Athr Foundation fosters creativity with Bait Shouaib open studio

Special Athr Foundation fosters creativity with Bait Shouaib open studio
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Badr Ali, Tamara Kalo and Alana Alireza. (AN Photo)
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Updated 28 March 2024
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Athr Foundation fosters creativity with Bait Shouaib open studio

Athr Foundation fosters creativity with Bait Shouaib open studio
  • Bait Shouaib offers an immersive and supportive environment, fostering creativity and cultural exchange among the rich heritage of its surroundings
  • During the residency, artists learned about the Al-Balad district from the perspective of a local inhabitant, resulting in studio presentations and site-specific installations

JEDDAH: The Athr Foundation has launched the first open studio at Bait Shouaib, an artists’ residential program located in the heart of Al-Balad. 

Bait Shouaib offers an immersive and supportive environment, fostering creativity and cultural exchange among the rich heritage of its surroundings.

During the residency, artists learned about the Al-Balad district from the perspective of a local inhabitant, resulting in studio presentations and site-specific installations.

One artist, Badr Ali, told Arab News: “My memories of Al-Balad were from childhood, where my mom warned me of its rough and dangerous nature. Coming from Germany, I took a hiatus from art and decided to join this residency for inspiration. I was struck by the district’s homogeneity and outdated toys, sparking research on their intended audience. These toys, originally meant for Umrah migrants, now seem out of touch with today’s tech-savvy kids.”

He added: “Through my art, I explore the irony of these toys in a district that has undergone gentrification. My painting highlights the decay of mass-produced toys, using glitter and embellishments to emphasize the contrast between superficial esthetics and inherent quality issues. This residency in Jeddah has been a unique experience, different from my previous ones in France, Germany, and the UK. The cultural nuances and art scene in Saudi Arabia have presented new challenges and inspirations for my work.”

The intimate perspective offered by the artists has deepened their understanding of Al-Balad’s rich cultural heritage. The night-time festivities during Ramadan added an extra layer of enchantment.

Artist Tamara Kalo said, “This residency program has been really inspiring. I feel like there are so many things I wanted to do and not enough time. But, also, that’s the beauty. Maybe it’s like you get to explore little bits and pieces of things that are inspiring, then you do what you can and it still opens doors for other things in the future.”

On her artwork, she said: “The bedspace is a realm of the subconscious, holding tensions of dreams and nightmares, comfort and discomfort. By intertwining my body with a green ribbon on the bed frame, I create a cage-like enclosure for imaginative safe space. The green screen material offers infinite representation possibilities, blurring the line between material and immaterial through video overlay. This references the virtual world as a collective subconscious that interrupts our rest. The roshan-turned-camera work brings the public into private space by capturing direct light reflections.”

And Abdulla Bahiji’s innovative approach to reimagining the urban landscapes of Jeddah and the Hejaz region involved transforming concrete blocks into biodegradable incense burners infused with scents and flora. 

Reflecting on his experience as a newcomer to Al-Balad, he said: “As a first-time dweller in Al-Balad, I found myself captivated by its essence, enveloped in a rich tapestry of scents ranging from Jawi bakhoor to fish, oud to meat. These fragrances not only altered my perception of time but also served as tangible markers of the city’s evolving narrative. Investigating the history of Al-Balad, I uncovered the remarkable resilience of the local businesses as they transitioned from traditional to medicinal products, showcasing the city’s adaptability.”

The curator of the open studio, Alana Alireza, said: “In my role I oversaw the coordination of two artists and a researcher to cultivate a harmonious and collaborative workspace. This led to the creation of a reflective essay inspired by my time in Al-Balad, exploring the themes of scent and nostalgia.”

Bait Shouaib, hosted by the Athr Foundation offers a transformative experience for artists worldwide. The four-week residency provides a fully equipped studio space and facilitates cross-cultural dialog, heritage exploration, and artistic development.


