Killim: Nomadic Home

Killim, pronounced Kuh-Leem is an inflatable sculpture exhibited at Nuit Blanche September 2023 in Toronto. The work will then be installed at Nocturne Festival in Halifax, October 2023. The work is 24 feet long, 24 feet tall and 8 feet wide.

Featuring the form of a nomadic Kurdish tent adorned with textiles in traditional geometric patterns, the work invites reflection on the traditional lifestyle of nomadic peoples and how it stands in stark contrast to the modern, industrialized world.

Nomadic people, like the Kurdish nomads, have long been known for their ability to thrive in challenging environments without permanently altering the natural landscape, in many ways the opposite of 'Breaking Ground'. Their way of life is centred around

mobility and adaptability, which allows them to move with the seasons and access resources sustainably.

By using the form of a nomadic Kurdish tent, the project challenges the prevailing Western notion that progress necessarily involves permanent construction and destruction of the land. Instead, the project draws attention to the ways in which indigenous nomads preserve the land, protect the environment, and live in harmony with nature.

Through the use of traditional textiles, the rich cultural heritage of the Kurdish people is celebrated and showcased. The Intricate geometric patterns reflect the unique design language of the region and the time-honoured crafts that have been passed down
through generations.

Ultimately, the project invites viewers to consider the ways in which traditional nomadic lifestyles can offer valuable lessons for the Western world. As the global community faces unprecedented environmental challenges, the project encourages a re-examination of our relationship to the land and the role that mobility, adaptability, and cultural heritage can play in preserving it.

In sum, the proposed art project offers a powerful meditation on the value of traditional and indigenous nomadic lifestyles as a model for sustainable living. By highlighting the ways in which nomads preserve the land and thrive without permanently altering the environment, the project offers a provocative challenge to prevailing Western ideas about 'Breaking Ground'.

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