Tapestry Friendship Sofa
Short film by Damon Amb documents the making of the Tapestry Friendship Sofa
About the Tapestry Friendship Project
The Tapestry Friendship Sofa is located at the Community Refugee Welcome Centre in Lilyfield. It is a two-seater sofa that has been covered in rich tapestry panels that make up a bigger picture showcasing the design envisaged by participants of the community project and brought together by the graphic design skills of Tasman Munro and Laura Ellen Campbell.
The project was facilitated by master artist Sayd Mahmod Reza. Sayd visited the Centre weekly (over 20 weeks) to showcase and teach his skills with his homemade tools required for the work. Local residents and people from refugee or asylum seeker background worked together on the project. Over the weeks many conversations took place from general gossiping and chitchat to sharing conversations about what Aussies love, Aussie slang, Persian sayings and famous songs, food sharing and individuals’ experiences navigating Australian systems.
The Tapestry Friendship Project celebrates the contribution people from Refugee and Asylum Seeker background make to Australia and cements the friendships made between people from these communities and inner west residents.
The project helped to build community connections, cultural awareness and insight into the lives of participants. The two-seater sofa is a constant reminder of these outcomes and the friendships made during its creation. The timber construction of the sofa was by Social Designer Tasman Munro and his colleague Mehran Shariati.
The tapestry Friendship Sofa was a partnership between Living Arts and Community Wellbeing from Inner West Council and the Community Refugee Welcome Centre. The project was based on an original project by Tasman Munro, Jane Theau and Sayd Mahmod Reza at the Auburn Centre for Community. Jane Theau and Tasman Munro provided invaluable guidance throughout the project. The project was managed by the Community Arts Project Officer.
A closer look at the design
A jacaranda tree (commonly found in Callan Park) stretches its limbs across the artwork with dark limbs reflecting the horrors and difficulties participants have faced but bright bursts of colour on flowers show the hope and positive connections that keep people going.
We see the iconic harbour bridge that people outside of Australia often connect with new hopes in a new homeland. The Bridge adjoins a hard arid environment with participants own beloved icons the Iranian Saffron Flowers, Minaret Jam in Afghanistan and the Persian God Ahura Mazda, symbolising good mind / purpose, honesty and kindness. The opposing side is green and lush demonstrating health, opportunity and aspirations.
The tea cups placed on the grass signify people coming together to share a universal beverage - tea, in friendship. The hands are also representative of friendship, solidarity and strength in unity.
The rowers in the water and the blue wrens are synonymous with Callan Park where the Community Refugee Welcome Centre is based and are enjoyed by participants. The rowers also represent 'journey' and some of the younger participants who joined the project with their parents. The Aboriginal flag pays homage to the traditional custodians of the land acknowledging injustices and ongoing healing processes.