Weaving a Tree by Abeer Seikaly from jordan

The typical Christmas tree symbolizes the birth of Christ as the Light of the World. The world over, it is recognized as a celebratory artifact; created by nature, usually an evergreen conifer and decorated by humans with lights, ornaments and a star placed atop the tree.

What if these main elements of a Christmas Tree were to be an integrated whole?

'Weaving a Tree' is an innovative self-structuring christmas tree composed of recycled and local resources - bamboo tubes, rope and paper. Like geometric beadwork, the bamboo tubes are woven into a flexible and robust structure that creates myriad transformative patterns. The various elements of a typical christmas tree (evergreen conifer, lights, ornaments, and star) are integrated through a geometrical pattern that infuses intricate and ornate sensibility, a feature of Arabic craftsmanship with functional and minimalist elegance reflected in Japanese design. This compatibility between Japanese and Arabic craftsmanship and aesthetic creates a unique object that exudes an outward energy as a symbol and marker of space.

The works design essence begins with the pure meaning of technology: weaving, craft and making. It is rooted in the hand - celebrating the hand as technology and craft as innovation. The project invites an interactive, open source and flexible platform. It is easily assembled and disassembled by the public – members of the community weave the bamboo tubes into a structure; weaving an object to collaborate and communicate.