)
Title of carpet: I know now
“I don’t talk much. I express everything through my art”. Elisa is a potter and sculptor and the brief to design a carpet was a novel experience for her, but she drew on the familiar colours and traditional patterns used in Oshiwambo basket weaving and pottery, as well as the natural colours and organic pigments found in nature.
Marcii Magson
Title of carpet: Rhythms of the Womb
Aware of the significance of carpets due to having been gifted a couple on very special occasions, Marcii approached the design of her carpet with a reverence for ritual, ceremony and significant moments in life.
“I imagined rolling myself up inside a carpet, imagining the feeling and it reminded me of the intense and full feeling of being pregnant with my daughter, Freya. It was the most special experience of my life. I wanted to weave that feeling into the design.”
Tina Basson (Founder of Martina Margarethe Illustration Windhoek; www.instagram.com/martinamargarethe_illustration/)
Title of carpet: Swakop se klippies
“Picking up rocks on the beach is a tactile but also meditative experience for me. I think the Namibian coast presents the most beautiful natural colour palette. My design is a local story of foraging along the coastline. It speaks of childhood memories, sentiment and nostalgia. My art is always a reflection of my faith, through which I hope to bring joy and happiness.
Michael Chandler (Founder Chandler House, Cape Town; https://chandlerhouse.co.za)
Title of carpet: Serpent
Best known for his design of blue and white ceramics, Chandler House store owner Michael Chandler was intrigued to exercise a new muscle in his artistic mind. His design of a large snake in black and white is completely different from his usual signature style and the result is playful and fun, yet still a striking, graphic design.
“Nature, because of Namibia. The snake design spreads a pattern over the surface, with the stripes speaking to each other. I think it adds a bit of danger to a space, a bit of zest, like lemon to lamb.” Micheal is not one for over-analyzing art. “What do you need to know more than do you like it or not? I like to keep it simple, joyful and whimsical. Not all art needs to change the world. It can sometimes change a room and that is enough.”
CARPET SPECS
Artist: Marcii Magson
Title: Rhythms of the Womb
Size: 151cm x 198cm
Weight: 9,5kg
Medium: Swakara Wool
Carpet weaved by: Salomon Hipopile Moombola; Karakulia Weavers, Swakopmund
Price: 21.600 NAD
Edition 1 of 10
Artist: E-Tunga Studios
Title: I know now
Size: 152cm x 196cm
Weight: 9,5kg
Medium: Swakara Wool
Carpet weaved by: Stella Yvonne Uiras; Karakulia Weavers, Swakopmund
Price: 21.600 NAD
Edition 1 of 10
Artist: Tina Basson
Title: Swakop se klippies
Size: 148cm x 214cm
Weight: 9,5kg
Medium: Swakara Wool
Carpet weaved by: Salomon Hipopile Moombola; Karakulia Weavers, Swakopmund
Price: 21.600 NAD
Edition 1 of 10
Artist: Michael Chandler
Title: Serpent
Size: 151cm x 198cm
Weight: 9,5kg
Medium: Swakara Wool
Carpet weaved by: Stella Yvonne Uiras; Karakulia Weavers, Swakopmund
Price: 21.600 NAD
Edition 1 of 10