Studio Orta

Majlis: House of Hair is a textile sculpture inspired by traditional Bedouin dwelling practices. The work comprises nine jacquard tapestries that together form the textile walls of a tent, which is digitally woven at TextielLab, Textiel Museum Tilburg.

The iconography depicts a speculative world reshaped by desertification and resource scarcity—where conflict and displacement become inevitable. Yet amidst these imagined ruins, resilient desert species and mythic figures emerge, offering gestures of hope and renewal.

Lucy investigates how vernacular architecture and weaving traditions —particularly the Saudi Arabian prac-tice of Al Sadu— can inform ways of living in harmony with extreme environments. Drawing on research into desert symbolism, the vibrant jacquard weaves combine photography from diverse ecosystems (including the Amazon and the Al’Ula desert) with hand-drawn characters, desert plant species, and celestial motifs.

At the entrance to the tent, the figure of the Earth god-dess Gaia, welcomes visitors into the majlis. Surrounded by constellations and the Pleiades star cluster, she evokes ancient systems of celestial navigation. Moving around the tent subsequent tapestries depict desert dwellers—such as the Imperial Eagle and Flying Man—who survive hostile conditions, while the Water Gatherer and Seedling Spirit nurture new forms of life. The cycle ultimately returns to Gaia, suggesting regeneration and the possibility of alternative futures.

Majlis: House of Hair was a special commission for 2025 British Textile Biennial