This piece by Saudi Artist Ahmad Matar makes me think of this;

'From outside she heard the call to evening prayer, and she covered her head.

All over India, all over the world, as the sun or the shadows of darkness moves from east to west, the call to prayer moves with it, and people kneel down in a wave to pray to God. Five waves each day-one for each namaaz-ripple across the globe from longitude to longitude. The component elements change direction, like iron fillings near a magnet - towards the house of God in Mecca.'

from 'A suitable boy' by Vikram Seth





Mashrabayya

Bayt Akil Sami Architect Hassan Fathy

Bayt Akil Sami Architect Hassan Fathi

Bayt Al-Sihaymi (1648-1796) Cairo, Egypt

Siesta by Lewis

Beautiful Mashrabayyas create a special atmosphere of shadows and breeze on a warm day.

Hand made and constructed without glue or nails.

Rock Art, Hail, Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia is apparently rich in rock carvings, I will post some more beautiful ones later. I would love to take a trip and see them for myself.

Street Art in memory of Tariq Abdul Latif, a martyr of the Egyptian revolution for more information have a look at this blog Ganzeer

Costume of the Yam tribe of Saudi Arabia

image and costume from mansoojat foundation

I love this traditional costume of the Yam tribe of Saudi Arabia, very simple but beautiful lines.

Wild Lilies of Al-Baha

For J

Habib Gorgy sculpture museum, Egypt

Such a beautiful museum, don't you think?

Architect Ramses Wissa Wassef

Dress from Sinai, Egypt

One of my favorites, I have pictures of my Grandma wearing it too, thanks to her I have a large collection of Egyptian Gallabayas perfect for summer evenings lounging about the house or garden.

Books

I thought I would share some books from my wish list which seems to be enormous and ever growing.

This book is is broad ranged compilation of middle eastern art and artists, covering over 200 artists, and covering a range of subjects such as calligraphy ,portraiture and the body, literature, music and performance, history and identity.

I love adobe architecture so here is a book that documents the restoration of an Adobe farmhouse in Saudi Arabia by Prince Sultan bin Salman Al- Saud, and discusses issues such as the place of vernacular style in modern architecture, the restoration and rebuildiung process itself, and the future of adobe in the modern world.

Travellers in Arabia uses Black and white historical pictures of well known British travellers from the last 150 years to illustrate development and history in Saudi Arabia; including photos from Wilfred Thesiger,T.E laurence and Gertrude Bell.

Beautiful building site