KHAYAMIYA

Near Bab Zuweila, one of three town gates that survive from the Cairo of the Fatimid dynasty, a khayamiya maker sits in a small workshop, curved over a sheet of heavy calico, his fingers moving deftly, with a grace and efficiency that betokens long experience. Onto this blank canvas, he is stitching a world of colour and movement. Once, these great appliqué tapestries would have lined desert tents and pavilions. Today, many khayamiya makers survive by making bags, cushion covers and bedpreads for tourists.

Fascinated by the potential of the medium, Louis Barthélemy began to work with these custodians of Egypt’s living heritage to create contemporary fabric frescoes that dip a teasing toe into the history and culture of the Nile Valley, bringing new life and a fresh audience to an endangered trade.