Kahhal1871 Brings Contemporary Voices Into the Weave of Egyptian Craft

In Downtown Cairo’s maze of historical architecture and revived art spaces, the fifth edition of Cairo International Art District (CIAD) by Art D’Égypte invited artists, designers, and collectives to reflect on the 'Present Tense', spotlighting how creativity engages with the now. Amongst the installations scattered across the district, Kahhal 1871’s collaboration with four regional and international artists stood out for its quiet intricacy, each weaving their own language into the fabric of an Egyptian legacy. The project brought together Sam Shendi, Alex Proba, Camille Fishel, and Rashed Al Shashai, whose diverse practices span sculpture, graphic design, and conceptual art. Together, they reimagined what a rug could be beyond a piece of décor. Seven hand-knotted pieces emerged from this exchange, translating the artists’ visual identities into woven form.
“We selected the artists together with Art D’Égypte based on who we felt could bring a fresh perspective to our craft,” says Mohamed El Kahhal, the fifth-generation steward of the family atelier. “Each one challenged us to look at weaving differently and to see it as a form of storytelling.” The collaboration was less about reproduction and more about reinterpretation. Shendi’s sculptural precision brought composition and contour, while Proba’s playful forms and colours pulsed through the warp and weft. Fishel’s clarity took on softness through fibre, and Al Shashai’s layered symbolism deepened within the rug’s tactile density.
“Turning artworks into rugs is always a challenge,” El Kahhal reflects. “We never want to alter an artist’s vision. Our role is to translate it faithfully through texture and material.” That act of translation between medium and time sits at the heart of 'Present Tense'. The exhibition asks what it means for tradition to exist in contemporary form, and how cultural memory can adapt without dissolving. In Kahhal1871’s case, the answer lies in allowing heritage to move and collaborate.
“It’s collaborations like these that allow us to push the boundaries of a century-old craft while staying relevant to art enthusiasts around the world,” El Kahhal adds. “And we’re only just getting started.” In a city where craftsmanship often risks being seen as nostalgic, Kahhal1871’s rugs offers a reminder that making by hand can still feel radical. Each thread became a line of conversation, each knot a negotiation between past and present.