Ithra will be present at the Beijing International Book Fair, which will be held from June 19-23, and the Seoul International Book Fair, which will be held from June 26-30
Participation is part of Ithra’s wider mission to promote cross-cultural exchange, raise awareness and foster understanding through knowledge-sharing
Updated 13 June 2024
Arab News
DHAHRAN: King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture, also known as Ithra, will be present at two of the most prominent cultural events in Asia this summer.
The events are the Beijing International Book Fair, which will be held from June 19-23, and the Seoul International Book Fair, which will be held from June 26-30.
This participation is part of Ithra’s wider mission to promote cross-cultural exchange, raise awareness and foster understanding through knowledge-sharing.
This book tour will also launch the Mandarin and Korean versions of “Al-Mu’allaqat for Millennials,” a collection of 10 pre-Islamic Arabic qasidahs, or odes, each considered among the most important pieces penned by Arab poets of the 6th century.
The selection represents a shining example of early Arabic poetry. The book is intended to educate new generations about the social and philosophical values of those ancient poems.
Ithra Library will showcase its status as one of the largest and most technologically advanced in the Middle East and solidify itself as a world-class destination for readers from around the globe, offering a variety of resources and tools.
“Ithra is a cultural landmark not just in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, but across the Arab World and the globe as well,” Tariq Khawaji, cultural advisor to Ithra, said.
“Our goal at BIBF and SIBF is to expand our reach and encourage greater collaboration, cultural exchange and knowledge sharing. Our presence here serves as a window into our offering, our country and our culture. We are excited to share and start conversations that lead to deeper understanding and continued positive cultural exchange.
“Last year, the Ithra Library had over 700,000 visitors. We successfully conducted more than 100 reading club sessions, 15 programs, and around 175 cultural sessions,” added Khawaji.
“Our library’s programs are not exclusive to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” he continued. “Some of our initiatives now take place in seven cities across the globe and we are hoping to expand that further.”
The Beijing fair, now the second largest book fair in the world, attracts more than 2,600 exhibitors from more than 100 countries and regions every year.
The Seoul fair has been South Korea’s largest book fair for around 70 years and is considered an important platform in the publishing industry.
Ithra Library, housed within the headquarters of Ithra in Dhahran, is a four-story structure, covering more than 6,000 square meters, and is home to over 340,000 books in English and Arabic.
The library applies the latest technologies and tools, including RFID technology that streamlines book borrowing, as well as a smart book returning and sorting system. The library offers free internet, and supplies interested parties with computers for research and study purposes.
The first digitally integrated library in the Kingdom, Ithra’s Digital Library serves as a digital haven of over 50,000 free e-books and audiobooks available to book lovers from across the globe, as well as over 7,000 newspapers and magazines available in 60 languages.
DUBAI: Here are highlights from Sotheby’s upcoming autumn auctions of ancient and modern art from the Arab world.
Mohammed Al-Saleem
‘Untitled’
Last week, Sotheby’s Dubai hosted an exhibition of highlights from the auction house’s upcoming bi-annual Middle Eastern art week at its headquarters in London, which involves two auctions — “Arts of the Islamic World and India” and “Modern and Contemporary Middle East.” The exhibition included centuries-old Islamic artefacts from the Arab world, alongside canvases by some of the region’s most significant modern and contemporary artists. Among the latter was this untitled work by Al-Saleem, described by Sotheby’s as “one of Saudi Arabia’s foremost modern artists” who “has greatly contributed to the growth and evolution of art in the Kingdom.” The painter “belonged to a faction of cultural development in Saudi that sought a balance between the modernist and traditionalist aesthetics. Central to the artist’s oeuvre is a mediation between abstraction and figuration, in which he employs geometric forms to capture his surroundings,” the auction house states. This particular piece is expected to fetch up to £100,000 (roughly SAR500,000) at auction later this month.
