Modern societies are adept at making waste invisible. From bins and backyards to sprawling landfills, waste is hidden from sight, reinforcing the idea that what we cannot see no longer exists. Yet this growing invisibility has become a planetary crisis, manifesting in water pollution, methane emissions, and microplastic contamination. Sweeping Under the Carpet examines this tension, using carpets as symbolic and functional objects to question the erasure of waste and its long-term consequences.

Carpets have long served as inventories of symbols, hopes, and narratives. Traditional weaving practices, especially from Anatolia, Turkey, and Iran, reflect the weavers' desires, fears, and aspirations. In this project, we reinterpret these motifs to explore contemporary anxieties about environmental degradation and the legacy of waste. By altering traditional forms, Sweeping Under the Carpet imagines a new generation of carpet designs that address the Anthropocene age.

Through a playful engagement with colors, histories, and patterns, the project bridges ancient struggles with modern realities. It considers the perspectives of both traditional and European contexts, connecting cultural heritage with contemporary critique. The work raises questions about who the carpet-makers of the future might be and what materials and symbols they will weave into their narratives.

Ultimately, Sweeping Under the Carpet critiques the illusion of cleanliness and order by confronting what is left unseen. It asks viewers to rethink their relationship with waste, visibility, and tradition, offering an artistic reflection on environmental and cultural sustainability.

Team: Dila Demircan Özer and Nazgol Sobhani

Specifications: 3 x 1.78 m carpet/sculpture
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