View Egyptian tents at the Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia

Source: IAMM website. An Egyptian
ceremonial tent.

The Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia (IAMM) has launched Khayamiya: Khedival to Contemporary, a cooperative effort between the IAMM and guest curator Dr Sam Bowker of Charles Sturt University, Australia.

Khayamiya, derived from the Arabic 'khayam' (خيمة, tent), is the Egyptian art of tent-making. It is created using a hand-appliqué technique in which fabric pieces are cut, folded and skilfully hand-sewn to canvas, producing impressive tents and wall hangings. These vibrant textiles are widely used in ceremonial contexts such as weddings, funerals, street parties and religious events.

This exhibition will take visitors on a journey through the evolution of khayamiya from the late Ottoman Empire to the present day. Some of the highlights include the Syme Panel (the first Khedival khayamiya to be discovered in Australia), and rarely-seen monumental tent panels from the Bowker Collection. The IAMM will be displaying one of its most treasured objects, a complete 19th-century Egyptian tent, to demonstrate that khayamiya is a sophisticated textile art form with a rich legacy of Islamic design influences.

Interested?

The exhibition runs till 31st January 2016. Check the museum opening hours