Exhibition ‘Buildings That Fill My Eye: The Architectural Heritage of Yemen’ Travels to Berlin
The MBI Al Jaber Foundation is the main sponsor for “Buildings That Fill My Eye: The Architectural Heritage of Yemen”, a photographic exhibition which will open shortly at the Pergamonmuseum in Berlin. It will be available to the public from 13th July until 14th October 2018. The exhibition is also supported by Gingko, SOAS, the London Middle East Institute and the ‘Freunde der Museum für Islamische Kunst’ (Friends of the Islamic Culture Museum).
The aim of this event is to share the treasure-troves of Yemen’s architectural and, more broadly, its artistic heritage and to raise awareness of its cultural and historical importance. The exhibition also reveals that Yemen’s heritage is threatened by an ongoing conflict that has continued since 2015. In addition to the humanitarian crisis and loss of life, key archaeological sites, museums and historic buildings have been damaged or even obliterated. All three of Yemen’s ancient cities on the UNESCO World Heritage list – Shibam, Sana’a and Zabid – are now endangered and numerous other monuments have been destroyed in the war.
Trevor Marchand, Emeritus Professor of SOAS and curator of the exhibition, took the photographs during his PhD studies in Yemen, the country at the core of the event. The building techniques that the Yemeni people have passed on from one generation to the next and the endangered heritage will be the main motif of this breath-taking display of photographic material.
A book accompanying the exhibition presents insights into various aspects of Yemen’s heritage in the form of 21 articles by different specialists. This publication was sponsored by the MBI Al Jaber Foundation, as well as Gingko, who also published the book. A percentage of the money made from the sale of the book will be donated to UNHCR in favour of the Yemeni people.
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