Sadegh Memarian has lived in the Netherlands since 1995. The heavy repression in his home country Iran is reason for him to flee that country. He remembers examples of it: such as the stoning, which they all had to watch in primary school. He calls it ironic zmy ‘school outing’. Or when he was arrested as a youngster and had his head shaved because he walked on the street without a shirt on. Young people cannot get together, cannot enjoy music and boys and girls cannot meet each other. He chooses a future outside Iran.
Sadegh’s grandfather was a carpet knotter and restorer. And not least: he carried out assignments for the Iranian Royal House, among other things. Sadegh is named after him and takes not only his name, but also the family talent with him to the Netherlands. He hopes to be able to practice his craft there.
Royal House
Definitely admitted to the Netherlands, he appears to be doing well; he collaborates on large tapestries for municipalities and for palaces of the House of Orange. He has had the restoration studio in Cruquius since 2005.
The carpets that Sadegh gets his hands on are sometimes centuries old. Then it is not guaranteed that suitable yarns can still be found. The studio has an enormous range of colors, but it also happens that special yarns have to be dyed. It is also not the case that every wool is suitable for every carpet: “You have to restore a Persian carpet with Iranian wool. But a Deventer carpet, with Deventer wool,” Sadegh explains. It must match in thickness and material.
It is clear: he has found his place here.
