Agenda spesial. Martin Erik Andersen: Central Asian Ornaments and Textile Art – Cultural Synchretism and Identity

Abstract

Rugs and ornaments are in their nature fluently transgressive to national and cultural borders. At one and the same time they establish strong local identities while simultaneously also representing an undercurrent of connectivity through vast spands of time and geografical space. The Norwegian and Swedish weave traditions contains fascinating specific traces in ornaments which can be seen as intimately related to some important nomadic Central Asian rug motifs. A preindustrial connection where especially the Norwegian may give a glimpse into now lost types of Central Asian ornaments, and how they evolved. The rugs represent a possibility of seeing the broad scopes of our history as specific chains of aesthetics connectivity - instead of the history of violence, division and alienation.