Islamic Art - The Barakat Trust
A podcast from The Barakat Trust exploring the art, architecture and heritage of the Islamic world. Episodes spotlight artists, craftspeople, collections and cultural sites across different regions and periods. The show is produced by the UK-based charity that supports the study and preservation of Islamic art and heritage. Listeners get informed, accessible conversations about objects, traditions and the people keeping these arts alive.
Episodes
S6E8: The Arts and England's Early Relations with the Islamic World, with Jerry Brotton
Tune in to Jerry Brotton as he tells the story of some of England’s earliest interactions with the Islamic world, specifically the Saadi Sultanate of Morocco during the Elizabethan period. At this unique time, Queen Elizabeth I sought to forge alliances that could act as a bulwark against the Catholic kingdoms of Spain. The result was the arrival of Abdel Wahid al-Annuri, the Moroccan ambassador,
S6E7: Pointed Tips: Maghribi Script and the Arabic calligraphic tradition, with Umberto Bongianino
Join Umberto Bongianino as he walks us through one of the western Islamic world’s least appreciated artistic treasures: its calligraphy. For years, Maghribi calligraphy has been treated as amateurish, archaic, and unruly in contrast with the highly theorised conventions of Mashriqi calligraphy in the so-called centre of the Islamic world of Egypt, the Levant, and Anatolia. In this episode, Umberto
S6E6: A Shrine Online: The Case of Emamzadeh Yahya at Varamin, with Keelan Overton
In the city of Varamin, some 50km southwest of Tehran, lies the Shrine and Mausoleum of Emamzadeh Yahya, a site of pilgrimage and veneration for Shi’i Muslims.During the nineteenth century, all of the shrine’s luster tiles, including its mihrab, were stolen and then dispersed to museums worldwide.The focus of this podcast is the project, supported by The Barakat Trust, that has sought to reunite t
S6E5: The Shrines of Alexandria’s Lake Maryut region, with Ismael Awad
On the periphery of Alexandria in the surrounding countryside is the Lake Maryut region, a vast expanse of flat agricultural land that used to be Lake Maryut, now just 18% of its earlier size. The lake separated the city of Alexandria from the rest of the country further south. Yet despite the shrinking of the lake and integration of the rural hinterland with the city during the 20th century the c
S6E4: Renewal in West Africa: The Great Mosque of Djenné with Michelle Apotsos
This month’s podcast takes us to the far south-west of the Islamic world, to the Inner Nigel Delta in Mali where stands the Great Mosque of Djenné in all its magnificence. Join Michelle Apotsos as she discusses the story of this vibrant place of worship built solely out of mud and wood at the centre of a town with deep historical links south to the Atlantic coast and north across the Sahara desert
S6E3: Through Uzbekistan: Histories of the Persianate World, with Fuchsia Hart
This month’s podcast episode takes us through Uzbekistan along the route that The Barakat Trust took on our trip to the country in November 2025. We begin in Tashkent before moving to Samarkand and finishing in Bukhara, exploring a number of architectural sites, crafts and traditions along the way. In our discussion we ask how the richness of Uzbekistan’s cultural heritage came to be considered on
S6E2: The Story of a Stone: Fatimids in Ethiopia, with Mikael Muehlbauer
This month’s podcast episode takes us to Ethiopia, specifically the rock-cut church of Wuqro Cherqos in Tigray where a tantalisingly cryptic piece of carved stone can tell us a whole story of interconnection up and down the Red Sea. This is a journey of merchants, artistic ideas, and political power in a place where you may not have expected it.Our guest is Mikael Muehlbauer, Lecturer in the Disci
S6E1: The Armenian Architects of the Ottoman East, with Alyson Wharton-Durgaryan
In this new podcast episode, the first in our series on Peripheries, we discuss the place of Armenian architects in the towns and cities of eastern Anatolia in the late Ottoman empire. Our guest is Alyson Wharton-Durgaryan, Honorary Senior Fellow at the University of Lincoln, where she has taught for ten years in the School of Humanities and Heritage. In 2026, she’ll take up a new two-year fellows
