NASEEJ – MEMORIES OF A MAJLIS
Collection: LIMITED EDITION
Thought by: Illulian
Category: Accessories
Thought by: Illulian
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Category: Accessories
Qatari designer Shaikha Al-Sulaiti’s practice weaves together cultural heritage and contemporary perspective. With Petals of the Past, she conceives the rug as a custodian of collective memory, transforming symbolic motifs into a poetic textile narrative.
The design draws inspiration from the traditional majlis found in historic homes in Doha — spaces of gathering and storytelling, where deep red floral embroidery adorned seating and textiles, embodying hospitality and generational continuity. That distinctive crimson red becomes the chromatic protagonist of the composition, where organic motifs are set against the rigorous geometry of Bedouin kilim patterns, creating a dialogue between floral softness and architectural structure.
The composition unfolds narratively: the upper and lower borders feature large-scale fluid, dreamlike blossoms, inspired by the floral emblem depicted on Qatari Riyal banknotes. Reimagined through a subtle surrealist lens, the forms appear softened and slightly stretched, as if shaped by memory itself. The central field unfolds into a mirrored diamond lattice drawn from Bedouin weaving, symbolising rhythm, memory and movement. Small floral motifs bloom within the geometric structure, bridging craft and imagination. The shorter sides are finished with undulating edges and fringes that recall the iconic silhouette of traditional lampshades, introducing an unexpected detail that lends the composition both theatricality and lightness.
In Qatari culture, a rug is more than an object; it is a foundation, a space where children play, elders reflect and guests are welcomed. Petals of the Past preserves the poetry of woven traditions, offering what appears as a contemporary heirloom.
Like a desert mirage, deeply rooted in cultural heritage yet infused with a dreamlike tension, where tradition and imagination converge in a delicate balance between solidity and reverie.
Shaikha Al-Sulaiti’s practice weaves together cultural heritage and contemporary perspective.
