How Papyrus, Animal Hides and Elephant Poop Are Turned Into Paper | Still Standing
Business Insider・20 minutes read
Artisans in El Karamus, Egypt, still produce Papyrus paper using traditional techniques, with Muhammad Shahita leading the process. The decline in tourism due to the pandemic has impacted demand for Papyrus art, affecting local businesses like Saeed Tarahan's in El Karamus.
Insights
- Papyrus paper, originating in ancient Egypt, is still produced in El Karamus using traditional methods, with Muhammad Shahita leading the process of harvesting, soaking, compressing, and drying the strips, highlighting a rich historical continuity in craftsmanship.
- Various regions worldwide, such as Montgomery, New York, and Zungo, have their unique paper-making traditions, facing challenges from modern industrialization. Initiatives like the Tsar project in Vietnam and efforts by artisans like Tom in Zungo aim to preserve these traditional crafts, emphasizing the importance of cultural heritage and community sustainability in the face of changing demands.
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Recent questions
How long does it take for Papyrus to grow?
1 year
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Summary
00:00
Reviving Ancient Papyrus Paper Making in Egypt
- Papyrus paper dates back to ancient Egypt, with artisans in El Karamus, Egypt, still producing it using traditional techniques.
- Muhammad Shahita harvests Papyrus by hand, with a year for a seedling to grow to size, and employs seven workers to process it.
- Papyrus strips are soaked in hot water with potassium hydrate for fermentation, then rinsed with water and chlorine to lighten the color.
- Wet Papyrus strips are laid out in two layers, vertical and horizontal, then compressed and dried between cardboard sheets.
- Saeed Tarahan, an artist in El Karamus, struggled due to decreased tourism during the pandemic, impacting the demand for Papyrus art.
- Egyptians invented Papyrus paper over 5,000 years ago, using it for various purposes before cheaper paper replaced it in the 1800s.
- Papyrus paper making in El Karamus was revived in the 1970s, becoming a significant part of the local economy.
- Saeed Tarahan's business faced challenges due to the drop in tourism post the Arab Spring and the recent pandemic, impacting sales.
- Saeed Tarahan incorporates ancient Egyptian motifs in his artwork, paying homage to the origins of Papyrus paper.
- Parchment making in the U.S. dates back to 2500 BC, with Jesse Meyer's family Tannery in Montgomery, New York, being one of the last producers using traditional methods.
24:36
Traditional Paper Making: Artisans Preserve Craft
- Duo, with 12 years of experience, is a skilled worker who can make 1300 treats in a day by dunking cream into pulp mixture and using a bamboo screen to separate paper, a skill she has honed through years of training.
- Jam, a sixth-generation bamboo maker, uses a Press to squeeze excess water from paper sheets, which he then peels, sticks onto a wall, and coats with an extra layer of mossap, leaving them to dry for a week.
- Paper making in Zungo was once a thriving industry, but demand declined with the rise of factory-made paper, leading to concerns about the craft's survival, despite efforts by artisans like Tom to keep it alive in the community.
- The Tsar project, founded by a worker named Foreign, aims to preserve traditional paper making in Vietnam by using handmade paper from Tom to create postcards, jewelry, and artwork, supporting artisans and teaching young people about the craft.
- At Poo Poo Paper Park in Thailand, paper is made from elephant waste, with a process involving soaking, boiling, mixing with other materials like grass or tree bark, shaping, and drying, creating unique paper batches that are used to make products sold worldwide, supporting elephant conservation efforts.
