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IN THISISSUE• Kuwait History Conference

• Book Launch: The Edge of War (Arabic)

• CS 22: Off to a Good Start (September – December)

• Dr Martha Carter and Dr Prudence Harper Tour ‘Splendors of

the Ancient East’ exhibition

• Military Bands Play at DAI

• CS22 Concerts – The First Half

• Autumn Festival

• International Museum Day

• A Celebration of Japanese Art

• Learning Through Art

• Museum Shop Corner

Dar al-Athar al-Islamiyyah released the Arabic translation of the highly lauded book, The Edge of War at the closing session of the Kuwait History Conference at the Yarmouk Cultural Centre, in February 2016. The Edge of War, translated by Ma’asouma al-Habib, is a compelling account of little-known stories of Kuwait’s resistance movement during the 1990-1991 invasion and occupation. Former American President George H. W. Bush who has contributed the Foreword to the book has mentioned that “the book keeps alive the selfless heroism of those Kuwaitis who refused to cower in the face of Saddam’s inhumanity - and whose courage and love of country helped preserve Kuwaiti sovereignty during its hour of maximum peril.”

The book is a memorial to the heroism and sacrifice of Kuwaiti resistance activists who represented a wide cross-section of society; it is about the brave men and women who fought against the overwhelming might of Saddam Hussein’s army. The Kuwait resistance came from diverse backgrounds. They were shopkeepers, military veterans, civil servants, doctors and members of the ruling family.

Dear Friends, Dar al-Athar al-Islamiyyah (DAI) began its cultural activities in 1983 when The al-Sabah Collection opened up to the public at the Kuwait National Museum. Over the years, DAI not only gained in status as a premier cultural organisation actively involved in archaeology, conservation, publishing, museum tours, and exhibitions, but it also forged transgenerational links building bridges of understanding and commonality among different cultures through its calendar. Cultural Season 22 was filled with fabulous lectures, acclaimed films, and enjoyable concerts. The season was a busy one for children as well who participated in programmes that were both educational and entertaining. This issue of Bareed will provide you with a quick review of the first half of the season along with a look at the much lauded Kuwait History Conference and a host of other activities that DAI is always bustling with. Happy Reading!

Bader al-Baijan DAI Steering Committee

BAREEDAD|DAR Newsletter of the Friends of the Dar al-Athar al-Islamiyyah Issue 2, 2017

From the left: Sheikh Sabah Jaber al-Ali al-Sabah, one of the main protagonists in the book. Sheikha Hussa al-Sabah, Director-General of DAI is flanked by the author Alex Darwin and the translator, Mrs Ma’asouma al-Habib, head of the translation Department at DAI.

Bareed ad-Dar is the quarterly newsletter of The Friends of Dar al-Athar al-Islamiyyah (DAI)Gulf Museum Consultancy WLL (GMCC) is the commercial entity authorized to exploit and promoteThe commercial and other rights relating to The al-Sabah Collection, Dar al-Athar al-Islamiyyah.gmcc@darmuseum.org.kw©2017 GMCC, Kuwait

LNS 1 KG

Each year, Dar al-Athar al-Islamiyyah organizes a series of stimulating lectures and seminars by internationally renowned scholars, as well as workshops, cultural excursions, film screenings, theatrical productions, musical concerts, audio–visual programmes and special events to enhance public awareness and appreciation of art history. The DAI cultural calendar has set high standards with its extensive selection of activities that inspire people from all walks of life and every interest imaginable. Cultural Season 22 was no exception. It featured 32 lectures, 16 classic films, 33 concerts, 2 theatrical weekends, 8 family days, several exhibitions, 3 book launches, 2 festivals, 124 children’s educational opportunities and 5 training sessions for volunteer docents. Last season it was easy for DAI to say that there was something for everyone.

CS 22:An Introduction

Now in Arabic: The Edge of War

Often depending on cunning and not strength, members of the resistance movement made a significant difference in the battle for Kuwait’s liberation, and this book tells their story. The launch of the book at the YCC was well attended and well-received.

Abdullah Salem when he visited his family in the Dasman suburb early morning every day. He said that Sheikh Abdullah was a great role model for young people; he treated children and teenagers with kindness and understanding.

Later in the conference, Dr Suad Abdulwahab, Dean of the Faculty of Arts said that the late Sheikh Abdullah al-Salem who ruled the country between 1950 and 1965 and passed away at the age of 70, is considered the founder of Kuwait’s modern government. Hailing him as a wise leader, she said the late Amir efficiently managed to overcome all obstacles and problems the nation faced during his reign due to his experience and farsightedness. On his part, Dr Abdulhadi al-Ajmi, Head of the Faculty’s History Department said that his department was proud to organise the conference. He also expressed his appreciation to Sheikh Nasser, Minister of Amiri Diwan Affairs for patronising and attending the event. Sheikha Hussa al-Sabah, Director General of DAI, was also present.

