‘Carpet of Tolerance’ created by Hands and Senses

By Eudore R. Chand

Nadia Khalil Al Sayegh, Founder of Senses, with 2 of the young artists

DUBAI 13 November 2019: Hands, the creator of handmade carpets since 1881, has unveiled one-of-a-kind ‘Carpet of Tolerance’, designed together with the talented children at Senses Centre for Special Needs, at the 7th Edition of Downtown Design yesterday.

Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, Chairperson of Dubai Culture & Arts Authority, visited the stand on her tour of the fair, where she met with Pranay and Apurva Patodia, owners of Hands Carpets, and Nadia Khalil Al Sayegh, Founder of Senses, to learn more about the special project.

Al Sayegh attended the unveiling together with staff and children from Senses who had been instrumental in creating the artworks that inspired the creation.

The masterpiece, crafted in fine silk and New Zealand wool, took four months to complete, from the artwork designs by Senses through to final production in India. 31 colours making 54 combinations were used, with at least 25 different hands involved in various parts of the process of creating this hand-tufted carpet, including design, dyeing, weaving, backing and finishing. While both artworks created by Senses were very different, they both featured the leaves of the ghaf tree, symbolizing the UAE Year of Tolerance, at their centre.

The ‘Carpet of Tolerance’ will be on display at Downtown Design from 12-15 November, and subsequently will be offered for sale for Dh25,000, with all proceeds being donated to Senses to support the important work of the facility.

L-R Apurva Patodia, boys from Senses, Pranay Patodia