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