Ecology as archive: Examining the changing landscapes of the Fayyoum Oasis through critical cartographic tapestries
Dana Salama, Taubman College of Architecture + Urban Planning
Collaborators: Lukasz Stanek, Professor, Taubman and Co-founder of Africa Alliance; Kit Parks, Fiber Studio Coordinator, Stamps
This project will work to interrogate relationships between cultural heritage, memory, and decaying ecologies in the Fayyoum Oasis, a site located 60 km southwest of Cairo. The anticipated outcome of this research is to produce a large appliqué textile as a “critical cartographic object,” exploring how Fayyoum’s landscape has been represented and exploited since Pharaonic times; with the aim of opening up new methodological potentials in spatial and creative practice.
This project aims to create a critical cartographic representation of the Fayyoum Oasis, translating it into a 70” x 70” appliqué tapestry. The tapestry will explore themes such as:
1. Fayyoum’s desertifying landscape, and changing ecologies
2. Divisions between natural and cultural heritage imposed by state authorities and UNESCO, proposing a hybrid approach reflecting Fayyoum’s historical context
3. The flora, fauna, and visual cultures of Fayyoum
4. Colonial misrepresentations of the site as mythology
My intent is to blend several architectural projections – plan, section, perspective, etc.
Why appliqué?
Originating in Cairo’s kheyamiyyah (tent-maker’s district), appliqué craft dates back to the production of Ottoman royal tents but has been proletarianized by local street culture–forming ephemeral street tents for public events. The use of appliqué is intended to symbolize the importance of appropriating representational techniques towards local utility.
Timeline
May – June 2025: Fly to Cairo. Site visits to Fayoyum, visual and archival research, and development of digital drawing.
June – August 2025: Production of appliqué map and accompanying text. Opportunities to discuss informally with collectives of scholars and artists in Cairo I am acquainted with. Return to Michigan.
August – December 2025: Further development of text, finding opportunities for dissemination, elaboration, sharing at UMich and beyond. At UMich, there are already interested parties at Taubman, Archaeology, STAMPS, etc. Possibility to present at venues beyond the university.
Interdisciplinarity
This proposal explores how climate change is reshaping heritage and memory, with implications for several disciplines critical to interpreting material cultures. At UofM, I’ve been discussing research methodologies with faculty from Architecture (Profs. Lukasz Stanek, Kuukuwa Manful, Andrew Herscher), Anthropology/History (Prof. Hakem Al-Rustom), and Archaeology (Prof. Tiffany Fryer). My goal is to engage these faculty members through periodic critiques. I’ve also connected with Kit Parks, Fiber Studio Coordinator at STAMPS. Starting Fall 2025, Kit will provide access to the Fiber Studio, allowing me to build upon my work. We’ve discussed potential avenues for sharing work between Taubman and STAMPS, with details still pending.
Ability to complete the work, career development
I am from Cairo and an Arabic speaker with extensive research experience in “informal” neighbourhoods all over North Africa. Although this research does not engage human subjects, my priority is to always avoid extracting from people/ communities/ ecologies. Having taught courses on research ethics in design, I take these commitments seriously.
With a background in architectural heritage conservation across North and West Africa, I’ve worked on managing and co-designing heritage futures with communities for the World Monuments Fund and Getty Conservation Institute, also exploring this work through film at the Venice Architecture Biennale.
My focus has shifted to research, curation, and critical cartography. I direct countermap, a Canadian arts non-profit that has funded $150K in workshops for underrepresented communities. I’ve trained with textile artisans in Egypt and Morocco for two years. For this project, I plan to collaborate with Tarek El-Safty, a master artisan I’ve worked with before.
I’ve long been interested in alternative forms of representation in my work and teaching. Prior to my PhD, I lectured at the John H. Daniels School of Architecture, University of Toronto, on spatial politics, heritage, and representation.
Despite my experience, I’ve lacked the resources to fully explore experimental representations of specific sites. I’ve prioritized consulting for others over my own creative exploration. My goal is to balance a PhD in Architecture (History and Theory) with a studio and teaching practice focused on the politics of representation. This grant will help me pursue my future career in both practice and theory.