Kiswah Kabbah

Story

The Kiswah is the cloth draped over the Kaaba in Mecca, one of Islam’s most sacred sites. Each year, a new Kiswah is placed on the Kaaba during the annual Hajj pilgrimage. Dozens of Saudi craftsmen, including some of the world’s best calligraphers and artists, work in Mecca to create this elaborate silk and cotton cloth, which is embroidered with gold thread. The Kiswah has many distinct features, one of which is a special design for covering the doorway, to which this piece is a near replica. The Kiswah of the Kaaba is traditionally draped on the 9th day of Dhu al-Hijjah, the day pilgrims gather at Mount Arafat during Hajj. This paper-cutting artwork is a depiction of the Kiswah door cover only.