A Conference onSheikh Abdullah al-Salem al-Sabah

A conference on the reign of the late Amir Sheikh Abdullah al-Salem al-Sabah (1950-1965) was held at Kuwait University’s Faculty of Arts under the auspices and presence of the Minister of Amiri Diwan HE Sheikh Nasser Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah. Addressing the event, Sheikh Nasser voiced his thanks and appreciation to the organisers of the conference which highlighted the political and social aspects of the late Amir Sheikh Abdullah al-Salem’s rule. Elaborating on his relationship with the late Amir, Sheikh Nasser said he used to see Sheikh

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From Left: Prof. Faisal al-Kanderi, Prof. Maimouna al-Sabah, Prof. Futooh al-Khatrash and Prof. Abdullah al-Ghunaim

From Left: Dr Ahmad al-Qunaie, Mr Farhan al-Farhan, Prof. Abdulhadi al-Ajmi and Prof. Abdullah al-Hajeri

Dignitaries at the Kuwait History Conference

At the launch of ‘The Edge of War’

Sheikha Jawahar al-Sabah with General Mahmoud al-Dosairi, Under Secretary in the Ministry of Interior and Ahmad al-Arab

DAI staff organising the Edge of War book distribution

To mark the celebration of Kuwait’s Liberation and National Day, on February 9, 2016, Dar al-Athar al-Islamiyyah presented an informative seminar on the ‘History of Kuwait’ under the patronage of HE Sheikh Salman Sabah al-Salem al-Humoud al-Sabah, the former Minister of Information and Minister of State for Youth Affairs at Yarmouk Cultural Centre. The conference included two discussions centering on the history of Kuwait and the inauguration of the Arabic version of the book ‘The Edge of War’. The seminar was attended by the Minister, and a host of important dignitaries including Mr Ali al-Yoha, Secretary General of the National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters, scholars, academicians and government officials. The seminar featured lectures and presentations by well-known scholars, historians and academicians from Kuwait University and select cultural institutions who presented papers around the theme of Kuwait’s recent and not so recent historical past. The aim was to investigate the study of Kuwait’s history from its beginnings.

The first session of the conference, entitled ‘The Founding of Kuwait: A Modern Reading’, featured three thought-provoking presentations on the genesis of Kuwait by Prof. Maimouna al-Sabah, Prof. Abdullah Al-Ghunaim, and Prof. Faisal al-Kanderi. Prof. Maimouna al-Sabah is Head of the Teaching Staff at Kuwait University, Prof. Abdullah al-Ghunaim, is Head of the

Geography Department at Kuwait University and Prof. Faisal al-Kanderi is the Vice Dean for Academic, Research and Graduate Studies at the College of Arts, Kuwait University. Together they discussed some important aspects of their recent studies on this topic and highlighted the challenges. The discussion was moderated by Dr Futooh al-Khatrash, an expert in Modern History and the previous Head of the To mark the celebration of Kuwait’s Liberation and National Day, on February 9, 2016, Dar al-Athar al-Islamiyyah presented an informative seminar on the ‘History of Kuwait’ under the patronage of HE Sheikh Salman Sabah al-Salem al-Humoud al-Sabah, the former Minister of Information and

Kuwait History Conference: Discovering Kuwait

A full house at the Kuwait History Conference

Minister of State for Youth Affairs at Yarmouk Cultural Centre. The conference included two discussions centering on the history of Kuwait and the inauguration of the Arabic version of the book ‘The Edge of War’. The seminar was attended by the Minister, and a host of important dignitaries including Mr Ali al-Yoha, Secretary General of the National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters, scholars, academicians and government officials. The seminar featured lectures and presentations by well-known scholars, historians and academicians from Kuwait University and select cultural institutions who presented papers around the theme of Kuwait’s recent and not so recent historical past. The aim was to investigate the study of Kuwait’s history from its beginnings.

The conference was followed by the release of the Arabic version of The Edge of War: Kuwait’s Underground Resistance, a book by Alex Darwin which tells the little-known story of the brave men and women who joined the resistance and fought against the overwhelming might of the Iraqi military. Produced by Dar al-Athar al-Islamiyyah, the book pays a fitting tribute to the bravery and steadfastness of the al-Khafji group, who contributed significantly to the liberation of Kuwait. The book, which has a foreword by former American President George H. W. Bush, was translated by Mrs Ma’asouma al-Habib, Head of the translation and Arabic publications department at the DAI. Lauding the efforts of the al-Khafji group and their leading role in the resistance movement, Sheikh Sabah Jaber al-Ali al-Sabah, one of the main protagonists in the book spoke of the bravery and patriotism of the members of the resistant movement in the face of Iraqi brutality. Each heroic member of the resistance movement was motivated by the single goal of liberating the homeland under the banner of His Highness the late Amir Sheikh Jaber al-Ahmad al-Sabah. The launch was attended by a distinguished group of guests including Colonel Nasser Salmeen, retired Army veteran who shared his memories of those traumatic days. Adel Darwish, the well-known journalist, and author spoke of his journey with the book at the launch.

The author Alex Darwin

The conference in session

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Cultural Season 21 saw the release of Persian Painting: The Arts of the Book and Portraiture by Adel T. Adamova & Manijeh Bayani (Thames & Hudson 2015). The extensive and fabled holdings of The al-Sabah Collection include rare illustrated and illuminated bound Persian manuscripts, miniature paintings, detached folios, and oil paintings spanning from the eleventh to early twentieth century, the majority of which have been unpublished in the scholarly world until now. Authors Adel T. Adamova, curator at the State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia and Manijeh Bayani, a specialist in Persian epigraphy,

Book launch:Persian Painting:The Arts of the Book and Portraiture

place the works in an artistic and historical context. They demonstrate the significance of the works in the development of Persian painting by way of attributions, identification of subjects, and interpretation of stylistic features. Richly illustrated and including rare examples from the pre-Mongol period never before reproduced in print, the book also includes illustrated folios detached from important fourteenth and fifteenth-century manuscripts and paintings from dispersed Safavid and post-Safavid albums, as well as seventeenth-century book bindings and oil paintings from the Zand and Qajar periods.

