Christina de Korte

Phone snapshots from last week 🔵 A translation of an embroidered textile from Sinai that I found in Fayoum, Egypt

New series in the making 💙 Gouache on A3 paper (320 g/m2)

The @rabbanifoundation organized yesterday its Informal Dialogue Series with the theme 'Textiles as Storytellers: Cultural Memory in Fabric'. @abbadi.fatima presented her research on tatreez, and I talked about khayamiya. It was a wonderful afternoon, during which we discussed a wide variety of textiles, including some examples that some of the attendees brought. Photos by @rabbanifoundation

During my research in Egypt at the beginning of this year, I collected various objects that caught my attention as interesting additions to the @textileresearchcentre collection, including Ramadan decorations, khayamiya, and religious accessories. Please find via the link the blog on the website of the TRC that I wrote on these objects: https://trcleiden.nl/trc/index.php/en/blog/1764-new-additions-to-the-trc-collection-from-egypt

Yesterday was the graduation ceremony for my research master Religious Studies, which was a beautiful moment to end my time as a student at @utrechtuniversity. I feel so grateful for my student time here, because I enjoyed every part of it; from falling in love with Egyptian textiles to doing extensive fieldwork, and from reading intensely every day and having discussions with my passionate teachers and classmates to visiting conferences on a wide variety of topics. In my master’s thesis, I discussed khayamiya—an appliqué technique that is primarily used for decorating panels for large, handmade tents, but nowadays the technique is also used for other objects, such as cushion covers. By following the route of various types of khayamiya through Cairo’s streets—focused on the contemporary usages before and during Ramadan—and taking courses in the Street of the Tentmakers, my thesis analyzed in which ways khayamiya is part of an Islamic world. I want to thank again the support from Utrecht University; my thesis supervisor, prof. dr. Birgit Meyer, second reader, prof. dr. Christian Lange, all the teachers who thought along the way during my master’s, and my proofreader, Marieke Jeurissen (@_marieke2002). Last but not least, I want to thank all my respondents I talked with during my research: the tentmakers—especially my khayamiya teacher Ahmed, the farrashin (the tent builders), the Ramadan salesmen, and other researchers and textile enthusiasts. My research in Egypt was not possible without the financial support of Jo Kolk Fonds, Hendrik Muller Fonds, @rabbanifoundation, and, the @nvicairo, where I could work as a guest researcher. The black dress that I am wearing is a Nubian gergar that @monagikh and @shaima_shou got me in Egypt. Photos by @pieterdk155

Updated my website, including the latest exhibitions and the documentation of my studio by Lize Kraan for @deplaatsmaker www.christinadekorte.nl

The final weeks of 'Nieuwe Lijnen' at Museum @villamondriaan in Winterswijk - on show until 2 November With works by curator @mari_ann (whose work is on the last photo), @iekelienestange @dirry.nl @lisettevanhoogenhuyze @judiths_pool @carmenschabracq @joana.n.schneider @hadassah.emmerich Photo 1: @erwin_kamp_fotografie For more information, see: https://villamondriaan.nl/en/exhibitions/new-lines-between-friendship-and-association/

Working on a new colour studies series, but first a throwback to this one I made during my residency @ard_art_institution_ in Cairo in 2023. (10,5 x 15,5 cm each) Photo by @leoniek_photography

Recently, I came across photos from when I studied for one semester at the glass department at the Vilnius Academy of Arts (@vdakaunofakultetas) in Kaunas (Lithuania) in 2017, which was an incredibly enriching experience. I learned, among other things, the basic principles of glass blowing, jewelry making, and developing film in the dark room.