Umayyad bronze buck
The highlight of the “Arts of the Islamic World and India” auction is this exceptionally rare bronze sculpture dating back to the 8th century CE, which is expected to fetch up to £3 million at auction. It is, Sotheby’s states, “indisputably one of the finest known animal sculptures from the Umayyad and early Abbasid period” and “one of only two known animal sculptures with a documentary inscription, recording the name of both its maker (Abdallah ibn Thabit) and patron (Ubaydallah ibn Jabir).” The is remarkable not just for its age and condition, but for its aesthetic merit. “Its cylindrical body gains movement by the sloping line that runs from the buck’s head to its deep rounded chest,” Sotheby’s notes. “This line shifts the visual weight slightly towards the rear, subtly emphasized by the angle of the animal’s well-articulated legs. It is as if he is tensing as he maintains his alertness…” A report compiled for Sotheby’s by Dr. Julian Raby concludes: “The buck … is a major addition to our understanding of figurative sculpture in the second century of the Hijra … It also happens to be a wondrous and sophisticated object in its own right.”
Leaf from Arabic translation of Dioscorides’ ‘De Materia Medica’
Between 50 and 70 CE, Greek physician Pedanius Dioscorides wrote his five-volume encyclopedia of herbal medicine, which remained the leading reference on the topic for more than 1,500 years and was used extensively across Europe and the Middle East, with the original text and illustrations being copied multiple times. This double-sided, illustrated leaf comes from an Arabic translation produced in Mesopotamia in the 13th century. “In the Arab context, the text was important not just for its pharmacological and medical information, but also for its role in developing the art of manuscript illumination,” Sotheby’s notes. This leaf, it continues, is an example of the School of Baghdad miniatures and “marks the bridge between the classically rooted Byzantine style of book illustration of the Late Antique period and the genesis of what would later be termed by Western scholars ‘Persian painting.’”
Ayman Baalbaki
‘7ay Jober’
The portrayal of war — whether through his expressionist portraits of fighters or paintings of ruined urban landscapes — has been a constant theme throughout the career of Baalbaki, one of Lebanon’s most popular contemporary artists. In this work, created in 2014, the artist shifted his focus from his homeland to the civil war raging in neighboring Syria, specifically the Jober district of Damascus. “Baalbaki’s works during this time mark an enduring commitment to communicating the plight of regional conflict,” Sotheby’s states. “Harnessing materiality and texture, Baalbaki presents a flurry of skillfully arranged, gestural strokes, harnessing emotion through mark-making.”
An illuminated Qur’an copied by Ya’qut Al-Musta’simi in 1275-6 CE
Sotheby’s describes Al-Musta’simi as “by far the most famous calligrapher in the history of Islamic art” whose “works have — for over 700 years — been among the most sought-after examples of the Islamic arts of the book.” This example of his work, written in naskh script, is “an exciting addition to a very small corpus of manuscripts reliably attributed to the calligrapher, and provides an insight into the workings of the royal scribal ateliers of Baghdad in the late 13th century.” According to the auction house, this is the only known Qur’an by Al-Musta’simi “not housed in a major library or museum.” It is expected to fetch between £600,000 to 800,000.
A group of 12 pottery dishes from Abbasid Iraq
This set of iridescent bowls is thought to have been created in the ninth or 10th century CE in Abbasid Iraq. It “perfectly showcases the decorative technique of lusterware — one of the most sophisticated, expensive and difficult of the period — by potters who sought to imitate the shine of gold,” Sotheby’s states. “These beautiful examples offer a rich array of designs, from animal motifs to abstract palmettes.”
Recipes for success: Chef Benjamin Clement offers tips and advice on cooking
Updated 04 October 2024
Hams Saleh
DUBAI: Having helped three different restaurants achieve three Michelin stars, French patissier Benjamin Clement was quite a catch for La Petite Maison, where he is currently group pastry chef, overseeing the menu and training at several outlets, including in Riyadh, a position he has held since 2022.
Clement says his passion for pastry began at “a very young age,” experimenting in his family’s kitchen. He studied at the Lycée Hôtelier Les Petites Bruyères in France, earning a degree in food, baking and pastry.
Here, Clement discusses tasting, tang, and teamwork.
Carpaccio of Yellowtail. (Supplied)
What was the most common mistake you made when starting out?