S5E8: Islamic Silver in a Viking Treasure Hoard, with Jane Kershaw
Join us in this episode as we discuss the exciting finds from the Bedale hoard in North Yorkshire, England. In 2012 a group of amateur metal detectors discovered a hoard of late 9th century Viking silver in Bedale. The items found were ingots, necklaces, arm-bands, and a sword pommel. What makes this particular collection peculiar is that when the silver used to make the items was scientifically a
S5E7 The Mamluks: A Louvre Exhibition, with Carine Juvin
Join curator Carine Juvin as she discusses the fascinating topic of her new exhibition at the Louvre: The Mamluks. Listen as she goes beyond the usual discussion of war and plunder, and dives into the rich world of Mamluk culture and society: from how the sovereignty of slave-soldiers changed monumental architecture, to what that world was like for women, and from how the Mamluks affected European
S5E6 Ancient Arabia: A New UNESCO Site, with Juan de Lara
Join Juan De Lara as he takes us on a tour through the colourful history of Arabia's Qaryat al Faw; a fascinating gem in the desert rich with treasure-laden tombs, frescoes of Egyptian goddesses, statues of Greek demigods, and marvellous inscriptions. Listen in as Juan discusses the wonders of the Incense Routes, the brilliance of the famed Nabataeans, and the importance of this site for unde
S5E5 Teaching Islamic Art in Schools, with Rizwan Iqbal
Join Rizwan Iqbal as he explores how to get young people excited about Islamic art. Listen as he details the problems faced, solutions he has discovered, and the exciting work he has done as part of our Hands On Islamic Art project, which connects the wider UK to Islamic art collections, with funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
S5E4 Seals of Sumatra, with Annabel Gallop
Join Annabel Gallop as she takes us to the Indonesian province of Aceh, where she introduces us to the Ninefold Seal, and through it, takes us on a tour through Mughal power, Chinese trade, European conquest, and the wonderful artistic expression of the people of Sumatra.
S5E3 Lost Libraries of Tunis, with Laura Hinrichsen
Join Laura Hinrichsen as she walks us through her fascinating new research, reconstructing the great libraries of 16th century Tunis, once thought completely lost, by hunting down fragments scattered across the world. Listen as she explores the great conquest that destroyed these libraries, the sort of things you could read there, and the clever ways we might go about finding the contents of lost
S5E2 Material Power: Palestinian Embroidery, with Rachel Dedman
Join Rachel Dedman as she explores the beauty and politics of Palestinian textiles. Listen as she discusses her work on the current Material Power exhibition in the UK, whose public programme was part of our Hands On Islamic Art project which works to engage the UK public with Islamic art.
S5E1 Gaza: Art History & Lost Monuments, with Leena Ghannam
Join Leena Ghannam as she walks us through an often unfamiliar aspect of Gaza: its art, architecture, and monuments. Listen in as she takes us through mermaid monuments and golden markets, from temples of Aphrodite to masterpieces of modern art, exploring from the conquests of Alexander until the recent annihilation of many of these precious sites. Hear a side of Gaza we don't often hear: cre
S4E12 Unearthing Ottoman Greece, with Konstantinos Politis
Join Konstantinos Politis as he digs through the long history of the Greek city of Chalkida, from its war-altering strategic importance to its lush date farms. Listen as he discusses his work, as a grantee of The Barakat Trust, exploring the town's Ottoman Heritage, discovering several mosques, and navigating the complexities of Greek identity and how it can incorporate the history of post-Cl
S4E11 West Asian Weaving, with Nour Hage
Join Nour Hage as she weaves a story of textiles in West Asia, from bridal practices, to talismanic symbols, to Nour's own work as an artist. Listen as she discusses her work on Leighton House's recent Kheit exhibition, as part of our Hands On Islamic Art project which works to engage the UK public with Islamic art.
