RugLife

Rugs and carpets have defined the character of space since animal skins began to warm and adorn cave dwellings; the earliest known Persian rugs are nearly 2500 years old. Given this long history—entwined with religion, culture, and nature—it is not surprising that artists continue to find potential in the form of the rug.

While many artists take a formal approach to the subject matter, others engage in cultural critique, taking on the appropriation of cultural, racial, and gender roles and stereotypes within the framework of a decorative object turned art object.

Image: Ali Cha’aban, The Broken Dream, 2016. Photo courtesy of Ali Cha’aban and Hafez Gallery, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.