Craft and Culture: Kuwait's Sadu heritage and craft highlighted through contemporary designs at London Craft Week 2024

Despite the pressures of modernity, Sadu culture remains a vibrant part of Kuwait’s cultural landscape. Modern designers and artists draw inspiration from traditional Sadu patterns, incorporating them into contemporary art, fashion, and design.

This fusion of old and new ensures that the rich heritage of Sadu continues to evolve while maintaining its historical essence. This is evident in this week's London Craft Week, hosted by the Kuwait Embassy in London, under the title "Beyond the Loom: Contemporary Sadu Expressions." The event, held under the auspices of the Al Sadu Society, highlights the society's recent efforts to preserve this cultural heritage of Kuwait.

The Sadu culture in Kuwait is deeply rooted in the Bedouin traditions of the Arabian Peninsula. "Sadu" weaving is practiced by the Bedouin tribes, where portable and practical items were essential for a nomadic way of life.  Sadu is particularly known for its vibrant geometric patterns and the use of camel and goat hair. 

Seetah Al-Marni presents Sadu Scarfs each measures 325 x 31 cm boosting striking Sadu patterns. 

Further research has revealed that the Sadu culture in Kuwait is deeply rooted in the Bedouin traditions of the Arabian Peninsula. The term "Sadu" refers to a traditional form of weaving practiced by the nomadic Bedouin tribes, particularly known for its vibrant geometric patterns and the use of camel and goat hair. This cultural heritage plays a significant role in the social and economic life of Bedouins and has been preserved and celebrated in Kuwait.

In 2011, the traditional weaving of Al Sadu was inscribed on the UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding. This recognition highlights the importance of the craft and the need to preserve it in the face of modernization.

A selection of home and fashion items featuring Sadu weaving techniques, as well as  hand-crafted jewellery,in silver band in gold, silver and enamel were among the exhibits at  "Beyond the Loo:  Contemporary Sadu Expressions."

The exhibition at the Kuwait embassy during London Craft Week tells a story of cultural continuity and artistic innovation through crafted art produced by Kuwaiti artisans.  Much of the crafts shown involve Sadu weaving, a craft that involves using a ground loom, and the techniques have remained largely unchanged for centuries.  The weavers, mostly women, create intricate designs that often incorporate symbolic motifs representing their environment, such as desert landscapes and animal tracks.

The modern designers and artists showcased have meticulously incorporated traditional Sadu patterns into their designs, creating a seamless blend of old and new for a contemporary lifestyle, with remarkable results.

Muneera Al-Sharhan presents Hayakom, a Sadu seating set

Muneera Al-Sharhan's Hayakom, is a seating set with cushions in striking geometric Sadu patterns and vibrant colours, handcrafted, adapted and reimagined for modern living, "interpreting Sadu weaving in a way that suits her needs and surroundings, adopting a playful approach to its creation. " 

Kawthar Al-Saffar presents Crisscross Trays,

Kawthar Al-Saffar presents Crisscross Trays, designed "to elevate the intricate skill of master weaver Mutaira's Sadu without appropriation of her original process."  These sculptural trays add three dimensional framing to Mutaira's rectilinear textiles.  Made by both dual-casting and Sadu weaving which have high limitations, informing the design to produce unique objects that personify the inherent beauty of these local constraints.

Laila Al-Hamad presents Tital

Laila Al-Hamad shows Tital a set of incense burner made in marble and sandstone, known in Arabic as mubkbar, apparently one of the few objects that has survived the test of time.  The idea was to create a handmade piece that combined the useful and the beautiful, allowing one to connect to the ritual and the object, the material and the form, and most importantly to the handmade nature of craft.

Ali Al-Yousefi presents Forest of Shapes 

Ali Al-Yousefi presents Forest of Shapes inspired by the Shajara pattern, the central and most elaborate pattern of Sadu textiles.  Ali's unique 3D printed game Forest of Shapes invites users to participate in the Sadu process.  This game interprets the tactile component of Sadu weaving and combines it with the forms of the Shajara pattern, allowing users to create shape after shape using multi-coloured blocks.

Muneera Al-Sharhan presents Sadu Collection silver jewellery

Also show off Sadu traditional patterns to great effect are hand-crafted jewellery,in silver by Muneera Al-Sharhan and in gold, silver and enamel by Farah Bastaki, as well as incense burners in marble and sandstone by Laila Al-Hamad and in gold brass by Hussein Al-Rushaid.  Hanadi Al-Marzouk presents a selection of Sadu cups in ceramic.  There is also a Sadu bench by Manal Al-Maimouni made in wood with woven wool detailing.  Husam Al-Rushaid presents a "pyramid" item made in black iron while Alia Al-Fares presents Aljazi, a collection of travertine natural stone columns.

Farah Bastaki presents "Yalmah" jewellery in gold, fine silver and enamel.

Hussein Al-Rushald presents Sadu incense burner in gold-brass.

Hanadi Al-Marzouk presents Sadu cups in ceramic.

Manal Al-Maimouni presents Sadu beanch in wood with woven wool detailing.

The exhibit at the Kuwait embassy demonstrates that the Sadu culture in Kuwait exemplifies the resilience and creativity of the Bedouin people.  It represents a rich tradition that bridges the past and present, ensuring the preservation and celebration of Kuwait's cultural heritage for future generations.

All photos by Lucia Carpio