Roda Medhat

The Next In Fibre: 20th Anniversary Show was hosted at the Cambridge Art Gallery in Cambridge Ontario.

This show celebrates the textile industry of the Grand River region through a biennial exhibition of fibre-based artworks. 

Roda has two works included in this show

FARSH 3 is from Roda's aluminum rug series. A 8 foot wide and 4 foot tall sheet of aluminum water-jet cut with a distinctly Kurdish repeating medallion pattern. The cut sheet is overlayed with a dark green matte vinyl. The nature of the material makes it so the medallion patterns are only visible to the viewer at certain angles and perspectives. The work is a reflection on not only the craft and distinct styles of Kurdistan but also speaks to the ways that the Kurds impact and influence in the world of woven craft are often overlooked or attributed to other peoples.

Beside this work is Roda's second piece, Wall Rug Missing Tacks. This work comes from Roda's Neon Rug series. The piece looks to soften the hard material of the lights and acrylic backing board and bring life to the otherwise two-dimensional work. As the work literally peels and curls away from the wall, it invokes a subtle image of life and movement to the wall mounted rug, mimicking the ways in which rugs are hung as works of art in many homes. The exploration in shape, form and movement within this work explores the multitude of ways that textile based works can be translated to other mediums.

FARSH 3 was researched, designed and fabricated with funding from the Canada Arts Council. I would like to thank the council's support in creating my ongoing Aluminum Rug series.

Photos by Toni Hafkenscheid.