Thiès, Senegal, May 8, 2019
On the road to Thiès, one can discover Senegalese tapestry workshops. These remarkable workshops were established in 1966 under the guidance of Léopold Senghor, where Senegalese artisans have mastered the techniques of both haute and basse lisse (high and low warp) tapestry weaving. The artisans were trained in these ancient techniques by the prestigious Gobelins Manufacture in France.
Each tapestry produced here follows a commissioned design by Senegalese artists. When an artist wins the call for submissions, the workshop begins crafting the piece, limited to eight editions to meet the norms of the art market.
A drawing on a large-scale carton is created based on the artist's design, which the weavers follow closely. Each color has a corresponding number, and the weaver meticulously adheres to this color code to ensure the final piece mirrors the artist's vision. The carton is placed behind the warp threads, and the weaver uses a shuttle to follow the design. It takes no less than a month to complete a 3-square-meter tapestry.
Today, it is challenging to commission specific designs, as the tapestries must be viewed in person at the workshop. Therefore, most buyers are high-ranking officials and politicians familiar with the workshop. Unfortunately, I couldn’t take photos of the tapestries, as they are protected by copyright and the artists have not transferred rights to the workshop. Handwoven tapestries from the workshop range from €2,000 to €6,000.
Daphné Aubé
