Cheegh (2017)

Cheegh is a traditional term referring to the wall covering of Iranian nomadic tents. It is made from straw and goat hair and ornamented with colored wool and yarn. Cheegh resists the penetration of heat, cold, storm and dust. Traditionally, women are responsible for weaving tents as well as making and decorating the cheegh.

The tent I made for this installation is decorated with selected parts of a well-known Persian novel called Kelidar. Throughout ten books, this novel illustrates the life of a nomadic tribe in Iran after the Second World War. Most of the novel is based on the men’s experiences within the harsh landscape of east Iran, while they are away from their women and family.

The hand-written words on the tent walls are those parts of the story that take place inside the tent, where women have a pivotal role in the narrative.