BCXSY: origin part II - balance

BCXSY's sayaka yamamoto and boaz cohen discussing the production of the wool yarns with a member of lakiya, israel's arab bedouin community 
image by elio nudelman


'origin' is derived from the explorations of eindhoven-based collective BCXSY (boaz cohen and sayaka yamamoto)
into traditional crafts extending from a variety of backgrounds and disciplines. their most recent project stemming
from these investigations is 'balance' in which they have collaborated with lakiya negav weaving,
an organization of bedouin artisans initiated by non-profit group SIDREH - focused on improving the
socioeconomic situation of bedouin women living in a constant state of inequality and imbalance, in israel's negav desert.
here, lakiya weaving provides a culturally acceptable employment opportunity for women, with short and long-term benefits
to the arab bedouin community, the project remaining the only possible employment for many of these individuals
who have been left isolated due to social upheaval.



spinning the wool
image by elio nudelman



during a visit cohen and yamamoto made to lakiya, israel, they had to opportunity to visit villages within the area
which still remain unrecognized by authorities. despite the social conditions of the inhabitants,
BCXSY was overcome by the positive attitudes of the women they encountered who focused on the good rather than on
the hardships they face daily. 'balance' stems from this optimism exhibited by these women that
'in the midst of adversity and misfortune, there is a lasting element of proportion and beauty.'
it is a collection of seven area rugs that are crafted within the boundaries of the bedouin weaving tradition practiced
by women in lakiya, whereby it is only possible to produce long, narrow strips of material. in this process,
traditional ground looms are used, along with wool from that of local desert sheep.



setting up a ground loom
image by elio nudelman


from the dying of the wool, to the weaving, to the final construction, the project is a collaboration of many women in the area.

the 'balance' rugs draw on the negav desert's surrounding landscape, both in their color and texture.
once the strips are woven, they are cut and repositioned, resulting in non-traditional arrangements,
developing new possibilities within the domestic interior. the body of work pushes the perceived confines
of traditional woven dimensions and expected applications of decorative elements.



setting up a ground loom
image by elio nudelman


preparing the warp threads on the loom
image by elio nudelman


preparing the warp threads on the loom
image by elio nudelman


up close of the process
image by elio nudelman


getting the weft threads ready for weaving
image by elio nudelman


weaving in progress
image by elio nudelman


one of the woven strips nearing completion
image by elio nudelman


finishing the ends of the woven strips
image by elio nudelman


boaz and sayaka rolling out the finished woven pieces
image by elio nudelman



boaz making paper mock-ups of the carpet compositions



discussing the sizing of the pieces and how they should be cut
image by elio nudelman


laying out the final pieces
image by elio nudelman


sewing pieces together
image by elio nudelman


trimming the ends
image by elio nudelman


'balance' on show at spazio rosanna orlandi during milan design week 2011
image © designboom


BCXSY debuted the origin part II: balance collection at spazio rosanna orlandi during milan design week 2011.



origin part II: balance - type B
image © designboom


detail
image © designboom


image © designboom


image © designboom



sayaka yamamoto and boaz cohen of BCXSY
portrait © designboom


origin part II: balance - type F


origin part II: balance - type G




origin part II: balance collection