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Sharjah Cultural Awards Forum Honors Four Tunisian Writers

The 15th edition of the Sharjah Cultural Awards Forum pays tribute to four distinguished Tunisian writers. WAM
The 15th edition of the Sharjah Cultural Awards Forum pays tribute to four distinguished Tunisian writers. WAM
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Sharjah Cultural Awards Forum Honors Four Tunisian Writers

The 15th edition of the Sharjah Cultural Awards Forum pays tribute to four distinguished Tunisian writers. WAM
The 15th edition of the Sharjah Cultural Awards Forum pays tribute to four distinguished Tunisian writers. WAM

The 15th edition of the Sharjah Cultural Awards Forum unfolded in the Tunisian city of Sidi Bou Said, paying tribute to four distinguished Tunisian writers, Emirates News Agency (WAM) reported Thursday.

The writers are Dr. Al Manji Al Kaabi, Al Tahami Al Hani, Dr. Fawzia Al Zaouq, and Salem Al Shaabani.

According to WAM, the forum comes in implementation of the directives of Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, to honor literary figures who have contributed to serving contemporary Arab culture and it is held for the third time in Tunisia after celebrating, in two previous sessions, an elite group of Tunisian writers.

The honoring ceremony took place at the Nejma Ezzahra Palace in Sidi Bou Said in the presence of Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Owais, Head of the Department of Culture in Sharjah; Dr. Hayat Qatat Al Qarmazi, Tunisian Minister of Cultural Affairs; Dr. Iman Al Salami, UAE Ambassador to Tunisia; Professor Muhammad Ibrahim Al Qasir, Director of the Department of Cultural Affairs, alongside a distinguished gathering of intellectuals, writers, and the families of the honorees.

“Today, we gather for the 15th session of the Sharjah Cultural Awards Forum, honoring four Tunisian writers—a testament to the robust cooperation between the Sharjah Department of Culture and the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, culminating in the forum being hosted in Tunisia for the third time,” said Al Owais.

Al Qarmazi conveyed gratitude to the Ruler of Sharjah, commending the initiative that transcends borders and celebrates cultural figures throughout the Arab world. She lauded the Department of Culture in Sharjah for its unwavering commitment to recognizing Arab creators and showcasing their intellectual and literary contributions through the "Sharjah Cultural Awards Forum."

The awardees acknowledged Sharjah's significant cultural endeavors in fostering creativity and honoring creators.

Al Owais and Al Qaseer, along with Al Qarmazi and Al Salami, presented certificates of appreciation to the four honorees, bearing the signature of Sharjah’s ruler, in acknowledgment of their outstanding creative contributions.

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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."