S4E10 Delicious Delicacies, with Nawal Nasrallah
Join Nawal Nasrallah for a delectable dive into the world of Medieval North African cooking. Learn the connection between ostrich eggs and eggplants, how we have been stuffing birds wrong this whole time, and the brilliant historical stories behind these recipes. Listen as Nawal discusses her work translating centuries-old cookbooks to access an art of history that is so often forgotten. This podc
S4E9 Saladin: Between Man and Myth, with Abdul Rahman Azzam
Join Abdul Rahman Azzam for a discussion of espionage and honour, history and technology, as he explores the life and legacy of one of history's greatest leaders: Saladin. Listen now to learn where the man meets the myth, why he has endured so strongly in the popular consciousness, the extent to which he impacted the lives of those often thought unconnected to him, and how Abdul Rahman Azzam
S4E8 Aga Khan Award for Architecture, with Farrokh Derakhshani
Join Farrokh Derakhshani for an inside look into the 2022 Aga Khan Award for Architecture, one of the most prestigious architectural awards in the world. Find out how one is awarded this notable prize, hear about the latest winners, and learn how the creation of the award changed the understanding of architecture forever.
S4E7 Jeddah: Crossroads of the World with Ahmad Angawi
Join celebrated artist Ahmad Angawi as he explores how Jeddah has been influenced by many cultures, from Morocco to Indonesia, and how Jeddah has influenced them back. Learn about the cultural exchanges that pilgrimages brought, explore the traditional woodworking that Ahmad is helping to keep alive, and discover how traditional crafts can cooperate with this rapid technological world not only to
S4E6 The Power of the Visual with Ulrike Al-Khamis
Join Ulrike Al-Khamis for an inside look at the Aga Khan Museum's latest exhibition in Toronto, Canada. IMAGE? The Power of the Visual explores image-making over the centuries, exploring through the lens of Islamic art from across many periods and cultures. We are surrounded, in fact inundated, by images and we often have little time to contemplate their deeper meaning; IMAGE? aims to open th
S4E5 Olive Oil Empires with Anna Leone
Join Anna Leone for a tour through time as she explores life in North Africa from the Roman era to today. Find out how (olive) oil has been driving the world economy since antiquity, how you can tell a lot about a time period by its frying pans, and how superstitions about their brothers defined how Amazigh women weave their textiles.
S4E4 Saudi Modern with Abdulrahman and Turki Gazzaz
How did the discovery of oil transform Saudi Arabia's cities and its architecture? How can art and architecture come together to capture the spirit of modernism in a nation known more for tradition? Join this conversation with Abdulrahman and Turki Gazzaz, two architect brothers, to discover how their curiosity to understand their home city of Jeddah led to the rise of "Saudi Modern,&qu
S4E3 Secret Geometry with Wael Sabry and Seif El Rashidi
Join Wael Sabry on his quest to save the ancient craft of Kundekari - complex wooden geometry. Sabry is tracking down the few remaining master carpenters in Turkey and Egypt, trying to learn their carefully-guarded secrets, hidden even from father to son. Discover how he is using technology to save this remarkable craft from disappearance and inventing new machinery that might give this craft
S4E2 Decoding Arms and Armour with Arthur Bijl
Join Arthur Bijl, Hutton McRoberts Assistant Curator of Ottoman, Middle Eastern and Asian Arms and Armour at The Wallace Collection for a fascinating conversation about the social history of arms and armour. Discover how what we think of as 'weapons' today were once also fashion statements, works of art, and status symbols in the pre-modern age.
S4E1 Revealing Esna: An Egyptian Hidden Gem with Kareem Ibrahim
Join Kareem Ibrahim, an architect and CEO of Takween Integrated Community Development, as he reveals an Egyptian hidden gem, the ancient city of Esna, and an innovative project to introduce sustainable tourism through community "site-doing"rather than site-seeing!
