DATE

05 – 08 SEPTEMBER 2024

TIME

12:00 AM – 6:00 PM

 

ALL LOCATIONS

Old Engine ShedIncline Rd, Grove, Portland DT5 1DB, UK

PROJECTS

Festival 2024 

INFO

• WHAT 3 WORDS:  ///redeeming.picked.charted
• ADDITIONAL LOCATION INFO: Accessible toilets available
  Darkened space and sound
• ACCESS: Wheelchair Access
• AGE ADVISORY: Great For All Ages

A multisensory tribute to Somali heritage in the face of climate collapse. 

The House of Weaving Songs is a domed steel structure based on an Aqal, a Somali nomadic home found in the arid landscapes of Somalia. Embark on a sensory journey as 360-degree audio surrounds you, transporting you to the heart of Somali nomadic life through the musicality of Somali women’s weaving songs.

Wander through nomadic tapestries adorned with tales of tradition and resilience that ignite when touched, each thread weaving a story of heritage and belonging.

Traditionally woven elements of the Aqal contain the wishes and the dreams of those who made it. We see this house as a repository for our own hopes and dreams, a space for conversations and dialogue about our climate anxieties. Amidst this intricate tapestry of culture and community, where tradition and innovation meet, we invite you to reflect on your wishes and hopes for a just climate future. What kind of dreams will you share with the House of Weaving Songs? What will the House of Weaving Songs reflect back to you?

Dhaqan Collective is a Somali feminist art collective led by Ayan Cilmi and Fozia Ismail. The House of Weaving Songs was developed as part of Playable Cities, an art & creative technology programme funded through My World at Bristol University and Watershed.

Step into the House of Weaving Songs, an immersive, multisensory installation by dhaqan collective, celebrating Somali heritage, women’s labour, and resilience in the face of climate collapse. Inspired by the aqal, a traditional Somali nomadic home.

As you trace your fingers along the tapestries the space comes alive with the lighting and sound shifting to immerse you in a 360-degree audio experience that echoes the musicality of Somali women’s weaving songs.

dhaqan collective, led by Ayan Cilmi and Fozia Ismail, is a Somali feminist art collective dedicated to reimagining futures that support Somali communities in the UK and East Africa.

The installation was developed as part of Playable Cities, an arts and creative technology programme funded through My World at Bristol University and Watershed.

Presented as part of Shambala festival, this installation is an invitation to wander, listen, and connect in a place where the past and future intertwine, and where the rhythms of weaving and song guide you through a story of creativity and resilience.