Syrian Refugee Describes Struggle with Nightmares in 'Black Forest'

Syrian Refugee Describes Struggle with Nightmares in 'Black Forest'
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Syrian Refugee Describes Struggle with Nightmares in 'Black Forest'

Syrian Refugee Describes Struggle with Nightmares in 'Black Forest'

Ramina Books, London, has recently released the “Black Forest” novel by Germany-based Syrian novelist Mazen Arafa.

The story takes place in a city, southern Germany, where a Syrian refugee lives in struggle from “war trauma”. The title of the book reflects the darkness in his spirit caused by the terror he saw during the war and how it still haunts him through nightmares.

One day, the refugee wakes up without a memory, in a safe “European city” that has no people, without knowing how he arrived there. He lives alone with illusions and surrealistic nightmares, and his unconsciousness manifests in worlds of madness and absurdity.

These worlds not only express the terror he’s keeping inside him, but also the cultural trauma of a refugee living in a cold, emotionless western community after he was used to the eastern intimacy and warmth in his country. But his temporary break outside the “mental therapy resort” helps to draw a real image of the social environment he lives in, in an attempt to explain his nightmares.

The protagonist’s fight with his terror eventually leads him to record his story in the “memories’ trees”, a real tree in the forest with a hole that contains a notebook in which passerby write down their stories.

The cover of the 206-page book, is designed by Yassine Ahmadi, and features a painting of the Kurdish-Syrian artist Khodr Abdul Karim.



Ministry of Culture Unveils New Typefaces Inspired by Saudi Heritage

Ministry of Culture Unveils New Typefaces Inspired by Saudi Heritage
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Ministry of Culture Unveils New Typefaces Inspired by Saudi Heritage

Ministry of Culture Unveils New Typefaces Inspired by Saudi Heritage

The Ministry of Culture announced the launch of two new typefaces, the Al-Awwal and the Saudi. Both typefaces, which celebrate the Kingdom’s culture, will be available to individuals and organizations wishing to use them in formal, design, artistic and creative works, according to SPA.
The Ministry of Culture worked to implement the Al-Awwal and the Saudi typefaces, inspired by using the distinctive artistic features of Arabic script, to preserve the characteristics of early calligraphy and inscriptions. Al-Awwal is a thoughtful reimagining of a handwriting style that takes many of its cues from the inscriptions of the first Hijri century. The Al-Awwal typeface integrates modern calligraphy techniques to closely emulate the letter forms in the early stages of development, connecting the present with the origins, foundations and early history of the region.

The Saudi typeface is partly inspired by Al-Awwal and embodies creative ingenuity whilst maintaining the aesthetic of the Kingdom’s historical heritage.
Minister of Culture Prince Bader bin Abdullah bin Farhan said: "The launch of the Al-Awwal and Saudi typefaces is a tribute to the Kingdom's vast cultural and aesthetic heritage. Each typeface serves as a bridge between the past and the present, merging traditional elements with contemporary design principles. This harmonious blend not only honors the Kingdom’s legacy but also inspires innovation.”
The development of the two typefaces began with a historical foundation and archaeological elements, representing the ancient Arabic writings, and reflecting the style of ancient scripts. Both typeface designs are based on creative thinking and interdisciplinary integration among manuscript studies, art history, linguistics, design and digital programming. Designed to celebrate the beauty of Arabic calligraphy, these typefaces enhance aesthetic proportions and spacing between letters, words, lines, dots and diacritics.