S3E14 Andalusia's Great Inventor: Ibn Firnas, with Glaire Anderson and Seif El Rashidi
Join Glaire Anderson for a fascinating conversation about one of great inventors of Andalusia: Abbas Ibn Firnas, who successfully invented a glider plane in the 9th century, and undertook the first known flight when in his 60s! Find out about this fascinating man, his many inventions, and the relationship between science and religion in Muslim Spain.
S3E13 Ephemeral Palaces and Eternal Poetry of Iraq - Matt Saba & Seif El Rashidi
Join Matt Saba for a fascinating conversation about the magnificent palaces built by the Abbasid Caliphs of Iraq. This dynasty realised that kingdoms invariably rose and fell, and that the longest lasting legacy of the reign would be literature.This podcast is part of Converging Paths, an initiative organised by Asia House and the Barakat Trust exploring the arts and cultures of the Islamic World
S3E12 Heritage is Ours - May Al-Ibrashy and Seif El Rashidi
May Al-Ibrashy, conservation architect and founder of Megawra Built Environment Collective and al-Athar Lina (Heritage is Ours!), talks to us about the projects she is leading to preserve historic Cairo, putting the community first. May discusses the recently completed Imam Shafii Conservation Project - one of the most magnificent buildings of historic Cairo, and the opportunities and challenges o
S3E10 The Making of a Master Calligrapher - Bilal Badat and Seif El Rashidi
The Making of a Master Calligrapher - Bilal Badat and Seif El RashidiJoin Bilal Badat, master calligrapher and scholar for a conversation about the meaning of Islamic calligraphy. Badat explains calligraphy not just as a craft but as a means of transmitting and glorifying sacred knowledge. He shares fascinating on the making of calligraphers - the way in which the long training process is as mu
S3E9 The Jewel of Damascus - Alain George and Juan de Lara
Alain George shares his most recent book research on the Mosque of Damascus, an incredible building in Syria that is a living testament to better our understanding of community relations between Pagans, Christians and Muslims during the formative years of Islam.This podcast is part of Converging Paths, an initiative organised by Asia House in partnership with the Barakat Trust that promotes the ar
S3E8 Epic Iran - Tim Stanley and Juan de Lara
Tim Stanley, co-curator of the blockbuster exhibition 'Epic Iran' at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, shares with us the challenges of putting together such ambitious exhibition, and the rewarding effect it has caused around the public. The show is the major survey on Iranian art history since 1931, and is pioneer by the inclusion of art from pre-history to modern times, evidenc
S3E7 Meeting for Coffee: Ottoman Style – Doğukan Atmaca and Seif El Rashidi
Featuring in our new Young Perspectives series, Doğukan Atmaca explores the emergence of coffeehouses in Istanbul, and the way in which coffeehouse culture spread like wildfire despite accusations that cafes were the source of political unrest and seduction.This podcast is part of Converging Paths, an initiative organised by Asia House in partnership with the Barakat Trust that promotes the arts a
S3E6 Retracing the Silk Roads – Christopher Wilton-Steer and Seif El Rashidi
Join photographer and writer Christopher Wilton-Steer on a colourful journey of five months through the many Silk Roads to discover the cultures, peoples, traditions, flavours and beliefs he encountered on this magnificent odyssey.This podcast is part of Converging Paths, an initiative organised by Asia House in partnership with the Barakat Trust that promotes the arts and cultures of the Islamic
S3E5 Iraq: Seeking Inspiration in Tradition - Mysa Kafil-Hussain and Juan de Lara
Mysa Kafil-Hussain explores the changes that Iraqi art went through to form a unifying identity across the nation by revitalising aspects of ancient folklore and traditional art. This podcast is part of Converging Paths, an initiative organised by Asia House in partnership with the Barakat Trust that promotes the arts and cultures of the Islamic World.