The Splendors gallery at the Amricani Cultural Centre hosted two special guests on December 10, 2015. Visiting scholars, Dr Martha Carter and Dr Prudence Harper paid a visit to the Amricani Cultural Centre and later led a tour of the exhibition entitled Splendors of the Ancient East. Dr Carter and Dr Harper visited the Amricani Cultural Centre for a book signing and to lead a tour of the Hellenistic objects featured in the book. They led guests through the galleries, stopping at several points of interest to further explain some of the history and function behind many of the displayed items.

They followed this up with a much-anticipated book signing session of their recent publication-Arts of the Hellenized East: Precious Metalwork and Gems of the Pre-Islamic Era. Jointly written by the historians, the tome is a masterfully

Scholars Visit Splendors of the Ancient East exhibitionas DAI celebrates a new publication

penned rare catalogue filled with information on early Hellenistic art and metal work.

The Hellenistic period refers to the era following the death of Alexander the Great in 323 bce and the rise of ancient Rome circa 30 bce. The spread of Greek culture from the Mediterranean basin to Central Asia influenced many indigenous cultures leaving a significant mark on their history, arts, science, and literature.

Dr Martha Carter is known for her research on Hellenistic silverwork. She has taught and curated at institutions including the Cleveland Museum of Art and the University of Wisconsin. She has published extensively on the art and archaeology of India, Iran, and Central Asia. Her co-author, Dr Prudence Harper is Curator Emerita in the Department of Ancient Near Eastern Art at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

The third scholar to collaborate on the book is Dr Pieter Meyers, an independent scholar and Senior Research Chemist at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, where he was formerly Head of Conservation.

Dr Carter remarked on the scale and scope of the objects on display. She said, “Splendors of the Ancient East features more than 100 objects from the al-Sabah Collection dating from the 4th millennium bce Bronze Age to the 7th century ce. It is an incredible opportunity to view first hand such a fascinating collection that is a testimony to the early days of civilization. The exhibition is not merely a display of beautiful objects, arranged chronologically rather it is a rich mosaic of cultures, which have had enduring contributions to the development of human civilization.”

From left to right: Drs Prudence Harper and Martha Carter signing copies of the bookArts of the Hellenized East published by Thames & Hudson

Dr Prudence Harper Dr Martha CarterDr Prudence Harper explaing the Markhor goat exhibit

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For music lovers in Kuwait, the weekly concerts held at DAI’s Yarmouk Cultural Centre are the highlights of the cultural season. Every Wednesday at 7 p.m. sharp, friends of DAI wait for the diverse, exciting, uplifting musical offerings from the Dar al-Athar al-Islamiyyah. The concerts at the Yarmouk Cultural Centre offer great variety both in terms of musical styles and origins, and in the process, they provide the audience with an opportunity to appreciate their favourite genres and discover new ones.

The first concert of Cultural Season 22 was a celebration of local melody and rhythms. It was a performance by the renowned Gulf musician Salman al-Amaari on Sept 28. This was followed by a scintillating recital by Suleiman al-Mulla in the following week. On October 5, Hassan Joma’a, the famed guitarist infused the essence of Andalusian music in his vigorous rendition of flamenco and the Spanish guitar.

Next week, a full house at the Yarmouk Cultural Centre were treated to a Hungarian musical concert titled ‘Hungarian Romance: the music of Franz Liszt’ which was held in cooperation with the Hungarian Embassy in Kuwait. The musicians Marcell Szabo, Sara Deak, and Barnabas Baranyai, played the piano, cello, and violin. The week after Marwa Hamdi performed Egyptian music to an enthusiastic audience followed a week later by a performance of Kuwaiti music by the talented Sulaiman al-Mulla.

On November 2, composer and pianist Renara Akhoundova gave her third performance in Kuwait since 2010. A trend of “thirds” continued as DAI presented its third consecutive Bulgarian concert titled ‘Bulgarian Dreams’ featuring Anna Karadimitrova, soprano, Preslav Petkov, clarinet, Harriet Bushman, piano and special guest violinist, Mariana Todorov on November 9.

Later in November, female voices were celebrated. A presentation on the music

DAI Making Musicof the legendary Umm Kulthum one week was followed by a performance by Elmira Kalimullina, the silver voice of Russia, in the concert organized in cooperation with the Embassy of Russia. The musical nights in November ended with a recital by the versatile artist Sulaiman al-Dikan, the son of Ghannam al-Dikan, a famous Kuwaiti composer, musician and lyricist.

The DAI concert series ended the year with brilliant presentations on both Middle Eastern music and Western Music. In December, the audience at the DAI were treated to a concert featuring Huban, the music of Iran featuring Ali Akbar, and an evening of Arabian music. Interspersed with the music of the region was a performance by the Kuwait Youth Chamber Orchestra and a classical strings concert led by the noted conductor Richard Bushman.

Ali Akbar Moradfar and Delkash Ensemble presenting Iranian music Renara Akhoundova at the piano

Elmira Kalimullina at the Russian Concert

Muwashahat Andalusia with Yousef Bara and the group Angham al-Sharq led by Maestro Adel AbdelAziz Om Kalthoum night with Samah Saleh Seddiq

Suleiman al-Dikan Concert Salman al-Ammari’s music night

Marcell Szabó, Sára Deák and Barnabás Baranyai play the music of Franz Liszt Karlsruhe Concert Duo

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Richard Bushman leading the Kuwait Youth Orchestra and classical strings

Flamenco and Spanish guitar music led by Hassan Jomaa

Marwa Hamdi sings Egyptian Songs

Bulgarian Dreams with Anna Karadimitrova, Mariana Todorova,Preslav Petkov and Harriet Bushman

Suleiman al-Mulla

Huban at Amricani Cultural Centre

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DAI’s Fall Festival brought together emerging artisans, small independent businesses, and a diverse mix of vintage, antique and hip handmade products. Held on 25 November 2016 from 2 to 9 p.m., at the Yarmouk Cultural Centre, the Festival included live music performance, art workshops for children and adults, food, craft goods and a lot more.

