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Saudi Darah, Iraq’s NLA Agree to Exchange Copies of Historic Documents

Saudi Darah, Iraq’s NLA Agree to Exchange Copies of Historic Documents
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Saudi Darah, Iraq’s NLA Agree to Exchange Copies of Historic Documents

Saudi Darah, Iraq’s NLA Agree to Exchange Copies of Historic Documents

King Abdulaziz Foundation for Research and Archives (Darah) and Iraq National Library and Archives (NLA) have agreed to exchange copies of documents and historic references to enhance the national archive of each of the two countries.

Darah and Iraq’s Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Antiquities, represented by the NLA, signed an extension of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) that they had signed in Riyadh on March 31, 2021.

The signing today emanates from the two sides’ aspiration to activate the articles of the MoU, which stipulated the necessity of signing subsequent agreements to clarify mechanisms and expenditures.

Darah CEO Turki bin Mohamed Al-Shuwaier and Iraq Minister of Culture, Tourism and Antiquities Ahmed Fakkak Al-Badrani signed the extension to the MoU.

The two sides agreed to exchange copies of documents and other historical references related to the history of the countries to support their national archives, state news agency SPA reported.

They agreed on the mechanism for exchanging historical and documentary references, scientific publications, and documentaries to promote cultural and historical diversity and introduce the national identity of both brotherly countries.

Also, they agreed on exchanging visits between specialists and technicians of both sides in the fields of documentation, indexing, electronic archiving, digital preservation and restoration and preservation of documents with the aim of acquiring expertise and expanding knowledge in the technical field.

The two sides agreed to exchange invitations to hold documentary exhibitions and joint seminars in accordance with the national events in each country.

They also agreed on the formation of a joint committee between the two parties, which includes experts and specialists to set up a mechanism to follow up on implementation rates and open new cooperation horizons.

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Iran Artist's Vision For Culture Hub Enlivens Rustic District

Arabesque patterns feature in Yazdi's creations © ATTA KENARE / AFP
Arabesque patterns feature in Yazdi's creations © ATTA KENARE / AFP
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Iran Artist's Vision For Culture Hub Enlivens Rustic District

Arabesque patterns feature in Yazdi's creations © ATTA KENARE / AFP
Arabesque patterns feature in Yazdi's creations © ATTA KENARE / AFP

In the winding alleys of southern Iran, artist Adel Yazdi has taken it upon himself to turn his rustic old neighbourhood into a cultural and tourist hub through vibrant paintings and carved relief faces.

Narenjestan, a neighbourhood characterized by crumbling, uninhabited houses, is nestled in Shiraz, a southern city celebrated for its historic architecture, lush gardens and revered poets.

"Most of the dilapidated walls in old Shiraz have no historical value," said Yazdi, a bushy-bearded, bespectacled 40-year-old artist who has dedicated himself to revitalising Narenjestan, AFP reported.

Yazdi has over the years turned the long-neglected neighbourhood walls into a vivid visual tapestry "telling the stories of the people living here," he said.

Arabesque patterns and relief faces carved with intricate details and painted in an array of vivid hues of greens, pinks, blues and purples now adorn the walls.

With its striking designs and bright colors, Yazdi's art can be reminiscent of Surrealism. It often comes across as surprising, showcasing a different side of Iran's artistic heritage that goes beyond the conventional focus on Persian or Islamic architecture.

The artwork includes the face of Scheherazade, Yazdi said, referencing the legendary storyteller from the "One Thousand and One Nights" collection of folktales.

Yazdi's work stands out in Shiraz where graffiti and murals are rare, becoming a social media sensation and a tourist attraction.

One visitor, Mahdieh, discovered Yazdi's murals through Instagram.

"I arrived in Shiraz yesterday... and it was the first site I wanted to visit," said the 40-year-old, who declined to give her last name.

At the end of one alleyway, Yazdi has established his workshop in a century-old building with small rooms encircling a serene garden.

He also lives in the building, with a traditional Persian architectural style.

It is filled with artefacts and sculptures, resembling a museum warehouse.

To Maedah, a 30-year-old engineer, Yazdi's house brings to mind "other historical places in the city, such as the Eram Garden and the Mausoleum of the Poet Hafez".

Yazdi said he drew inspiration from the Pompidou Center in Paris, a cultural hub that transformed the heart of the French capital in the 1970s.

He hopes his efforts can turn Shiraz's alleyways into even more of a vibrant cultural center as well.

At his residence, visitors are particularly drawn to what Yazdi calls "the Finger Room."

Inside, he installed around 14,000 finger sculptures on the ceiling, all pointing downward.

"The room is inspired by the legend of an angel that counts raindrops with thousands of fingers," he said, referring to an Islamic fable.

"These fingers are there to constantly remind us that the present moment is precious and that we must seize it."