Studio day 🥭

Spent a morning at @museumvoorlinden with my mom and spotted the wrapping paper with my work on it still in use in the museum shop. ❤ 2. Work by Leandro Erlich 3. Detail of an installation by Simone Post 4. Installation made out of books by Anouk Kruithof 5. My mom in front of the work by Ron Mueck

Back in the studio! 📸by @r_speijer

Suddenly, I was able to defend my master’s thesis on khayamiya earlier than expected. This morning, I heard that my master’s thesis is graded with a 9, meaning that I graduated cum laude from the research master Religious Studies at Utrecht University. In 2015, I started studying Fine Art (BA) at the @dekunstvanhku in Utrecht, followed by Language and Culture studies (BA) at @utrechtuniversity. At first, I wanted to continue studying to deepen my artistic practice and look beyond the 'western' scope of my previous education, but I quickly realized that doing research and having an art practice reinforce each other. I decided to apply for the research master Religious Studies at Utrecht University, in which I could combine all my passions, such as art, Arabic, Islam, textiles, and religion. This master’s thesis felt like the outcome of all the things I learned along the way during my student time. First of all, I want to thank my respondents: the tentmakers, the farrashin (the tent builders), the Ramadan salesmen, and other researchers and textile enthusiasts who helped to paint a broader picture of khayamiya in Egypt and abroad. Moreover, I am very grateful for my Egyptian friends who drove me around to hunt tents, sent me photos of khayamiya panels, helped to translate where needed, and joined me to go to neighborhoods that were unknown to me. I want to thank the support from Utrecht University; my supervisor, prof. dr. Birgit Meyer, second reader, prof. dr. Christian Lange, all the teachers who thought along the way in the process of this research, and my proofreader, Marieke Jeurissen (@_marieke2002). My research in Egypt was not possible without the financial support of Jo Kolk Fonds, Hendrik Muller Fonds, @rabbanifoundation, and, of course, the @nvicairo, where I could work as a guest researcher.

Even though I still need to defend my master's thesis later this summer, the handing in marks the end of my student era, from which I enjoyed quite literally every minute. What an extreme privilege to spend so much time on topics that fascinate me during the research master's religious studies at Utrecht University. This academic year, I started my research on Egyptian khayamiya with an internship at the @textileresearchcentre in Leiden during the first semester, and I continued with fieldwork in Egypt and writing my thesis in the second semester. This project felt like a wonderful way to finish my time as a student, and to combine my interests in topics such as art, textiles, Islam, (material) religion, history, popular culture, and (living) heritage. Soon, I will have some exciting news about future projects 💥 This research was not possible without the financial support of Scholten Cordes Fonds during the first semester and of Jo Kolk Fonds, Hendrik Muller Fonds, @rabbanifoundation during the second semester.

The process of learning how to make Arabic calligraphy with the khayamiya technique in Cairo. The design is based on the concept title of my master's thesis, and was made by Atef from 'Fatooh Sons'. The stitching is done by my khayamiya teacher Ahmed and me, while we were accompanied by music from artists like Sabah.

While writing my master's thesis on Egyptian khayamiya, I am going through my photo collection the whole time. A small collection of beautiful handmade khayamiya panels I encountered while walking around in Cairo 💙

Received these beautiful photographs by Erwin Kamp (@erwin_kamp_fotografie) of the exhibition 'Nieuwe Lijnen' that is currently on view at Museum @villamondriaan in Winterswijk 🧡 With @mari_ann (who also curated this exhibition), @iekelienestange @dirry.nl @lisettevanhoogenhuyze @judiths_pool @carmenschabracq @joana.n.schneider @hadassah.emmerich For more information see: https://villamondriaan.nl/en/exhibitions/new-lines-between-friendship-and-association/

Find on the website of the @rabbanifoundation a small love letter to Egypt and more information about my current research! Travel Grant Story: https://rabbanifoundation.org/christina-de-korte/

One month back in the Netherlands! Currently, I am fully focused on going through all my collected materials from my time in Egypt and writing my thesis on Egyptian khayamiya. Full of new ideas for when I return to my studio 💥

The khayamiya design I made on a shirt for @bob.van.eerd last year in action! I learned this textile technique from my khayamiya teacher Ahmed in the Street of Tentmakers in Cairo. Photo by @marc.mulders