TOURING THE ORIENT | SPUN FROM THE HEART; WOVEN FROM THE SOUL: a hands-on introduction to oriental carpets with Susan Scollay

Several of William Johnston’s own carpets will be used to demonstrate different weaving techniques used in the major carpet production areas.  Other means of identifying and dating carpets will be discussed - including dyes, pattern and changing production methods.

TOURING THE ORIENT: William Johnston, Orientalism and the Arts of the Islamic World looks at the themes in the travels and collection of William Johnston is his pursuit of what has been described as the ‘Orientalist’ aesthetic. Using WilIiam Johnston’s travels in Tunisia, Egypt and northern India as a starting point, the four lectures will provide an overview of the arts of the Islamic world.

In this series of four illustrated lectures, Susan Scollay will outline the origins of ‘Orientalism’, with its artistic and cultural references to the former European colonies in Islamic North Africa, the Levant and India.

Susan Scollay is an internationally recognised specialist in textiles and carpets, and Islamic art and culture.  She is a contributing editor of HALI, the London-based journal of carpet, textile and Islamic art, and is currently completing a PhD at La Trobe University, Melbourne