NAMAD. The ancient art of felt in Iran and central Asia
1 Mar 2021 — 3 Oct 2021 at Museum of Cultures (MUSEC)
· Lugano
NAMAD brings together the rich tradition of felt-making — one of humanity's oldest textile arts — as it has been practised for centuries across Iran and central Asia.
Known in Persian as namad, this craft is deeply woven into the nomadic and semi-nomadic cultures of the region, serving both functional and ceremonial purposes. From floor coverings and tent linings to richly decorated ritual objects, felt has long been a medium of artistic expression and communal identity.
The exhibition invites visitors to discover the techniques, patterns, and symbolic languages embedded in these textiles, and to reflect on the living traditions that continue to sustain this ancient art form today.
Known in Persian as namad, this craft is deeply woven into the nomadic and semi-nomadic cultures of the region, serving both functional and ceremonial purposes. From floor coverings and tent linings to richly decorated ritual objects, felt has long been a medium of artistic expression and communal identity.
The exhibition invites visitors to discover the techniques, patterns, and symbolic languages embedded in these textiles, and to reflect on the living traditions that continue to sustain this ancient art form today.
About the venue
Museum of Cultures (MUSEC)
· Lugano
The Museo delle Culture di Lugano (MUSEC) was opened on 23 September 1989 with the aim of preserving most of the ethnic art collected by Serge Brignoni and coming in particular from the Far East, India, South-East Asia, Indonesia and Oceania. Since then, the museum has had the honour of receiving…