It was a lively affair which saw a steady stream of visitors throng the venue where vendors sat displaying their wares with the DAI Museum Shop also opening its doors. There were quilted items, jewellery, shawls, metal ware, bags, linen, hand-blown glass items, crochet, footwear, hand embroidery, wood work and a lot more on offer.

The Fall Festival attracted an international turn out of people, including diplomatic mission staff. It was a fun-filled event which had something to offer everyone.

The Fall Festival: A lively fun-filled event

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It was a happy crowd that gathered at the Amricani Cultural Centre on 13 May 2016 from 3:30 to 9 p.m.. Like its counterparts elsewhere in the world, Dar al-Athar al-Islamiyyah had organised a fun-filled day of activities and cultural events to celebrate International Museum Day (IMD), with the theme of Museums and Cultural Landscapes.

Observed since 1977, the aim of the International Museum Day last year was to raise awareness of the fact that “Museums are an important means of cultural exchange, enrichment of cultures and development of mutual understanding, cooperation and peace among people.” Organised on and around 18 May each year, the events and activities that celebrate International Museum Day can last a day, a weekend or a whole week. Participation and the significance of this celebration is growing among museums all over the world; in 2015, more than 35,000 museums participated in the event in some 145 countries.

In 2016, the theme of the IMD made museums responsible for their cultural landscape. After all, the primary mission of museums is to oversee heritage, whether it is inside or outside their walls.

To celebrate, DAI held several art workshops showcasing Arabic calligraphy, watercolour

International Museum Day 2016: Celebrating Museums and Cultural Landscapes

painting, caricature, decoration and engraving, journalism and writing workshops and more. The event also featured musical acts and artistic activities that included, courtesy of the Spanish Embassy, an experimental musical workshop and concert by Jorge Ramirez-Escudero, known as Hyperpotamus. Finally, there was also a dedicated area for local businesses and vendors.

By the end of the International Museum Day celebration, Friends of DAI and other members of the public enjoyed the classes and workshops and rediscovered old talents or got introduced to new ones. The activities organised by DAI successfully engaged the public in highlighting the importance of museum institutions that serve society and its development.

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Fabio BettiMichel Mouton Samir Mahmoud

At the launch of its Cultural Season 22, Dar al-Athar al-Islamiyyah highlighted the inspiration for the year which was ‘blessings and benedictions.” The theme, as Bader al-Baijan, President of the Friends of the DAI Steering Committee later elaborated, “well suited the 22nd Cultural Season, as we continue to strive to be a blessing to Kuwaitis and others, who call this country home.”

Over the years, DAI has built a formidable reputation for weaving education, enlightenment and entertainment into the fabric of Kuwaiti cultural life through its cultural calendar, and CS 22 was no exception. “One of our key objectives for the annual cultural season is to expand our activities so that it embodies the collective interests of everyone in the community,” Sheikha Hussa Sabah al-Salem al-Sabah, DAI’s Director General had observed. “For our first annual cultural season in 1995, we modestly started with a handful of lectures and workshops. Today, we are privileged to say that we have over 230 activities that fulfil the interests of every demographic in Kuwait, from children to adults, and volunteers to patrons.”

Notwithstanding the diverse nature of its activities, the Monday lectures continued to be the backbone of DAI’s cultural calendar. The

CS 22 lectures: Off to a Good Startlectures and presentations of CS 22 explored themes from Antiquity to Ethics and a lot in between. The variety and scope of the lectures were quite remarkable. There were ten lectures that explored ancient Greece, Egypt and Africa, the Middle East and South Arabia, meaning ancient civilization counted for about a third of the 22 Cultural Season lecture series. Eight lectures in CS 22 offered a diverse look at the arts from philosophical perspectives to surveys of art in specific cultures. Five of the history related lectures continued the discussion of antiquity in a more contemporary context. Three lecturers shared their personal experiences in the world of art and culture, from very different geographic and cultural backgrounds.

The Cultural Season 22 was launched with a lecture by Dr Ziad Rajab on his late father Tareq Sayid Rajab titled “Pioneer with Paint and Palette: Life of Tareq Rajab” at the Yarmouk Cultural Centre on September 28. Tareq Rajab was a renaissance man — artist, archaeologist, educator, photographer, author, designer and builder who together with his wife Jehan, established the New English School in 1969 followed by the Tareq Rajab Museum in 1980 and more recently in 2007, the Tareq Rajab Museum of Islamic Calligraphy.