S3E4 Discovering Arabia - Robert Hoyland and Juan de Lara
Professor Robert Hoyland takes us on a journey through time to discover the many faces that inhabited the ancient Arabian Peninsula, evidencing a much more multi-cultural and cosmopolitan world than what it is often assumed.This podcast is part of Converging Paths, an initiative organised by Asia House in partnership with the Barakat Trust that promotes the arts and cultures of the Islamic World.
S3E3 Searching for Minarets in the Mountains - Tharik Hussain and Seif El Rashidi.
Tharik Hussain, Journalist and travel writer speaks to us about his projects to discover and tell the stories of Muslim Europe, include trails he worked on reveal and share the stories of Muslim Britain, and his upcoming book, "Minarets in the Mountains," the outcome of his journey in search of Muslim Europe, following in the footsteps of a 17th century Turkish Ottoman traveler, Evliya C
S3E2 Why Art History!? - Wendy Shaw and Juan de Lara
Wendy Shaw, professor of Islamic Art History at the Free University of Berlin, reflects on the importance of 'Art History' as a discipline to engage with the different narratives that conform our history and a subject that provides the means by which we can gain a different perspective by assuming a different way of being in the world. This podcast is part of Converging Paths, an initi
S3E1 Art, Revolution & People's Voices - Bahia Shehab and Seif El Rashidi
Artist, educator and activist Bahia Shehab discusses the role of artists during times of political change, and reflects on what it meant to take part in the Arab Spring. Shehab discusses her newly-published book ‘You Can Crush The Flowers: A Memoir of the Egyptian Revolution,’ and her work to help develop a new generation of creative minds through arts education.
S2E9 Who are the Parsis? - Sarah Stewart and Juan de Lara
S2E8 Reviving the Cradle of Hindustani Culture - Ratish Nanda and Seif El Rashidi
Ratish Nanda, CEO of Aga Khan Trust for Culture India, tells us about his work at the organisation and how they worked on the transformation of neighborhoods and communities based on their needs. Nanda along his team has been able to revive and reinvigorate public spaces in India, creating new places for recreation, in particular gardens--giving people a new perspective on their environment.This p
S2E7 Contextualising the Occult - Liana Saif and Juan de Lara
Episode 7. Contextualising the Occult - Liana Saif and Juan de LaraLiana Saif explores how divination, talismans, amulets and ritual have helped people address social anxieties and cultural challenges throughout history.This podcast is part of Asia House Arts in Isolation Series and Converging Paths, an initiative organised in partnership with the Barakat Trust that promotes the arts and cultures
S2E6 The Taj Mahal - Mehreen Chida-Razvi and Juan de Lara
S2E5 A World of Pearls - Robert Carter and Seif el Rashidi
Professor of Arabian and Middle Eastern Archaeology at UCL, Robert Carter, tells us about the importance of pearl trade in the Gulf and India, and with over 7,000 years of history defining and shaping the global economy. This podcast is part of Asia House Arts in Isolation Series and Converging Paths, an initiative organised in partnership with the Barakat Trust that promotes the arts and cultures
S2E4. The Epics of Heroes – Jaimee Comstock-Skipp and Seif El Rashidi
Jaimee Comstock-Skipp, PhD candidate affiliated with Leiden University, takes us on a magic journey to learn more about the mythical spine of Iran: Firdausī’s Shāhnāma epic.This podcast is part of Asia House Arts in Isolation Series and Converging Paths, an initiative organised in partnership with the Barakat Trust that promotes the arts and cultures of the Islamic World.
S2E3 A Journey to Mount Sinai - George Manginis and Juan de Lara
George Manginis, Academic Director at the Benaki Museum in Athens, sheds light on the importance of the Monastery of St. Catherine in Mount Sinai, Egypt—the bridge between Asia and Africa. George will reveal, how unlike popular belief, the monastery has been an important place of pilgrimage for three Abrahamic religions alike: Christendom, Islam and JudaismThis podcast is part of Asia House Arts
S2E2 The Story of Coffee – Nancy Um and Seif El Rashidi
Nancy Um, professor of Art History at Binghamton University, takes us on a journey to discover the stories and myths associated to one of the largest commodities of modern world, coffee. This podcast is part of Asia House Arts in Isolation Series and Converging Paths, an initiative organised in partnership with the Barakat Trust that promotes the arts and cultures of the Islamic World.
