The Starry Night in carpet form to be auctioned off in Dubai

The Starry Night as rendered in hand-woven Tibetan style carpet in its finishing stages. The textile creation will be sold during a silent auction as part of Dubai Art Season. Image courtesy of Samovar Carpets. 

Van Gogh’s The Starry Night is one of the world's most well known paintings. On the occasion of  Van Gogh Alive, an interactive light and music show to be hosted in Dubai Design District (d3) from March 11 until April 23, Samovar Carpets has teamed up with its organiser, 6IX Degree Entertainment, to present a textile version of the masterpiece in support of Dubai Cares.

Held under the patronage of the UAE Ministry of Culture and Knowledge Development, the multi-sensory experience will be one of the highlights of the Dubai Art Season and the carpet, that was made over 13 weeks by four skilful Nepalese and Tibetan weavers workers under the supervision of Erbil Tezcan, founder of Wool & Silk Rugs will be auctioned off in a silent sale.

“We are honoured to contribute to a world-class exhibition of the masterpieces of Vincent van Gogh with the reproduction of one of the most famous artworks in the world. The Starry Night also gives Samovar Carpets the chance to display our core expertise in fine handmade carpets and to support Dubai Cares with a silent auction during the exhibition” says Yousef Hindi, Owner & Managing Director of Samovar Carpets, in City Walk, Dubai.

Workers in the process of weaving the 150 knot per inch carpet that translates Van Gogh's masterpiece The Starry Night into a fabric artwork. Image courtesy of Samovar Carpets

More than 40 colours were used to translate Van Gogh’s masterpiece into a hand-knotted Tibetan carpet (150 knot/inch) and most of the steps required to produce this carpet were achieved by hand using the traditional techniques of Tibetan weaving. Even the yarns were carded and spun by hand before they were wound into colourful balls of wool and silk. Once the weaving was complete, the rug was washed, stretched and dried on one of Kathmandu’s rooftops before its world premiere unveiling in Dubai.

The online bidding system will be available on www.onlineauction.ae and interested art enthusiasts can register during the exhibition to bid on the piece.