On October 3, Pierre Lory, Professor of Religious Studies and Chair of the Islamic Mysticism department in the Sorbonne’s Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes, delivered a scintillating lecture on the religious dimension of dreams and their interpretation in classical Islam. Dr Lory shared that the Islamic perspective on dreams is important as it indicates that men do not only think using words and concepts, but also with images and not only in the waking state, but also during their sleep. The ‘true’ dream does not have anything hallucinatory about it. He explained, “On the contrary, it is significant that a single term — al-ru’yâ, meaning, etymologically, the fact of seeing, perception — is used indifferently to denote both dreams and supernatural visions in the waking state.” In her lecture titled ‘Engendering Peace Through Female Roles’ on October 10, Dr Souad T. Ali, Founding Chair of the Council for Arabic and Islamic Studies at Arizona State University (ASU) explored the role women play in Islam, using their knowledge of peace in Islam to help members of their communities negotiate and practice peaceful co-existence. Dr Ali also discussed recent female scholarship on education and peace in Islam and concluded her lecture by stating that these important

Souad Taj AliZiad Sayid Rajab Pierre Lory

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studies can open greater avenues for women from around the world to direct their education towards emphasizing a culture of peace. The following week, Dr Hadi Maktabi, a PhD in Islamic art from Oxford University and an expert on antique carpets and Islamic Art gave a presentation on carpet production in Iran in the 150 years following the downfall of the Safavid Empire in 1722. This was the period when carpets were woven entirely to meet local and domestic demand rather than pander to international tastes. The next lecture saw one of DAI’s most popular guest lecturers speak of ‘Western perceptions of the Ottoman East: Selected Renaissance artworks from the collections of the Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna’. Curator of education and communication at the Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna, Dr Agnes Stillfried expounded on the Ottoman collections of the Kunsthistorisches Museum that were assembled over five centuries by the Habsburgs, Austria’s former imperial family.

From artwork to manuscripts, Gianfranco Armando, archivist and advisor at the Vatican Secret Archives, delivered a fascinating lecture on ‘Discovering the Vatican Secret Archives’ on 7 November 2016. Since their creation by Papal decree in 1612, the Vatican Secret Archives has grown to host over eighty-five kilometres of shelves that are organised into hundreds of collections. Among the holdings, whose oldest specimen date back to the eighth century are documents handwritten on paper, parchment, bark, silk, cloth, and signed by Native American chiefs, Ming emperors, Mongolian khans, caliphs, popes, emperors, queens, heretics and scientists. On November 14, DAI went back to archeology, a popular subject in the lecture series and attention turned once more to the Arabian Gulf region when Dr Michel Mouton, Director of scientific research at the French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS), and Director of the French Center for Archaeology and Social Sciences in the Arabian Peninsula spoke about Mleiha and ed-Dur, two archeological sites in modern UAE which have been important for the understanding of the Oman peninsula in antiquity. He spoke of excavations that revealed a progressive sedentarisation of a population, and how the ancient populations of Mleiha and ed-Dur, which used South-Arabian and Aramean writing, show significant cultural parallels with the communities settled on the North-East and North-West of the Arabian peninsula. The next week, the lecture series moved back to the field of art when Dr Samir Mahmoud, Visiting Assistant Professor at the Department of Architecture at the American University of Beirut spoke on ‘New Perspectives on Islamic Art: geometry, the line and inhabiting the realm of Reverie’, where he explored a wide-ranging array of interdisciplinary perspectives that try to answer questions of how and why non-figurative art moves us and evokes an emotion. Dr Mahmoud drew on some medieval Islamic textual sources in addition to contemporary neurosciences, phenomenology, art, history, and psychology to form a dialogue across the centuries that centre on the perceptual qualities of non-figurative art (geometry, vegetal motifs, and to a certain extent calligraphy).

The year ended with three interesting lectures focusing on diverse topics. During the lecture on December 5, Dr Fabio Eugenio Betti Research Fellow both for the Ministry of Education and the Institute of Philosophical Studies in Naples gave a fascinating lecture on the jewellery worn by South Arabian people. Interestingly, the jewellery he described are mainly found as funerary goods. In addition to the ornaments found in funerary contexts, he noted that a rich and accurate typology of South Arabian jewellery is also provided by figurative sculpture: that is statues in the round and reliefs, where both female and male figures display their wealth and status with jewellery. The next lecture was presented by Susanne Wofford, Dean at the Gallatin School of Individualized Study at New York University on December 18. Introduced by Suleiman al-Bassam, the renowned Kuwaiti playwright and theatre director, Wofford spoke of ‘Pluri-disciplinary approach to Knowledge.’ The year concluded with Dr Abdulmutallab al-Balam Head of the Architecture Department at Kuwait University who gave a presentation in Arabic on the old Kuwait City virtual project which has been ongoing for the last five years. He explained that, on completion, will help revitalise the architectural form of the old city of Kuwait. Susanne L. Wofford Abdulmuttalib Al Ballam

Gianfranco Armando

Hadi MaktabiAgnes Stillfried

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The Japan Foundation held a Japanese Contemporary Photography Exhibition at the Yarmouk Cultural Centre from January 23 to January 29, 2016. The Japan Foundation is a specialised public organization founded in 1972 with the purpose of promoting international understanding through cultural exchange. The exhibition presented at the DAI was titled “Gazing at the Contemporary World: Japanese Photography from the 1970s to the Present.” It was organised with help from Rei Masuda, curator at the National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo, who planned and supervised the exhibition. The exhibition at Yarmouk Cultural Centre showcased 76 photographs by 23 photographers and provided an overview of the diverse photographic expression that have emerged in Japan since the 1970s.

The show was composed of two sections. The first titled “A Changing Society” focused on human beings as members of society. The second themed “Changing Landscapes,” took a close look at the Japanese cities, suburbs, and nature. The photographers’ unique views of society and landscape provided the audience that attended the exhibition a better understanding of the myriad of changes that have taken place in Japan between the 1970s, period of rapid economic growth, and the early 21st century.