Not fully engaging with the process of tasting. Just as our brains require time and effort to develop and learn new concepts, our palate also needs to be trained to recognize and appreciate a wide range of flavors. Tasting is not a passive experience; it demands focus, attention, and practice to truly grasp the intricacies of different tastes and their unique characteristics.
What’s your top tip for amateur chefs?
Cook your meals with love, because no flavor can compare to that of a dish made with heart and dedication. When you take the time to prepare food with care, passion, and attention to detail, it elevates the meal. The love you put into the process infuses every bite, turning simple ingredients into a memorable experience that nourishes both the body and the soul. There’s a special kind of magic in food crafted with thoughtfulness, transforming it into much more than just a meal; it becomes a true labor of love.
Snails. (Supplied)
What one ingredient can enhance any dish?
For me, lemon juice is a vital element of seasoning. Its bright, tangy acidity cuts through richness and adds a refreshing layer of complexity, lifting and balancing flavors in a way few other ingredients can. Whether it’s a splash in a marinade, a finishing touch on a salad, or a dash over grilled fish, lemon juice brings out the best in other ingredients.
When you go out to eat, do you find yourself critiquing the meal?
I make an effort not to, as it can detract from the emotional connection and joy of the dining experience. That said, there are times when my natural inclination to analyze kicks in, and it becomes challenging to immerse myself fully in the moment — my tendency to dissect the flavors, presentation, and technique can sometimes prevent me from enjoying the meal as purely as I’d like.
What’s your favorite cuisine?
French. It holds a special place in my heart because it evokes fond memories of home. The rich flavors, elegant presentations, and the wide variety of dishes transport me back to cherished moments shared over meals with family and friends. The artistry and attention to detail in French cooking truly captivate me, making each dining experience not just a meal but a delightful journey down memory lane.
La Petite Maison. (Supplied)
What’s your go-to dish if you have to cook something quickly at home?
Pasta. It’s incredibly easy and fast to make, and it also offers endless versatility in terms of toppings, sauces, and flavors. Whether it's a simple aglio e olio, a rich marinara, or something creative like a pesto with seasonal vegetables, pasta allows me to experiment while still being time-efficient. The flexibility is what I love most, as it lets me mix and match ingredients based on what I have on hand, so I never get bored of it.
What customer behavior most frustrates you?
Today, appearance often takes precedence over flavor. Social media certainly influences this trend, as many guests prioritize capturing the perfect photo over fully enjoying their meal. As a result, dishes are frequently assessed based on their visual appeal rather than the overall dining experience. This shift highlights the importance of aesthetics in attracting attention, but it can sometimes overshadow a genuine appreciation of taste and flavor.
What’s your favorite dish to cook? And why?
Roast chicken with potatoes is a classic French family dish typically enjoyed during Sunday meals. What makes this dish even more special is that it’s often prepared using home-grown ingredients, adding a personal touch and a burst of fresh flavor to the meal. It always reminds me of a leisurely Sunday gathering around the dining table with loved ones, celebrating the simple pleasures of home-cooked food made with care and love.
What’s the most challenging dish for you to get right?
A Floating Island. It’s a classic dessert — simple and elegant, but mine never quite measures up to my mom’s version. Her take on this traditional dish is truly special; the way she balances the airy meringue with the velvety custard and adds her own unique twist makes it unforgettable. Each bite transports me back to my childhood and fills me with warmth and nostalgia.
As a leader, are you a disciplinarian? Or are you more laidback?
Early on, I was more of a disciplinarian, believing that strict guidelines and expectations were the keys to success. But as I gained experience, I realized that each individual responds differently to different styles of leadership and that led me to understand the profound importance of fostering strong, trusting relationships with my team members. When they feel valued and understood, they’re more motivated and engaged, which ultimately means higher performance. So emphasizing connection and empathy in my leadership has made for a more positive and productive work environment.
