The Kurdish House of Culture

When asked to bring a special object to share with everyone else involved in the Cabinets project, the Kurdish Group said, "Everything important to us is in our cabinet." 

This digistory is one of six interviews recorded as part of a project using Cabinets of Curiosity to present the passions, culture and life stories of some of the many communities living in the Huddersfield area.  The interviews were recorded as part of the process of creating a Cabinet of Curiosity which reflected the spirit of the group and the individuals who make up the group.  The complete interviews formed part of the Cabinets of Curiosity exhibition at Tolson Museum from June to October 2009.

Araz Ajand, from Horaman in Western Iran, contributed textile items reflecting the area’s rich craft heritage.  In this digistory he talks about Movj, a form of weaving using wave patterns.  The yarn is hand spun and hand dyed wool from a specific breed of sheep bred in that area for its fine wool.   Click to watch Araz's digi story - A Family Tradition: Movj.

Parviz Khalidi, a talented artist from Iran, contributed his paintings to the Cabinet of Curiosities project as a way of communicating his experience of life as a Kurd in Iran and more recently as a refugee.  Click to watch Parviz's digi story - I Paint to Remember.

All of the objects included in the House of Kurdish Culture cabinet are very special to their owners, representing a rich cultural heritage and a way of life held dear.  The importance of these objects is revealed in the videos.

Thanks to Araz Ajand, Parviz Khalidi, Nafasia Ahmed, Mervane Kelesh, Bakhtiyar Hamasalim, Laila Issa, Mukhles Khalaf, Fatima, Rojin Khalaf, Tansira Khalaf, Sepan Suleiman, Simin Hussein, Redwan Ziki, Jean Habib and Lesley Wall who also contributed to the House of Kurdish Culture cabinet.