For artist Nuveen Barwari, storytelling and art are part of nation-building. Her work is intimately connected with her Kurdish heritage the altered Persian rugs and contemporary takes on traditional tapestries invite conversations about homeland and resettlement. Some are tributes to Kurdish activists who were killed for their revolutionary work, and others incorporate pop-culture iconography. With Fufu Creations, Barwari takes her work out of the gallery, screen-printing one-of-a-kind T-shirts and jackets with the Kurdish sun and the word
ashti, which means peace. If you have a bit more to spend, you can snag a piece of art, like Barwari’s 8-by-10-inch fabric panels. In addition, Fufu Creations sells gorgeous fabric from Dubai that is used to make traditional Kurdish dresses; tees, sweats and totes by Barwari’s longtime collaborator Marlos E’van (more about him on p. 14 ); and prints showing the shape of her homeland. ERICA CICCARONE