Chef Benjamin’s La Petite Duchesse Rose recipe
INGREDIENTS
Choux pastry:
96g water
96g whole milk
Sprinkle of salt
Sprinkle of caster sugar
90g butter
108g flour
180g whole eggs
Craquelin:
75g butter
90g sugar
90g flour
Pink colorant
Crème Légère jasmin:
300g whole milk
60g jasmine tea
50g egg yolk
56g caster sugar
32g cornflour
37.5g butter
Raspberry compote:
1500g frozen raspberry
500g caster sugar
30g pectine
45g lemon juice
Pink glaze:
1500g cream
1100g neutral glaze
16 gelatine leaf (gold)
1750g Ivoire chocolate
Q.S pink colorant
Raspberry ganache:
150g raspberry frozen puree
75g whipping cream
275g white chocolate
20g butter
INSTRUCTIONS:
Bring the water, whole milk, salt, caster sugar and butter to a boil.
Remove from the heat and add the flour, stirring until it forms a dough.
Return the dough to medium heat and cook for a couple of minutes to dry out the Pâte à Choux.
Transfer the dough to a mixer and add whole fresh eggs one at a time. Pipe the dough into 10g and 20g portions. Preheat the oven to 210°C, place the Pâte à Choux inside, and turn off the oven for 10 minutes. Afterward, bake at 180°C — eight minutes for the small choux and 12 minutes for the larger ones.
Mix all remaining ingredients together, then roll the dough and place it in the freezer.
Cook the custard for two minutes at a boil. Add the gelatin and butter at the end, then mix and allow to cool in the fridge. Once cooled, smooth the custard using a KitchenAid with a paddle attachment. Gently fold in 60g of whipped cream using a spatula (Maryse), then transfer the custard to a piping bag.
Defrost the frozen raspberries with caster sugar (1). Mix pectin NH with caster sugar (2) and add it to the raspberry mixture. Cook until it reaches a boil, then continue cooking for two minutes. Add lemon juice and cool the mixture in the fridge.
Bring the cream and neutral glaze to a boil, then melt the gelatin into it. Pour over Ivoire chocolate and mix thoroughly. Add the food coloring using a hand blender, strain the mixture, and bring the glaze to 28°C for glazing.
Bring raspberry purée and whipping cream to a boil, then pour over white chocolate. Create an emulsion, and when the mixture reaches 40°C, add butter. Store in a container with cling film directly touching the surface and place in the fridge.
ASSEMBLY
Fill the choux buns with the jasmine cream and raspberry compote.
Dip each choux in the pink glaze.
Place the small choux on the top of the big choux.
Decorate with raspberry ganache, fresh raspberry, and edible flowers.
‘FC 25’ — EA’s football simulation is as addictive as ever, for better or worse
Updated 04 October 2024
Adam Grundey
DUBAI: As makers of the most popular video-game simulation of the world’s most popular sport, Electronic Arts could churn out any old rubbish and still make billions of dollars. Thankfully, the company’s not (quite) that cynical yet.
Instead, “FC 25” (the second iteration of EA’s soccer sim since losing its long-standing FIFA license) brings a significant overhaul of the in-game tactics system with the introduction of FC IQ, giving you even more control over the minutiae of the mentality and movement of your team and players. Want your fullbacks to slide into central midfield when you’ve got possession like all the hippest teams now do? No problem. Want your center forward to operate as a false nine, dragging the opposition’s center backs out of position? Can do. And the roles you assign really do make a difference to the way you can play the game. It’s a positive addition.
As is the new mode Rush — a frantic and fun multi-player co-op 5-a-side game (the goalkeepers are AI-controlled) in which you pick a member of your squad to play with and team up with four friends (or strangers). Rush is part of Ultimate Team, which remains the heart of the game (and the main source of income for EA) — essentially a card-collection game with some football thrown in: to really do well at it, you either need to be a pro-level gamer or be willing to spend more real-world dollars to get a shot at landing the elite-level players you’ll require to really compete at the top level. And EA is getting cannier and cannier at persuading gamers to part with their cash.
Money-grubbing aside, “FC 25” is another almost-excellent sim that really does feel immersive and authentic when you’re playing it. “Almost-excellent” because there are still flaws, from the nightmarish graphical glitches when players collide to the continuing frustrating imbalance that means slower players quickly become a hindrance, no matter how great their talent — making Harry Kane, for example, less desirable for most ‘managers’ than a much lower-rated speed merchant in attack.
