New Book by Balkis Sharara Documents the life of Her Husband Rifat Chadirji

New Book by Balkis Sharara Documents the life of Her Husband Rifat Chadirji
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New Book by Balkis Sharara Documents the life of Her Husband Rifat Chadirji

New Book by Balkis Sharara Documents the life of Her Husband Rifat Chadirji

Dar Al Mada publishing house, Iraq, has released a new book entitled “Rifat Chadirji,” featuring the biography of the prominent architect written by his wife Balkis Sharara.

The book details the journey of Chadirji and his great architectural achievements, in addition to his books on modern architecture.

In her book, Sharara opens-up about her life with her husband, their acquaintance, marriage, and his death in mid-2020. She also speaks about his family and its role in the contemporary history of Iraq, mostly his father, Kamil Chadirji, one of the most important national and political figures in the country since the establishment of the Iraqi state in the past century.

Although Balkis Sharara explored many aspects of her life with Rifat Chadirji in her two previous books that revolved around the detention of her husband and his life sentence in 1978, however, her new work reveals many details from the architect’s life, experiences, and achievements, in addition to his unique experience in photography, as well as his connections inside and outside Iraq.

“Over two months after loosing Rifat, my companion, I felt the loss of time, and recalled his words ‘I don’t have a time to waste.’ Time is precious and we should take advantage of it. But time has become abundant, and I never dreamed of such abundance. First, I didn’t have the courage to sit behind my desk or even to start writing. However, the idea of writing about him was chasing me, so I started. When I finished the first chapter, I found this experience is a reminder of the importance of Rifat’s achievements. I knew him in our everyday life, and now, I introduce him through his ideas and efforts…After I finished this book, I felt relieved and discovered new sides in my late husband.” Sharara writes in her book.



Najdi Doors: Portals to Cultural Legacy in the 2025 Year of Handicrafts

The year 2025 has been designated the Year of Handicrafts in the Kingdom to reinforce handicrafts as authentic cultural heritage
The year 2025 has been designated the Year of Handicrafts in the Kingdom to reinforce handicrafts as authentic cultural heritage
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Najdi Doors: Portals to Cultural Legacy in the 2025 Year of Handicrafts

The year 2025 has been designated the Year of Handicrafts in the Kingdom to reinforce handicrafts as authentic cultural heritage
The year 2025 has been designated the Year of Handicrafts in the Kingdom to reinforce handicrafts as authentic cultural heritage

The year 2025 has been designated the Year of Handicrafts in the Kingdom to reinforce handicrafts as authentic cultural heritage. This initiative aims to promote the practice, preservation, documentation, and integration of handicrafts into contemporary life, celebrating an ancient cultural legacy central to people's identity.

The designation seeks to support artisans, enhance their skills, and prevent traditional crafts from fading. It emphasizes manual crafts that utilize simple tools, without relying on modern technologies, the Saudi Press Agency said on Sunday.

Prominent crafts include Sadu weaving, mud building, wood carving, pottery, hand embroidery, and palm frond products like baskets and mats. Engraving doors with Najdi motifs is another traditional art for which the Najd region is renowned.

An SPA reporter interviewed artisans skilled in Najdi door engraving.

Ali Al-Jasser shared his journey from wooden installations to three-dimensional wooden pieces that blend tradition with contemporary art. He noted the regional variations in engravings: Najdi in the center, Al-Qatt Al-Asiri in the south, Rawashin in the west, Bab Al-Bahr in the east, and Sadu in the north.

Nouf Al-Suwailim highlighted that Najdi door engravings are key elements of traditional architecture in the Najd region, embodying its cultural and urban identity. She described the doors' elegant designs, featuring geometric and floral motifs enhanced by decorative iron nails.