S2E1 Cultural Resilience in a Changing World - Salma Tuqan and Juan de Lara
Salma Tuqan, Deputy Director of Delfina Foundation and former Contemporary Middle East Curator at the V&A, gives us a better insight of the thriving and resilient cultural scene experienced in the Levant countries of the Mediterranean, in particular Lebanon, Palestine and Jordan. Through her sounded expertise, Salma explains the several ways in which the region has faced the challenge of crisi
S1E18 The Spirit of Hagia Sophia - Bissera Pentcheva and Juan de Lara
The Hagia Sophia has featured in thousands of books and treatises throughout the centuries, many of which have praised the awe-inspiring spaces of this architectural feat. Yet recently, the building has made headlines for very different reasons, as politics and heritage become entangled. In this week’s podcast, Professor Bissera Pentcheva helps us to navigate the complex story of the Hagia Sophia,
S1E17 The Importance of the Moon – Ulrike Al-Khamis and Juan de Lara
The Moon has been a revered orb for civilizations from all over the world. It provides gentle light during the night, sets the calendars and regualtes the tidal force. Ulrike Al-Khamis explores our fascination with this mystical celestial body and looks at the role it has played in faith, science, and the arts across the Muslim world and beyond. This podcast is part of Asia House Arts in Isolation
S1E16 A Matter of Perspective – eL Seed and Juan de Lara
eL Seed works in the public sphere, for the people and most of the time, with the people. During this interview eL Seed sheds light into his career, his projects democratising art and on his roots, to reveal the ingredients that form his unique sense of perspective and community cohesion. This podcast is part of Asia House Arts in Isolation Series and Converging Paths, an initiative organised in p
S1E15 Rethinking Identities: Iran & Beyond – Sussan Babaie and Seif El Rashidi
Dr Sussan Babaie offers an illuminating conversation about how we, as a society, deal with misconceptions and stereotypes regarding our past and own cultures. She uses the example of Iran to reflect on these and other issues such as identity, education and rethinking cultural boundaries. This podcast is part of Asia House Arts in Isolation Series and Converging Paths, an initiative organised in pa
S1E14 China & the Other – Nixi Cura and Juan de Lara
Nixi Cura gives us a comprehensible historical insight on how has China dealt with the different ethnicities and minorities that form the modern-day country, and reflects on why trade is important to build up tolerance and harmonious coexistence.This podcast is part of Asia House Arts in Isolation Series and Converging Paths, an initiative organised in partnership with the Barakat Trust that promo
S1E13 The Sanctuary at the Heart of Islam – Simon O’Meara and Seif El Rashidi
The Kaaba is the sanctuary at the heart of Mecca, where over one million pilgrims from around the world gather every year, and towards which the world's 1.8 billion Muslims pray. Join Dr Simon O'Meara for a fascinating conversation about the Kaaba and how Muslims have written about it over the centuries. This podcast is part of Asia House Arts in Isolation Series and Converging Paths,
S1E12. A Game of Thrones - Tarek Swelim and Seif El Rashidi
Professor Tarek Swelim shares with us a remarkable time in history full of political conflict, intrigue and of course, beauty: Mamluk Egypt. Follow us on this inspiring journey to discover the savage outcome of this dynasty. This podcast is part of Asia House Arts in Isolation Series and Converging Paths, an initiative organised in partnership with the Barakat Trust that promotes the arts and cult
S1E11. Storytelling: The Art of Greater Being – Alia Alzougbi and Juan de Lara
Join BAFTA-nominated artist, Alia Alzougbi, in this inspiring and thought-provoking tale about individuality, self-overcoming and our role within a community. Alia’s practice is based on storytelling techniques and traditions and, as well as performing, she curates and produces cultural events. Alia is renowned storyteller, educator and cultural producer. She is Head of Global Learning London and
S1E10 The Forgotten Kingdoms of India - Navina Haidar and Seif El Rashidi
