“Listening Patterns: Encountering Slowness and Resistance” presented by Sadri and Rosner
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This pictorial investigates the convergence of tradition and technology in the creation of the Listening Pattern, an interac-tive prayer mat that explores the relationship between tech-nology, culture and rituals. The mat integrates Persian and Palestinian embroidery with embroidered speakers to invite the audience to reflect upon the current, deeply distressing conflict in the Middle East. By documenting the development of the mat, we interrogate the forms of multi-sensory listening within a textile encounter, and its entanglements with the spaces—spiritual, psychic, sonic—that it creates. The mat embodies the essence of a Persian garden, symbolizing a haven in Persian culture. It combines the renowned Persian design with the resilient symbols of Palestinian embroidery—referred to as Tatreez in this paper—to create a private space for contemplation. While this piece does not intend to replicate a religious experience, it delves into the documentation of its progress to inspect the role technology and electronic textile can play in recreation of religious and spiritual experiences.