For all of that, with its one-time arch rival “Pro Evolution Soccer” (now “eFootball”) continuing to fail to impress, and with no sign of an official FIFA-sanctioned game this year, “FC 25” gives football fans enough thrills and depth to justify buying it.
Inside Afikra: Born in New York, the collective has been cultivating curiosity and community for a decade
‘We were this small community of 15 people. Now we’re hosting events at the Lincoln Center,’ says founder Mikey Muhanna
Updated 03 October 2024
Jasmine Bager
RIYADH: In 2014, Lebanese millennial Mikey Muhanna was living in New York. Despite having a healthy social scene swirling around him, he yearned for a community in which he could connect with fellow Arabs in a way that made sense to him and his “nerdy” sensibility. His brainchild, Afikra — a platform for salon-style community gatherings — was born out of a personal quest to reconnect with his Arab roots.
In doing so, he unknowingly embarked on a journey that would eventually lead him to become the steward of a unique global movement.
An Afrika event in Bahrain in 2019. (Supplied)
As a former school teacher, Muhanna was inspired by the Pen League, a collective of active Arabs and Arab-American wordsmiths living in New York a century before. He, too, wanted to collaborate and collide with fellow Arab residents in the area who wanted to explore and reflect upon their heritage and their sense of belonging. He didn’t want to linger on stereotypes associating Arabs with violence and oppression; he wanted to exchange ideas about other Arab identities and histories, to be part of something that went deeper than a text book or social media.
He started small with a humble gathering of like-minded people in Brooklyn, hosting Afikra nights first in his own apartment, and then in those of other members.
Fast-forward to 2024, and Afikra (which roughly translates to “and by the way”) now has more than 200,000 members globally and has become a brand in its own right. When people see the Afikra logo, they know they can expect quality content that is invigorating, interesting and informative. Muhanna now has a trusted team of staff and volunteers that he relies on to get the message out and the work done.
“We were this small community of 15 people. Now we’re hosting events at the Lincoln Center, which is crazy,” Muhanna tells Arab News. In the week beginning Sept. 24, Afikra was celebrating its 10th anniversary with a few famous friends on stage — including architect Rami Abou Khalil, Sudanese singer Alsarah, Lebanese-British journalist Zahra Hankir, and Moroccan-American author and political scientist Hisham Aidi — at locations across New York, including the aforementioned Lincoln Center.
The success of Afikra lies not in its numbers, but in its spirit. It’s a place where curiosity reigns supreme, where the pursuit of knowledge is a shared experience and where members of the global Arab diaspora come together to explore and redefine the cultural landscape of the Arab world — especially during these turbulent times.
Muhanna, who is now based in Lebanon, knows that Afikra has become a vital archival resource for the future. It provides a platform for people from the Arab region to be taken seriously within the wider world (with its Afikra Academy, the organization offers free lesson plans and material for teachers and students). It is a place where “hope” lives, Muhanna says.
There is also an Afikra podcast; an array of book-club meetings, film screenings and workshops; and strategic partnerships with institutes including Qatar Museum, NYU Abu Dhabi, Jameel Arts Center and the British Council. Its members and organizers are constantly exploring new ways to amplify Arab stories and lessons. Nobody in the Afikra world is “stingy” with their knowledge, Muhanna says, everyone is there to make the space more informed than when they came in.
Omar Offendum, Mona Miari and Zafer Tawil perform in New York on Sept. 24 as part of Afikra’s 10-year anniversary celebrations. (Supplied)
Afikra doesn’t encourage passive consumption, instead, it invites participants to actively engage on some level — whether by asking questions or answering them, or both. Through its curated series of talks, interviews and workshops, Afikra provides a platform to delve into diverse topics ranging from classical Arab literature to modern art, from regional politics to architectural heritage.
“We’re trying to get people to contribute... not just come and see and be seen,” Muhanna explains. “We want you to generously contribute.” That is the essence of Afikra — every voice matters, learning is reciprocal and the lines between teacher and student blur.
“The last 10 years have been kind of this act of relocating myself with all these people,” he continues. “We’re all redefining the topography of the Arab world in our imaginations, but also in real life.”