Navina Haidar, Curator in Charge of the Department of Islamic Art at the Metropolitan Museum of New York, takes us on an inspiring journey to South India and the sultanates of the Deccan. This was a land of great natural wealth that produced striking art and a culture of tolerance—a land where at least one sultan saw himself as both the ‘son of Ganesh' and a follower of Muhammad. This podcast
S1E9 World Trade & Art: The Malay World- Michael Backman and Juan de Lara
Gallerist, economist and author Michael Backman reveals the importance and key role of the Malay world in the history of economy, business and trade; and discusses how the fluidity of the Malay world and its interaction with the rest of the world has impacted on its art.This podcast is part of Asia House Arts in Isolation Series and Converging Paths, an initiative organised in partnership with the
S1E8 The Fascination of Islam - Anna Contadini and Juan de Lara
Professor Anna Contadini takes us through an evocative journey to discover the fascination and curiosity that Islamic art and intellectual thought inspired in the pre-modern European thinkers and scholars, and how that fascination—led by wonder and awe—resulted in the creation of some of the most beautiful cultural dialogues in the history of mankind. This podcast is part of Asia House Arts in Iso
S1E7 The Crusades - Monarchs and Merchants - Scott Redford and Seif El Rashidi
Archaeologist and professor Scott Redford opens our eyes to better understand the Crusades, a period which is usually seen a bloodshed, but that meant much more than that to the vibrant cultural development of the Mediterranean even to our days.
S1E6 The Gardens of Palestine - Lara Zureikat and Seif El Rashidi
Gardens have had a special place in mankind's history, from the Garden of Eden to the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, humans have always attempted to surround themselves with nature. Gardens in Islam have also been a popular design device that was present in many houses or palaces. The Palestinian Museum Gardens are an exploration of landscape as an expression of identity at the intersection of n
S1E5 Ottoman Complexities - With Edhem Eldem and Juan de Lara
Edhem Eldem reflects on the past, multiculturalism and Orientalism taking the Ottoman Empire as a case study. This podcast is part of Asia House Arts in Isolation Series and Converging Paths, an initiative organised in partnership with the Barakat Trust that promotes the arts and cultures of the Islamic World.
S1E4 God is Beautiful and Loves Beauty – Doris Behrens Abouseif and Seif El Rashidi
Doris Abouseif shares her research on concepts of beauty and objects from the Islamic past.This podcast is part of Asia House Arts in Isolation Series and Converging Paths, an initiative organised in partnership with the Barakat Trust that promotes the arts and cultures of the Islamic World.
S1E3 Art in Peril - With Layla S. Diba and Juan de Lara
This week's podcast brings you a story of loss, but also of hope. Layla S. Diba narrates her experiences directing the Negarestan Museum in Tehran—and how it was erased from history. She also reflects on the importance of culture in protecting our identity.This podcast is part of Asia House Arts in Isolation Series and Converging Paths, an initiative organised in partnership with the Barakat
S1E2 Can we learn from the past? With Nasser O. Rabbat and Seif El Rashidi
By expanding our experience to the lives of men and women in different times and places, history teaches us valuable things both about others and ourselves. With the current threat of COVID-19, the world seems to navigate towards the unknown. However, we might be able to learn from history? MIT Professor Nasseer O. Rabbat gives his view on the currect socio-economic situation.This podcast is part
S1E1 New with Old - Islamic Art at The British Museum - Venetia Porter and Juan de Lara
Venetia Porter walks us through her experience curating the Albukhary Foundation Islamic galleries of the British Museum, how the collection grew bigger with contemporary art, how institutions are reacting to the coronavirus threat and what is making the young further engage with heritage and culture.This podcast is part of Asia House Arts in Isolation Series and Converging Paths, an initiative or
