Скачать или смотреть theblacksac الحقيبة السوداء Handmade leather bag with multiple pockets carrying layers of meaning

Theblacksac narrates the struggle for freedom of movement in the constricted livelihood in Palestine. Thousands of Palestinians have to cross military checkpoints on a daily basis, to perform their activities or access basic health and education services. The checkpoints are erected by the Israeli military occupation, and are purposely designed to make people wait in cramped lines inside ‘hi-tech’ cages to prepare their identification cards for inspection, to remove metallic items from their bags and go through demeaning ‘security’ checks.

The design of this handmade leather bag reflects the disproportionate and oppressive dimension of this experience. Through the extra handle on the bottom, one can swiftly turn the bag and access the external pockets. These have different sizes and shapes to store items before the bag enters the X-ray scanner.

Theblacksac does not simply adapt or surrender to this reality; rather, it challenges it by empowering the carrier and making people understand what Palestinians have to go through on a daily basis. The bag reflects on a life that is strife with challenges and checkpoints, the main goal is storytelling. It becomes a design charged with meaning, claiming the right to freedom of movement and return to the homeland.
This bag was originally designed during the create-shop 2015 in Jerusalem, of which you can find the report here. The bag is produced in Al-Khalil (Hebron) byJelld Workshop; watch them crafting the checkpoint bag here. In 2021, architect and designer Areej Ashhab initiated her own design label called the Blacksac. The bag was featured in this article Grant Gibson reviews the Checkpoint Bag by Disarming Design From Palestine.


Design
Areej Ashhab (PS)
Monika Grütze (LV)
Florian Mecklenburg (DE)
Production:
Jelld workshop (Hebron, PS)
Palestinian bovine leather (mainly sheep-leather and some parts from cow-leather), with metal zippers, and an extra cushioned back
37 x 28 cm