URUSIKA (PANEL/ROOM DIVIDER)
[1,2,5]: URUSIKA (PANEL/ROOM DIVIDER)
Shot by Clarisse of @archive.rw
[3]: A Rwandan woman and man surrounded by insika (plural of urusika) forming a dividing wall undulating because of both varied striking surface patterns and curved form
[4,12-15]: Insika panels within the King’s Palace Museum
[6,7]: An inkangara (basket) showing the same double-layered weaving technique (igihisi) used to make the urusika
[8,9]: Rwandan weavers
[10,11]: A large Rwandan dwellingFrom: Rwanda 🇷🇼Source [1,2,5]: @archive.rw
Source [3,4]: Rwanda Cultural Heritage Academy on @googleartsculture
Source [6-9]: “THE ARTISTRY OF THE TUTSI BASKET CATALOGUE 2019” by @andresmoragatextiles
Source [10,11,13]: reachschoolrwanda.wordpress.com
Source [11 📝]: “Rwanda : its cultural heritage, past, and present” by Misago Kanimba. Seen on @internetarchive
Source [12]: Oscar Espinosa on Shutterstock
Source [14,15]: “Rwandan Basketry” by Anissia Becerra on @theethnichome blog
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Source notes [3]: “Photo of the salon "Ikirambi" showing the partitions of the house”
Source notes [4]: “[Insika] are composed of two layers by which the inner layer from bamboo or reed strips is not decorated and mainly woven by men and the outer layer decorated by women using fine grass fibers and peeled and dyed papyrus - Insasanure zizize.”
Observations: visual contrast, material intelligence, material awareness, dynamism in form and graphical language, continuation of a design language/production process (weaving motifs and methods), meaningful ornamentation, multipurpose design, guided by function.