Architect Lina Ghotmeh to redesign British Museum’s Western Range Galleries

Architect Lina Ghotmeh to redesign British Museum’s Western Range Galleries
Model submitted by Lina Ghotmeh Architecture for competition
Updated 02 March 2025
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Architect Lina Ghotmeh to redesign British Museum’s Western Range Galleries

Architect Lina Ghotmeh to redesign British Museum’s Western Range Galleries

DUBAI: Lebanese-helmed architecture firm Lina Ghotmeh — Architecture (LG-A) will redesign the British Museum’s Western Range galleries after winning the contract in a competition.

The Paris-based firm, founded by Beirut-born Ghotmeh, will transform the museum’s historic building the houses some of the world’s greatest antiquities.

The competition for the project ran for nine months and attracted more than 60 teams. Five were shortlisted, including Reem Koolhaas and David Chipperfield, and were invited to take part in a two-stage competition, from which LG-A emerged as the winner.

Renderings of the proposed design by LG - A. (Supplied)

Gotmeh’s vision for the redesign for the galleries resonated with the judges due to its archaeological approach to the architectural design in what the museum is calling “one of the biggest cultural renovations undertaken anywhere in the world.”

“In Lina Ghotmeh we have an architect who combines a deep sensitivity to the history of our great collection while being a voice for the future,” said George Osborne, chairman of the British Museum and chair of the judging panel, in a statement. “We had many outstanding entries – and I thank the other practices for all their hard work – but I can say as chair of the judging panel, she was the standout winner.

“Her design ideas excited and enthused the trustees; when they become real buildings and galleries, we know they will excite and enthuse our millions of visitors,” added Osborne.

Lina Ghotmeh and Nicholas Cullinan in the Western Range. (The Trustees of the British Museum)

The judging panel comprised of experts in the field of architecture including Yvonne Farrell, Meneesha Kellay, Mahrukh Tarapor, and Sarah Younger. Alongside Nicholas Cullinan, director of the British Museum, were representatives from the British Museum’s Board of Trustees — artist Tracey Emin, Charlie Mayfield and Alejandro Santo Domingo.

Ghotmeh, who grew up in Beirut during the 1980s amid the Lebanese civil war, is known for her sensitivity when designing projects. In 2023, she designed the Serpentine Pavilion London, making her the second female architect to do so after Zaha Hadid. She has also been commissioned to design a contemporary art museum in AlUla, Saudi Arabia’s ancient desert region in the northwestern part of the country. In 2005, she won the international competition for the design of the Estonian National Museum while working in London and collaborating with Ateliers Jean Nouvel and Foster & Partners.

“The beauty of this project lies in how my work process is both confirmed and enriched by a project like the British Museum,” Ghotmeh told Arab News, adding how winning the project gave her “a feeling of sharing, of collective joy, an expression of deep humanity that arises from the connections and emotions these moments evoke.”

Renderings of the proposed design by LG - A. (Supplied)

Ghotmeh’s team also features Lebanese artist Ali Cherri, winner of the Silver Lion at the Venice Biennale in 2022, who is known for his art exploring cultural heritage, particularly in Lebanon and the wider Mediterranean, and geopolitics.

While prestigious, the redesign will be challenging. The Western Galleries, which comprise a third of the museum’s overall gallery space, total 15,650 square meters. The complex area includes the original 1850s buildings that were designed by Robert Smirke and later additions — all of which need to be renovated to meet present building standards. Many of the galleries contain important “heritage building fabric” the museum has said.

Ghotmeh also notes the feeling of responsibility in redesigning such an important museum, stating how she feels “the responsibility to bring our visions to life and continue this path of striving for quality and beauty.”

“Each project, for me, is a historical, material, and creative journey — like ‘archaeology of the future.’

“I am thrilled to design with a deep understanding of this museum — its history, the possibilities of what a 21st-century museum could be, the collection, its provenance, and the stories it should tell,” added Ghotmeh. “It’s about finding ways to engage with it, creating dialogue, and turning spaces into vessels. This is an opportunity to create extraordinary places that inspire a deep connection with the world.”


