Initially, there was slight hesitation, when the instructor asked children to touch the Moroccan clay. Within minutes the little ones, aged 5 to 13 years, became fully immersed in the clay modelling workshop, which is part of the country’s Guest of Honour programme at the 12-day event.
Ilyass Saifelislam, the instructor from Morocco, began the session with a brief introduction to the craft and the names of Moroccan cities known for pottery. “Fes and Safi are famously known as the two capital cities of Moroccan pottery,” said Saifelislam, who studied electrical engineering but turned entrepreneur in 2018, starting a company that conducts workshops on Moroccan arts: pottery, zellige, and weaving, in a bid to keep the centuries-old practice alive.
Watching the young participants in action was restorative. Children grabbed large lumps of red clay, rolled them into big balls, then patted them flat before using rolling pins to make circular shapes. The little ones then used their fingers to gently draw shapes on the clay, cutting them out with sculpting tools.
“Most of the children want to make heart-shaped plates,” said Saifelislam. The leftover clay was used to make long, cylindrical, snake-like structures, which formed the boundaries of their creations. “This is natural red clay, free from chemicals. Usually, artisans cure their creations in a 900-degree Celsius kiln, but this clay will be air-dried in 48 hours. The children can then use their creations as decorative pieces at home or to store their knick-knacks. Such activities are important. It gives a sense of accomplishment when children create something of their own.”
“It’s not just children who enjoy getting their hands dirty and creating something beautiful; many adults attend our workshops to disconnect and de-stress from their usual routines,” Saifelislam added.
The workshop ended with soiled hands and sparkling eyes, each participant carrying their creation like a trophy.
The SIBF is running until November 17 at the Expo Centre, Sharjah. For more information, visit www.sibf.com/en/home.
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