FirstLook: Zillij in Fez
- Arts & Culture
- Photography
Reading time:1min
Photographed by Peter Sanders
In patterns and refractions, the old city of Fez, Morocco, comes to life through the geometric tile works known as zillij. In 2001, AramcoWorld commissioned photographer Peter Sanders to tell the story of a family who for five generations has added new dimensions to art and architecture in the story "Zillij in Fez."
“I have always been fascinated by the widespread use of Morocco’s mosaic patterns of eight- to 24-point stars decorating otherwise blank walls, floors and fountains. So, when an opportunity arose to spend time with craftsmen of these running bands of zillij, I happily jumped at the opportunity,” Sanders said.
Sanders recalled how each piece of tile was individually chiseled by hand. Thousands of pieces were placed face down on the ground based on memory of geometric design, assembling a large panel of complex patterns of interspacing shapes and colors that could often extend 3 meters (10 feet) or more. Coated in plaster and dried, the panel would be gingerly lifted revealing the work of art.
“This experience deepened my appreciation for Morocco’s rich cultural heritage and timeless beauty of zillij art and craftsmen.”
—Peter Sanders
You may also be interested in...
FirstLook: Duet
Arts & Culture
“Duet” comes from the Latin root word duo which means two. The Duet series focuses on double portraits, a tradition in West Africa.FirstLook: Soaring off Ambon Island
Arts & Culture
This photo was taken off Ambon Island, East Indonesia in 2010. It is one of my favorites, illustrating the free-spirited nature of the children in the rural archipelago. While some children in the big cities may stay inside and play computer games, the children in Ambon with easy access to the water see the ocean surrounding their village as their playground.FirstLook: "In the Marshes of Iraq"
Arts & Culture
History
“In the Marshes of Iraq” — November/December 1966