Health-conscious Ramadan recipes: Easy detox curry by chef Mayssam Abdulkhalek

Health-conscious Ramadan recipes: Easy detox curry by chef Mayssam Abdulkhalek
Updated 01 March 2025
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Health-conscious Ramadan recipes: Easy detox curry by chef Mayssam Abdulkhalek

Health-conscious Ramadan recipes: Easy detox curry by chef Mayssam Abdulkhalek

DUBAI: Executive chef Mayssam Abdulkhalek at Qatar’s Zulal Wellness Resort shares a clean eating recipe for iftar.

This detox curry is high in vitamins and minerals and low in calories due to the inclusion of beta-carotene-packed pumpkin, fiber-rich kohlrabi and cauliflower.

Billed as the Middle East’s first full immersion wellbeing resort, Zulal Wellness Resort’s offerings are based on the core tenets of traditional Arabic and Islamic medicine.

Detox curry

Ingredients: 

               30        gr                 Pumpkin                                    

              40       gr                   Kohlrabi

              20       gr                   Purple Cauliflower

              20       gr                   Cauliflower

              10       gr                   Mushroom

                1       gr          Sweet Basil

              40       gr          Coconut Milk

              60       ml          Vegetable Stock

              0.1      gr          Salt

                 2      gr          Coconut Sugar

Detox Curry Paste 

            250       ml                   Vegetable Stock

              50       gr           Red Chili

                1       gr           Kaffir Lime Leaf

              75       gr           Garlic

              50       gr           Galangal

Instructions:

Curry Paste

1. Peel all vegetables, cut thinly, and put in the blender.

2. Blend with vegetable stock until smooth in texture.

Curry

1. In a large saucepan, bring the coconut milk and curry paste to a boil over medium-high heat.

2. Whisk until smooth, about 2 minutes. Add the kohlrabi, cauliflower, pumpkin, and mushroom. Bring to a simmer until vegetables are tender.

3. Season with salt and coconut sugar.

4. Put sweet basil at the last before serving.


Charlie Cox and Vincent D’Onofrio tease intense Daredevil-Kingpin showdown in ‘Daredevil: Born Again’

Charlie Cox and Vincent D’Onofrio tease intense Daredevil-Kingpin showdown in ‘Daredevil: Born Again’
Updated 01 March 2025
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Charlie Cox and Vincent D’Onofrio tease intense Daredevil-Kingpin showdown in ‘Daredevil: Born Again’

Charlie Cox and Vincent D’Onofrio tease intense Daredevil-Kingpin showdown in ‘Daredevil: Born Again’
  • Disney+ releases 2-episode premiere March 5
  • Actors highlight characters’ evolving dynamics

DUBAI: Marvel fans are all set for a return to Hell’s Kitchen as Disney+ gears up for the release of “Daredevil: Born Again,” a revival of the beloved “Daredevil” series that originally streamed on Netflix.

The new show brings back Charlie Cox as Matt Murdock, the blind lawyer who moonlights as the horned vigilante, and Vincent D’Onofrio as Wilson Fisk, the formidable crime boss known as Kingpin.

Ahead of the show’s two-episode premiere on March 5, Cox and D’Onofrio shared insights into their characters’ evolving dynamics in a virtual press conference.

Cox assured fans that while Murdock remains fundamentally the same character, he faces new emotional and psychological challenges. “It’s hard to talk about without spoilers,” he said.

“Early on, Matt suffers a trauma that forces him to rethink and rediscover his identity in a way we haven’t seen before. He ends up going down a path that I’d describe as a Band-Aid that has to be ripped off slowly and painfully.”

The revival finds Murdock attempting to leave his vigilante past behind, only to be drawn back into a dangerous game as Fisk reemerges — not as a crime lord, but as a politician running for mayor of New York City.

Their conflicting paths set the stage for a fresh yet intense confrontation between the two.

D’Onofrio highlighted the rarity of direct face-offs between Daredevil and Kingpin, despite their deep-seated rivalry. “We’ve only been in five or six scenes together over the years,” he revealed.

