Salma Barakat
Salma Barakat, EGYPT.
From Collages to Craft: Salma Barakat Revives Egyptian Traditions with Nature-Inspired Art
In a world where modernity often overshadows tradition, Salma Barakat’s work is a breath of fresh air. Her unique use of traditional Egyptian crafts in her art, particularly carpets, not only preserves these fading practices but also brings them into a contemporary light. For Salma, the journey began with a desire to elevate her paper collages into something more tactile.
A Journey from Paper to Textile
“I wanted to elevate my paper collages by translating them to tactile forms. I decided to collaborate with weavers and very quickly discovered Egypt’s slowly diminishing handicraft industry,” she explains. This discovery set the tone for her work, where art and tradition merge seamlessly.
Merging Contemporary Art with Traditional Weaving
Transforming traditional crafts like carpet making into contemporary art isn’t simply about technique for Salma; it’s about reimagining how we engage with these time-honored practices. "I encourage my pieces to be used as wall-hangings, allowing them to be viewed as artworks. This also stresses the value of the handicrafts industry by marrying my contemporary designs with traditional weaving," she says. The result is a collection of pieces that blend the past and present while supporting local craftsmanship.
Commitment to Local Production
For Salma, having her work created and produced in Egypt carries deep personal meaning. “Producing the rugs locally is very important to me. I’ve been recommended to outsource from Morocco and Turkey. As tempting as that is, knowing that Egypt’s handicrafts are diminishing, I took the responsibility, in a small way, to focus on local training and development,” she shares. Salma’s commitment to keeping production local underscores her dedication not just to art, but to the communities and traditions behind it.
From Graphic Design to Hands-On Artistry
Her journey as an artist was shaped by a desire to step away from the screen, where she spent countless hours as a graphic designer. Collaging offered her a more hands-on approach to creativity. “It was a classic case of being a graphic designer with a lot of screen time and was called to transition to more hands-on creativity. Collaging was the most accessible as I could use scraps of paper or magazines laying around the house,” she explains.
Returning to Cultural Roots
A pivotal moment in Salma’s artistic evolution came when she returned to Egypt after living abroad for 13 years. The experience profoundly altered her perspective. “Along with many creatives in the region, I stepped back from solely looking up to Western references and returned to my own backyard as a guiding force,” she says. Salma acknowledges her deep respect for Western Art History but also admits that it led her to neglect her own cultural roots for a time. "I still honor everything I’ve learned from Western Art History but, for a long time, it came at the expense of neglecting my own cultural background, including Islamic art and calligraphy."
Inspiration from Egypt’s Landscape
Salma’s connection to Egypt’s landscapes is evident in her recent works, which feature natural, locally sourced materials. "My recent works are very much influenced by Egypt’s terrain. By focusing on natural, locally sourced wool, the colors are more subdued and with several shades of brown that I very much associate with the Egyptian desert (and dust!)." Pieces like SOUL and THIRD EYE reflect this influence, using shapes inspired by Ancient Egyptian motifs.
Challenges in Preserving Handicrafts
However, working with traditional craftsmen and women in rural Egypt presents its own set of challenges. The charity organization Salma collaborates with focuses on training women, but cultural norms can interfere with their continued participation. “The cultural challenge with this is that they often abandon the loom once married because their husbands won’t allow them to work,” she says. Despite the high turnover, there is hope. "In the past, weavers have been allowed to return to work once their family realizes the value of a stable income." The rewards, though, outweigh the challenges. Salma’s work not only supports these women financially but also preserves an ancient craft on the brink of extinction.
Artistic Influences
As an artist, Salma draws inspiration from some of the most prominent figures in the Arab world. Among them, she holds Adam Henin, a visual artist and sculptor, in high regard. “Adam Henin, visual artist and sculptor, for his expressiveness through minimal shapes and compositions. He used natural materials, stone and pigments, and collaborated with the Wissa Wassef Centre (next door to his studio) to develop one of his abstract works into a large-scale wall hanging (shown at his museum).” Henin’s ability to fuse minimalism with natural elements mirrors Salma’s own philosophy of marrying tradition with contemporary design.
Salma also finds inspiration in Moroccan artist Yto Barrada, known for her harmonious use of natural pigments. “In the contemporary world, I love what Yto Barrada is doing with her residency/natural dying centre in Tangier. A lot of her work involves collaged natural pigments with harmonious color compositions,” Salma explains, clearly drawn to the fusion of art and tradition in Barrada’s work as well.
A Love for Egypt’s Artistic Heritage
When she’s not creating art, Salma finds solace in several spots around Egypt. Among her favorite places is Fayoum, a region renowned for its pottery-making traditions. “Fayoum, known for its pottery making and upkeep of the craft,” she says, highlighting the area’s dedication to preserving an ancient art form, much like her own work aims to do.
Looking to the Future
As for the future, Salma envisions her work continuing to evolve, particularly through the use of more natural and sustainable materials. “My newer collections will evolve to predominantly using naturally dyed wool,” she shares. Finding artisans in Egypt who specialize in organic pigments has proven challenging due to the time and expense involved, but Salma remains undeterred. “I also plan for Ba to have its own weaving centre in future,” she says, with clear ambitions to expand her efforts in supporting local artisans and maintaining the authenticity of her work.
Preserving Heritage Through Art
Salma Barakat’s art is more than just a visual experience; it is a tactile connection to Egypt’s past, present, and future. Through her use of traditional crafts, natural materials, and cultural motifs, she ensures that the beauty of Egypt’s landscapes and traditions are preserved for generations to come. At the same time, she pushes the boundaries of what traditional art can be in a modern context, allowing it to speak to contemporary audiences while staying rooted in cultural heritage.
Salma and her Artisan Team. Fayoum, Egypt.
