A craftsman launches an initiative to teach the art of wickerwork and revive it in homes
Craftsman Mansour Ali Al-Modon dedicates his life after retirement to achieving a unique goal, which is to see a heritage piece made of Palm fronds in every citizen’s and resident’s home, provided that they are made by the hands of the homeowners themselves.
This personal initiative did not come out of nowhere, but rather is the result of a long journey that began in childhood, stopped for decades, and then returned with a greater passion to preserve the ancestral legacy from extinction.
A Craftsman’s Journey
Al-Modon explained that his relationship with the craft Al-Khus, whose craftsman is called Al-Khasif, began at an early age, as he learned its principles and arts from his mother, when he was not more than fourteen years old.
He pointed out that at that time this craft was an integral part of daily life, as the sounds of weaving palm fronds were heard in most homes where men and women practiced this craft to meet their basic needs. Various household tools.
He said that after he turned eighteen, his professional path led him to join Saudi Aramco, where he spent 25 years of his life, during which he completely moved away from practicing the craft that he loved.
He added that the spark of passion was not extinguished. After his retirement in 2006, he noticed that his family members, including his wife And his sisters had stopped production due to declining demand, so he encouraged them to return, pledging to buy their products himself, to join them in the journey of reviving this art again.
A creative outlet
He explained that this The craftis not limited to being a source of livelihood, but rather it is a school for teaching patience, and an effective means of overcoming the pressures of life, as the craftsman finds in it an outlet in which to release his energy and transform it into tangible creativity.
He stressed that this industry opened wide social horizons for him, and enabled him to build relationships with a large segment of people whom he would not have met without This common passion.
He pointed out that there is a cultural awakening that has begun to restore handicrafts’ status, and he attributed this positive transformation to the role played by national festivals and the media in highlighting the importance of heritage, in addition to the efforts of official bodies such as the House of Craftsmen, which began offering specialized training courses.
In order to achieve his dream, Al-Modon opens the doors of his knowledge to everyone who wants to Learning, stressing that mastering the basics of the wicker craft does not require more than 18 hours of actual training.
He noted a remarkable turnout among young women and women in particular, who show great interest in learning this cultural heritage, which heralds a promising future for this ancient craft that forms an integral part of the region’s identity and history.
- For more: Follow Khaleejion 24 Arabic, Khaleejion 24 English, Khaleejion 24 Live, and for social media follow us on Facebook and Twitter