“And that’s because when we do share a scene, it has to mean something — it’s always at the beginning of something, or the end, or sometimes both. It has to be intense.”

This time, the show takes a different approach, bringing the two adversaries together much earlier in the season. Cox explained that this shift creates a fresh dynamic.

“Bringing us together early on is something we haven’t done before,” he said. “It puts them in a position where they have to trust each other’s ability to stay true to who they say they are. That changes the game.”

D’Onofrio also offered a metaphorical take on the characters’ struggles. “We’re both broken men trying to live in the daylight,” he said. “It’s like vampires trying to walk in the sun — it’s a struggle.

“He’s got his thing, I’ve got my plan, and putting us together creates an unavoidable tension.”


Saudi artist Mawadah Muhtasib collaborates with Harrods for Ramadan and Eid

Saudi artist Mawadah Muhtasib collaborates with Harrods for Ramadan and Eid
Updated 28 February 2025
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Saudi artist Mawadah Muhtasib collaborates with Harrods for Ramadan and Eid

Saudi artist Mawadah Muhtasib collaborates with Harrods for Ramadan and Eid

DUBAI: London’s luxury department store Harrods announced on Friday its collaboration with celebrated Saudi calligrapher Mawadah Muhtasib for its Ramadan and Eid campaign. 

This is the third year in a row that Harrods has collaborated with an Arab calligrapher. 

Muhtasib is known for her Arabic calligraphy, using Muthana (mirror writing) and reverse script. Her work modernizes traditional calligraphy while keeping its original essence.

“Ramadan Kareem,” Mawadah Muhtasib. (Supplied)

For this collaboration, Muhtasib created two bespoke artwork pieces that blend Islamic floral motifs with her distinctive style. 

The first, featuring the message “Ramadan Kareem,” is set against a deep-blue backdrop, reflecting the spiritual ambience of Ramadan. 

The second design, adorned with “Eid Mubarak,” embraces a vibrant pink palette, symbolizing the joy and festivity of Eid celebrations. 

“Eid Mubarak,” Mawadah Muhtasib. (Supplied)

“I am thrilled to collaborate with Harrods to mark Ramadan and Eid this year,” Muhtasib said. “Arabic calligraphy holds a profound power beyond artistic beauty — it is a true reflection of heritage, culture and design that transcends all generations.

“For this collection, it was important for me to capture the harmony between the elegance of Arabic script and the beauty of nature. The floral illustrations of the design showcase the versatility of Arabic calligraphy, affirming its place in the world of luxury and design,” she said. 

Muhtasib’s creations will be showcased throughout Harrods’ Ramadan and Eid campaign, including their in-store displays, digital greetings, social content and in the iconic Knightsbridge food halls. 

Additionally, Muhtasib’s artwork will feature on Harrods’ Eid gifting packaging. 


Georgina Rodriguez visits children’s cancer center in Saudi

Georgina Rodriguez visits children’s cancer center in Saudi
Updated 28 February 2025
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Georgina Rodriguez visits children’s cancer center in Saudi

Georgina Rodriguez visits children’s cancer center in Saudi

DUBAI: Argentine model Georgina Rodriguez visited the King Fahd National Centre for Children’s Cancer this week to support young patients.

During her visit, Rodriguez hugged and spoke with the children, and joined in their play with the dolls. (Supplied)

She was joined by Monica Esteban, president of the Spanish charity, the Juegaterapia Foundation, as they distributed Baby Pelones dolls featuring a scarf designed by Rodriguez.

During her visit, Rodriguez hugged and spoke with the children, and joined in their play with the dolls.

She was joined by Monica Esteban, president of the Spanish charity, the Juegaterapia Foundation, as they distributed Baby Pelones dolls featuring a scarf designed by Rodriguez. (Supplied)

The visit is a part of the foundation’s efforts to create a supportive hospital environment through therapeutic play, which helps improve the emotional well-being of children with cancer.