BA owner and designer Salma Barakat’s Art Residency
Hydra, Greece
Hydra wall textures
The Hydra collection was born from a month-long residency in [ SPITI II ] Hydra Greece. Following a Ba exhibition at the Bratsera Hotel, an old sponge factory, I was offered a private space, an opportunity to channel and deepen my practice.
The island's intimate size and surrounding natural beauty inspired the journey into inner worlds. It was a blessing to be surrounded by the contagious energy of artists passing through. The experience involved collaging, painting, daily sunset swims, and connecting to others, savouring the tail end of a season.
The artwork for Hydra and Flame came into fruition, a nod to the world's soul at the time of painting. The artwork was later woven in Egypt by the artisans into handmade wool tapestries. Both are one-of-a-kind works with Flame currently on display at Ace Hotel & Swim Club in Athens, Greece.
The overall collection was an expression of my inner state married to gentle surroundings; hypnotic waves, overlapping rock textures and wispy sunsets. Conflicting emotions were felt by the undeniable peace held in this pocket amidst humanitarian turbulence erupting close to home.
Reading list: Creative Act, Rick Rubin + James Fox's World According to Colour
HYDRA handmade wool rug/tapestry detail
Hydra sunset