The Spiritual Treasures of Bosnia: Old Mosques in Old Town Sarajevo and Beyond
The old mosques of Bosnia are jewels of Islamic heritage that had to be gathered in one post to be seen and admired together! I am enjoying learning more and more about them, and it’s a pleasure to share what I know with you here! If you have further insights, …
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Holiday Bosnia: A Journey of the heart
I count myself as a well-traveled person and it is by the grace of God that I was blessed to be so. Therefore, you can imagine my sense of wonder at discovering not just a way, or a person, but a whole travel company that is trying to bring together …
Continue ReadingWaqfs in Old Town Sarajevo: A beautiful legacy that still runs strong in the Muslim community
It was quite something to walk into Old Town Sarajevo on that first day with the Cambridge Muslim College (CMC) Tour in 2018. They gave me my initial introduction to Bosnia and to the astounding collection of waqfs in Sarajevo, coming across them one after another. A waqf means to: …
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The Bosnian War: The Tale of Bravery and Faith that Survived it
When one thinks of Bosnia, one of the most important things about it is that it survived such a vicious and violent war with people who were part of its own fabric of society, and even nation at some point. It is something that I think of often and find …
Continue ReadingThe Painters of the Orient: An Exhibit at the Marmottan-Monet Museum
This gem is an interesting one as it comes within the folds of a not so positive legacy. Let me explain how I feel, as I am no expert of orientalist works of art. I am happy on some level as I know it is of my world and some …
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The Exhibit: Oriental Visions from Dreams into Light
Inspired by the energy of Napoleonic conquest, European painters conceived a fantasy vision of the Orient which they subsequently compared to the reality of their travels. And while experience did not put an end to a fantasy vision that was inseparable from the female figure, the experience of Oriental landscapes …
Continue ReadingChris Gazaleh: Art with a message for social justice
This gem came actually came through another one, as it was Nabila Mango who took me to the fundraiser where Chris Gazaleh was a guest speaker. Nabila is the founder of Aswat ensembles and a pillar in her community for doing good. I was sold from the moment I saw …
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Cafe Alula: An authentic Lebanese neighborhood restaurant
Some gems are all the more delightful for how they reveal themselves to me. Cafe Alula was one such soft, genuine treasure. I fell in love with the way the team made it a real cornerstone of their neighborhood and their community. The cafe itself is actually a tiny, unassuming …
Continue ReadingThe Decorated Word/ Writing and Picturing in Islamic Calligraphy – An Exhibit at The Met, NYC
I have had a love for calligraphy since I was in school. And, I am so grateful that we had a subject in school to teach us this gorgeous art form, as simple as our classes were. The lessons also inspired me to teach myself to write English cursive beautifully. …
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Triumph of Form over Content
The abstraction of Islamic calligraphic script occurred well before the advent of twentieth- century Western modernism. For centuries, calligraphers and artists have straddled the boundary between text and image, revealing their inextricable intertwinement. The calligram in which letters, words and phrases are shaped into forms ranging from animals and humans …
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