Last year in May, Dar al-Athar al-Islamiyyah also presented yet another exhibition featuring Japan ti-tled ‘Passage to the Future: Art from a New Generation in Japan,” a striking display of contemporary Japanese Art at the Amricani Cultural Centre under the patronage and cooperation of the Japan Foundation. DAI was represented at the event by the NCCAL’s Mr AbdulKareem al-Ghadban, Mr Fuji Wara, Cultural

Celebrating the Arts of Japan

Attaché from the Embassy of Japan presented a welcome note at the exhibition opening.

‘Passage to the Future: Art from a New Generation in Japan’ was a broad showcase of sculpture, photography, filmmaking, painting, ceramic ware, and installation work by young Japanese artists. It fo-cussed on art produced in Japan at the beginning of the 21st century. The exhibition at the DAI was well received, and it sparked a renewed interest in Japanese art and artists.

Tetsuya Nakamura, Lightning, 2004 Satoshi Hirose, Star Dust 03, 2000 Gazing through the exhibition catalogue

HE Christian Nakhlé, Ambassador of France at the exhibition

One section of “Gazing at the Contemporary World”

Mr Fuji Wara, Cultural Attache, Embassy of Japan opening the exhibition

Mr Fuji Wara, Cultural Attache, Embassy of Japan adresses the gathering

Maywa Denki, GM Na-Tate-Goto (Fish Harp), 1994,

Maywa Denki, Na-Cord (Fish Cord), 1994Miyuki Yokomizo, detail of Please Wash Away, 2004

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DIRECTOR’S CIRCLE

BENEFACTORS

SPONSORS

DONORS

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For the first half of Cultural Season 22, the DAI offered longtime favourites, like the Children’s Art Workshop series and continued with exciting new programmes added to the calendar. These include hands on science courses, a new teen council, and a chance for kids to show off their ‘green thumbs’. As always, the programmes, held at both the Amricani Cultural Centre and the Yarmouk Cultural Centre – promoted cultural awareness, provide opportunities to be creative, and encourage fun!

Our longest running programme, the Children’s Art Workshop (CAW) for children ages 9 – 12; CAW Jrs is for children 6 – 8, was held most Saturdays from 9:30 – 11 AM at the Amricani Cultural Centre. Maha al-Essa, the amazing volunteer who plans and executes the

From Pre-School to High School: DAI Education Programmes Reach Children of Almost All Ages

programme, kept the participants fully engaged from October – January. During those four months, the kids were introduced to Islamic art, wrote and illustrated stories, and got hands on with pottery and sand sculptures. A unit on textiles led right into a unit on furniture design. In each unit the kids explored new ideas and then used their creativity to complete a project related to the theme.

CAW Tots, Amricani Cultural Centre’s programme for potty-trained children ages 3 – 5, takes one subject and concentrates on it for four weeks, utilizing art, children’s books, and discussions to reinforce key ideas. In November and December, the kids explored colour. They started out learning about primary colours and then how to use those colours to

create more colours. In later sessions they checked out the colours of Seven Blind Mice, an orange aardvark, and, after reading Maybe Something Beautiful, a book about the impact of colourful murals on a community, they created their own “street” murals.

This season the DAI Minis programme for children between the ages of 18 months and 3 years old, with a family member, were held one Saturday a month at both the Amricani and the Yarmouk cultural centres. In October the kids learned about Art and then created self-portraits. Mixing colours to create new ones was the theme of November’s sessions. December saw the kids discovering that things aren’t always what you’d expect – including orange aardvarks. Feeding the

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very hungry caterpillar was the primary task for kids in Yarmouk in January; at Amricani, everyone went ‘fishing’ and sorted red fish and blue fish . . .. So far, it seems the kids are having fun learning and playing with each other and so are the parents.

Experience Science, for children ages 10 to 13, was back by popular demand this fall. Astrolabes, the magic of chemistry, camera obscura, and very interesting engineering were some of the projects executed by participants who experience science Saturday afternoons at the DAI’s Yarmouk Cultural Centre. The programme, led by volunteer Dr Bahareh Azizi, highlights the contributions of Muslim scholars to today’s scientific world, while letting the kids have fun with science.

New this cultural season, Yarmouk Green Thumbs (for kids ages 6 – 9) kicked off a 10 week gardening programme on 8 October, giving kids the chance to show off their ‘green thumbs’, growing herbs, vegetables and flowers. They learned a bit about companion planting,

composting, environmental conservation, and why worms really are important. And, of course, they reaped what they’d sown and enjoy a taste of the freshest veggies possible.

YouTHink Kuwait: DAI Museum Youth Council is led by a group of teenagers who seek to raise social awareness on issues concerning the youth of Kuwait and the Middle East, through the creation and organisation of events, workshops and exhibitions, and seeks to provide teenagers with a creative space for innovation of ideas and insights. During a one-year youth council term, the students between the ages of 14 – 18 train to be museum docents, and work a minimum of three hours per month guiding visitors through the exhibitions displayed at the cultural centre. They also coordinated cultural season activities and events, including an open mic night, family day activities, and a workshop on Impressionism. Finally they began working on activities for next season, including an art competition.

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Over the past couple of seasons, Dar al-Athar al-Islamiyyah has played a pivotal role in building musical bridges between Kuwait and the United States by hosting a number of musical performances by different branches of the United States Military. In October 2015, the US Air Force band - ‘AFCENT’ (The United States Air Force Central Command) rocked the audience at the Amricani Cultural Centre with its repertoire of music that includes the Top 40, pop, dance, country hits and popular rock ‘n’ roll classics.

