‘Shapes of Water’ exhibit traces flow of precious resource in different cultures

AMMAN — As part of Amman Design Week’s 2019 events, the Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts on Monday opened an exhibition titled “Shapes of Water” showcasing social design projects and products related to the use of water.

The exhibition, run in cooperation with the Italian embassy, is an international project led by architect Silvana Annicchiarico, and promoted by Triennale Design Museum and the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It was already shown in Qatar, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, now reaching its last venue in Jordan, according to organisers.

Director General of The Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts Khalid Khreis, Italian Ambassador to Jordan Fabio Cassese and International Exhibition Manager at the Triennale di Milano Laura Agnesi spoke during the opening ceremony.

“The exhibition gathers projects from Mediterranean countries, the Middle East and Gulf countries, so countries in which water is a very important issue from many points of view,” Agnesi said on Monday in an interview with The Jordan Times.

The “Shapes of Water” exhibition “sheds light on the primary human need for water as a startling journey through different cultures to show the human talent [needed] to ‘design water’ in order to support and sustain humanity through the ages,” according to the exhibition’s Facebook page.  

Among showcased objects are a postcard containing potable water, a human-powered washer and spin dryer and an up-cycled light made from a re-purposed water bottle.

Designer Rula Yaghmour, a Jordanian artist, is showcasing her project "Kutleh", ("stone blocks" in Arabic), inspired by ancient clay vessels which held water and were once located outside houses in the region. 

The exhibition is part of a programme launched by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in 2018 called “Italy, Cultures, Mediterranean”, which aims at encouraging dialogue and cooperation between Italy, Middle-Eastern and southern Mediterranean countries through over 300 events in 16 countries, according to the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts was founded in 1980, has the largest collection of artwork by contemporary artists from the developing world and is considered a major art museum in the Middle East, according to organisers. 

The “Shapes of Water” exhibition can be visited until October 12 at the the Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts building 2 and entry is free of charge, according to organisers.