Palimpsest
Intro to Interior Design II
Professor Mary Golden
Vastra Hamnen District
Malmo, Sweden
September
2022
We were tasked with creating a palimpsest that would establish cultural convergence among cultures. Through a deconstruction and reconstruction process, new life was brought together from two culturally diverse ethnic groups. One from Cameroon and the other from Sweden. The pattern brings together the bold and colorful elements from Swedish textile with the natural stylized geometry from the Cameroon cloth.
The rich history textile designs bring to our world both culturally and aesthetically is an art that can be carried through cultures for centuries. These patterns can be interpreted as physical artifacts or visual expressions into the beliefs and culture of a country. Converging these meaningful symbols can bring recognition and unity for many different cultures in their times of political, economical, or social unrest.
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Cloth textiles play a significant role in the society and culture of Cameroon. As a garment, it communicates an immediate statement of wealth. While as a work of art it carries visual symbols and implied messages to the beliefs, aesthetics, and skills of the country.
Each textile was chosen based on the feel it had and elements it included. The Swedish pattern had a much more organic feel than the Cameroon textile, which consisted of much harsher geometric shapes.
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By pulling apart individual lines and shapes to then put them back together in another unique way, it combines cultures in ways not imagined before.