FIRST GENERATION WEAVERS

Village in Harmony - 1990

Ramses and Sophie began their work at Harrania in 1952 with just a dozen or so children. These later became known as the "first generation" weavers. Although at first more girls than boys were attracted to the craft, eventually boys also joined the group.

From the beginning, Ramses knew just what was needed for these children in their development as successful weavers. While they learned the practical side of the craft, an important concern for him was also to stimulate their imagination. In order to achieve this, he and Sophie often took them on outings to the banks of the Nile, the palm groves, the city, the zoo, the desert and. even as far as Alexandria so that they could experience the sea. Ramses believed that, "For a child, the image is the vehicle of his emotions, a reflection of his inner life. It is just as natural for him to express himself in pictures as in words, which for him are merely a series of linked images."

As a result of their experiences with the Wissa Wassefs, in a relatively short period of time, an abundance of images began to appear on the weavers' looms. As the children explored and mastered weaving techniques, their expressions became bolder and individual styles began to emerge. All of them however seemed to focus their thoughts on the village life around them.

When one considers the mechanics of producing these works, one is instantly astonished to find that the whole composition is conceived purely in the mind of the weaver. Both adults and children work seated in front of the loom and as each new piece is finished; it is rolled out of view. This means that the weaver never sees the complete design until the tapestry is finished. It is interesting to note, that an experienced adult weaver may produce a maximum of 15 square meters a year.

Sophie Wissa Wassef comments on the weavers. "All our artists have a clear vision of their own world. Aesthetic expression does not come just from what the eye sees, but from everything one feel, clearly or confusedly. Once when a weaver saw one of his large panels hung up for the first time, after he had been working on it for a year, he said, as if he were waking up from a dream, 'Did I do all that?' "

It was after several years of dedicated patience that the works of the first generation were first put on display. Since then exhibitions of the Wissa Wassef tapestries have been held regularly in numerous countries.

Grapes - 1977

Many of them now grace the walls of galleries, and are found in private collections around the world. The first generation weavers have come a long way on their journey. Through their work they have become sophisticated artists capable of subtle color and fine shading. One element in particular seems to have endured through time and remains an important aspect of their craft. Found woven into the tapestries are the transforming themes of nature - surely a reflection of life at Harrania - the heart and home of the weavers.