In December 2015, Dar al-Athar continued to present American music with ‘Afterburner,’ the US Air Force Band, which enthused the audience with a brilliant concert at Amricani Cultural Centre. The ‘Galaxy,’ another US Air Force Band followed the Afterburners when they entertained Kuwait as part of the 25th Anniversary Celebration of Kuwait’s Liberation in the Gulf War and to celebrate the unique friendship between Kuwaitis and Americans.

Last year in February, Friends of DAI were treated to an incredible performance by the renowned Band of the Royal Regiment of Scotland. The band was in Kuwait from Feb 17-27, 2016 to commemorate the Amir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah’s 10th year as the ruler of Kuwait, as well as 55 years of Independence, and 25th anniversary of the Liberation by the coalition forces. The Band of the Royal

DAI Building Musical BridgesRegiment of Scotland is part of the United Kingdom’s 51 Brigade, which is collaborating with the GCC countries to provide training and support. The British Embassy in conjunction with the UK Ministry of Defence organised the visit to celebrate the United Kingdom - Kuwait bi-lateral relationship. All members of the band are full-time musicians, but they are also trained as soldiers: in 2003, many members of the band served their country in Iraq.

Earlier in the year, another military band gave a remarkable performance in full uniform at the Yarmouk Cultural Centre. This was Kuwait’s very own Military Pipe and Brass Band, and they performed in full steam in the open courtyard to the enjoyment of the audience that had gathered there. Months later in October, the 1st Armored Division Band from Fort Bliss Texas gave two brilliant performances at the Yarmouk Cultural Centre. The highlight of the Armoured Division Band concert was a ‘Meet the Music, Musicians, and Instrument,’ event which was designed as a special concert for the young friends of DAI. The show brought together children, music, and education in an engaging session. A lot of information was shared, but more importantly, everyone had a good time. The presentation in the afternoon was followed by a formal concert in the evening which was thoroughly enjoyed by the audience. One of the Galaxy band members

US 1st Armored Division Band at the ‘Meet the Music, Musicians, and Instrument,’ event.

US 1st Armored Division Band in full dress uniform

The Raptor band in fine form at Amricani Cultural Centre

Kuwait Military Band in all its splendour

Band of the Royal Regiment of Scotland AFCENT band members in session

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At the invitation of Sheikha Mai bint Mohammed al-Khalifa, Sheikha Hussa traveled to Bahrain on 19 January 2016 to participate in the Thinkers & Doers regional conference titled Investing in Culture: Business & Social Impacts. Several hundred people gathered in the Bahrain National Theatre to hear opening remarks by Sheikha Mai and a keynote address by former French minister of culture and of education Jack Lang.

Sheikha Hussa took to the stage after the keynote to participate in a panel discussion on Why do we gain investing in culture? The panel was moderated by Sarah Birke, a reporter with The Economist based in the UK and Lebanon. Before addressing the investment in art as represented by The al-Sabah Collection in Kuwait, Sheikha Hussa pointed out that the concept of culture industry isn’t new. She

Sheikha Hussa joins Thinkers & Doers:Investing in Culture Conference

explained that in the 19th century, the V&A, then the London South Kensington Museum, was established to improve the aesthetic quality and commercial potential of local products and teach people to appreciate and emulate successful design. With this in mind, she outlined how Kuwait has gained from an investment in culture.

“As the co-owner of an art collection (with my husband Sheikh Nasser al-Sabah), I am, by definition, an investor in art,” noted Sheikha Hussa. “Unlike most investors in art who embrace art as an asset and hold art funds in their portfolio waiting for a return on their investment, my husband and I decided to do differently. As a result, the collection is shared with people in Kuwait and museums around the world - free of charge. Is this a good

investment? Indeed it is... but how? Managing a collection and an active cultural center requires an operation that includes acquisition and excavation, research and conservation, publication, presentation and education, library services and marketing – all promoting the dissemination of knowledge. They have the potential to create extensive employment and wealth by offering goods, services and investment flow between countries. They encourage tourism industry and enhance the quality of its scope of cultural gratification.”

During the course of the discussion and the conversations that followed, the participants, both on the stage and in the audience, agreed, despite coming from a variety of different perspectives, that broad gains are achieved through investments in culture.

From 26 to 29 May 2016 Sheikha Hussa joined more than 6,000 museum professionals from around the world for the American Alliance of Museums annual meeting. Held in Washington, DC, the three-day event focused on how “power, influence and responsibility shape the work of museums.” As one of the Museum Talks speakers, Sheikha Hussa joined a programme that included consumer advocate Ralph Nader, TV personality Mo Rocca, museum educator Stephanie Cunningham, Monuments Men author Robert M. Edsel, and Lonnie G. Bunch, director of the Smithsonian’s new National Museum of African American History and Culture.

Sheikha Hussa Addresses International Museum Professionalsat AAM Conference

Sheikha Hussa started with the opening of the Kuwait National Museum in 1983 when she became the first director-general of the DAI. “I was responsible for a staff, a museum and a programme. I was responsible for the museum management, a ministry, the people of Kuwait . . . What I lacked in experience, I tried to make up for with commitment and hard work. And that’s when I gained confidence. With every decision I made that worked I grew more confident; with every decision I made that didn’t work, but we were able to correct, I grew even more confident. What I learned was that when I was confident, I was empowered and able to influence and inspire those around me. That’s the start of

my story and the direction of my journey – from housewife and mother to museum professional. I assumed the responsibilities and learned the power of collaboration and influence. Over the coming decades, I would use it all . . .”

