Seif El Rashidi
Mr Seif El Rashidi is currently the Programme Development Officer for the University of London’s “Layers of London” project. A highly respected author of numerous publications, his latest book, written with Sam Bowker, is The Tentmakers of Cairo: Egypt’s Medieval and Modern Applique Craft, published by the American University in Cairo Press. Additional research interests include the continuity of building traditions, the representation of identity in architecture, and the role of museums as educative establishments.
Textile Palaces: The remarkable survival of an Egyptian craft
In this talk, El Rashidi will reveal the long and evolving history of magnificent ceremonial tents in Egypt. These temporary palaces were used for social and political occasions for millennia. Discussing these tents in context, he will shed light on the social and political events that took place in public and used these tents to impress foreign dignitaries and local subjects alike. The talk will also discuss the surprising survival of this magnificent craft until today, shedding light on the current status of the craft. This will include a discussion of the efforts to preserve and revive it, through design-led projects and national and international exhibitions.