This idea is central to Afikra. It’s about creating a space where the rich, multifaceted history of the Arab world can be explored in its entirety—the good, the bad, the complex, and the confusing. By doing so, it is helping to shape a more nuanced understanding of the Arab world. At its core, Afikra is about intellectual curiosity.
“We are essentially a collection of our interests,” Muhanna says. “We’re telling people you are allowed to engage in those interests.”
The Afikra community is geographically diverse, but there’s a sense of shared purpose and responsibility that unites it. As Muhanna puts it, “You have inherited this region, and you’re trying to be a steward of this region and try to make it the best version of itself.”
Over the past decade, Afikra has hosted more than 400 events, featuring scholars, artists and thought leaders from across the Arab world and its diaspora — from its signature “Conversations” series, in which experts are interviewed on subjects ranging from poetry to archaeology, to its “Salon” talks, in which community members present research on topics of personal interest. These events, many of which are available for free online, have attracted a wide and diverse audience.
What’s particularly noteworthy is the extent to which Afikra has managed to remain inclusive and accessible. Unlike many academic or cultural institutions, Afikra doesn’t cater solely to experts or scholars or to the elite influencers. Instead, it welcomes everyone, from those deeply entrenched in Arab studies to those just beginning their journey of exploration.
Afikra operates regular chapters in numerous cities, including New York, Beirut, Berlin, Marrakesh, London, and, of course, Riyadh.
For Muhanna, the success of Afikra is not just about numbers or algorithms; it’s about the impact the platform has had on individuals and the community at large — and on him personally.
“The responsibility is immense, for sure,” he says. “But the joy is immense, too.”
Dutch Moroccan DJ and producer R3hab promises Saudi gig
Updated 01 October 2024
Shyama Krishna Kumar
DUBAI: Dutch Moroccan DJ and record producer R3hab plans to return to Saudi Arabia before the end of the year, he told Arab News, hot on the heels of a busy six-month period during which he has hit the decks in Finland, China, Spain and beyond.
The DJ, who took to the stage at the E-Sports World Cup in Riyadh alongside Wiz Khalifa this summer, said in an interview with Arab News. “I’ve been to Riyadh many times, the energy of the city is unique. I really love performing in Saudi Arabia, the crowd energy is something else,” he said.
Asked if his Saudi fans will get to see him again soon, R3hab said: “All I can say is I’ll be back in Saudi before the end of the year and I can’t wait to play all the unreleased music I’ve been working on in the last months.”
R3hab’s love story with the Kingdom does not end there. He shot a music video for his track “Run Till Dark” at the historic city of AlUla.
“The ‘Run Till Dark’ shoot was exceptional. AlUla has so much history and we shot in some amazing locations. One that I won’t forget is Gharameel — this is a stunning desert reserve with beautiful natural stone pillars unlike anywhere else in the world. We were lucky to be the first film featuring this incredible site,” he said.
Last month, R3hab released two singles, each a collaborative effort.
On his track “Gozalo” with Deorro, he said: “It’s been 10 years since Deorro and I produced our hit ‘Flashlight.’ We thought it’s time to get in the studio together again and combine his Latin influence with my energetic vision.”
And on his more recent release, “All Night,” a collaboration with Sophie and the Giants, he praised the artist’s vocal talent and shed light on the track’s pop influences.
“Sophie’s voice stands out and I wanted to work with her on a record since I heard ‘Hypnotized.’ ‘All Night’ is a party anthem to keep us all dancing towards the end of the summer, it has a retro influence with a dance-pop touch.”
The second half of the year has been as busy as the first for the jet-setting producer with appearances at Dreambeach Festival (Spain), WKND Festival (Finland), Unseen Festival (Thailand), Smukfest (Denmark), Ministry of Sound (UK), Mysteryland (The Netherlands), EDC China and the Mega DJ Festival (South Korea).
“Touring can get very intense, so I take special care to recover, exercise and eat well on tour. The motivation is simple — the people. Connecting with the crowd every time I go on stage is a very rewarding feeling and my main drive,” he said.