Sheikha Hussa discussed the impact international recognition had on the role of the DAI, encouraging the organisation to organise loans to other museums. She talked about the impact of world events, the invasion and occupation of Kuwait and the 9/11 attacks and the role objects from The al-Sabah Collection played in them. Finally, she outlined the evolution of the DAI’s cultural season programme and introduced the many DAI publications.

Sheikha Hussa with Dr Marilyn Jenkins-Madina at the American Alliance of Museums annual meeting in Washington DC Sheikha Hussa addresses the audience at the AAM annual meeting

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The Mamluk sultanate (1250–1517) emerged from the fragmentation of the Ayyubid realm in Egypt and Syria (1250–60). The former Ayyubid sultans had depended on slave soldiers for military organization, yet mamluks of Qipchaq Turkic origin eventually overthrew the last Ayyubid sultan in Egypt and established their own rule.

Following the defeat of Mongol armies at the Battle of ‘Ayn Jalut (1260), the Mamluks inherited the last Ayyubid strongholds in the eastern Mediterranean. Within a short period of time, the Mamluks created the greatest Islamic empire of the later Middle Ages, which included control of the holy cities Mecca and Medina. The Mamluk capital, Cairo, became the economic, cultural, and artistic centre of the Arab Islamic world. (This information was taken from The Art of the Mamluk Period (1250–1517) by Suzan Yalman, Department of Education, The Metropolitan Museum of Art).

From whatever source Egypt may have obtained its metalworking processes, Egyptian work at a remote period possesses an excellence that, in some respects, has never been surpassed. Throughout Egyptian history, the same smiths

Museum Shop Corner who worked in the precious metals worked also in copper and bronze. Nearly every fashionable Egyptian, man or woman, possessed a hand mirror of polished copper, bronze, or silver. Copper pitchers and basins for hand washing at meals were placed in the tombs. The basins and the bodies of the ewers were hammered from single sheets of copper. (Source: Stephen Vincent Grancsay).

The art of metalworking was one of the pinnacles of Egyptian-Syrian Mamluk craftsmanship, already having established itself under the Ayyubids that reached its zenith during the reign of an-Nasir Muhammad ibn Qalawun (1285–1341). He had a predilection for elaborate epigraphy, replacing the blazons used by his predecessors and thus establishing a tradition of sultans and dignitaries in glorifying their own name.

LNS 110 M, a brass basin from Egypt or Syria, 8th Century AH/14th Century CE from The al-Sabah Collection, Dar al-Athar al-Islamiyyah

Dar al-Athar al-Islamiyyah hosted the well attended launch of “The Second Appearance of Bin La’bon”, the latest book by noted Kuwaiti novelist Ismael Fahad Ismael at the Amricani Cultural Centre on 11 October 2015. Ismael Fahad Ismael has played a meaningful role in contributing to the development of modern Arab literature with his robust and bold style. His novels have substantially added to Arab cultural heritage tackle sensitive issues.

Ismael Fahad’s new presentation “The Second Appearance of Bin La’bon” chronicles the life of the famous 19th century poet Mohammed bin La’bon. Born in Saudia Arabia, Bin La’Bon was famous for his romantic poetry and lyrical style ‘La’boniat’, which became synonymous with his name.

This bottle has a domed body with a flat base, a flared neck that is thicker than the body, and an opening that has an interior lip.

Producing this translucent green bottle included blowing as well as tooling, and working on the pontil. Although the surface is somewhat weathered, resulting in a brown coating and iridescence, the bottle was well preserved and is in good condition. The absence of decoration suggests that the bottle was made for every day use.

Icon

LNS 1 KGBottleProbably Iranian region, 9th -10th century ce

DAI hosts release of Ismael Fahad Ismael’s latest book

is a stunning example of this fine metalwork. The basin is inlaid with silver featuring thuluth inscriptions lauding an officer of al-Malik an-Nasir Muhammad ibn Qala’un. Thuluth calligraphy script, invented by Ibn Muglah Sirazi, is comprised of curved and slanting lines. One third of each letter slopes, hence the name that means “a third” in Arabic. The design etched into this basin includes ogives (pointed arches), roundels, and various animal and vegetal motifs.

These modern, hand-tooled basins were inspired by LNS 110 M. Exclusively made for DAI, polish this basin with a soft cloth to retain its shine.

Please visit our museum shops at Amricani or Yarmouk Cultural Centre to explore the beauty of these items and more. See you then!

Proceeds from the sale of these gift items are used to support the programmes of

Dar al-Athar al-Islamiyyah

LNS 110 M

On March 8, 2016, Kuwait Direct Investment Promotion Authority (KDIPA) had a rare opportunity to host a special event at the DAI’s Yarmouk Cultural Centre. During the evening, distinguished guests were treated to a show of rare art objects of ancient and Islamic art from The al-Sabah Collection. The event also included a tour of a small exhibition of antiquarian books in the DAI library and a ‘behind the scenes’ look at the then upcoming Modern Architecture of Kuwait (1949-1989) exhibition. The evening was organised by KDIPA to introduce their international guests to culture in Kuwait. The evening didn’t stop with objects and exhibitions. The guests were also serenaded with classical music, contemporary Arabic and Kuwaiti music.

KDIPA Visits Yarmouk Cultural Centre

Bader al-Baijan presenting history of DAI to KDIPA

Tour of al-Sabah Collection items presented by Trudy Kawami

Sneak preview of MAK exhibition presented by Dr Fabbri