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Monday, July 2: Ailsa at Where’s my backpack? has created a new travel theme for this week: art. She writes: One of the things I love most about art is how it can restore the spirit. Art can be interpreted in so many ways, I’d love to see your take on the theme.
I never see any kind of street art, as such, in Oman. So I have to go to art galleries or places where artistic work is featured. Here is a painting of Omani women in the Bait Muzna Art Gallery in Muscat by Rabha Mahmood. You can find more of her beautiful paintings on Facebook at Oman Art. I find Omani women’s headscarves and clothing are very colorful and artistic in and of themselves.
I love the softness, the dreaminess of this painting
I love this piece by Tahira Fida, who is fascinated by communication and the means the human race have employed. Her work is rich in symbols, characters and letters from different languages, especially the ancient ones such as Aramaic and Hieroglyphic. I love this painting of an Omani door. In every village, you find unusual old doors, especially in the abandoned ruins. This is her painting of a door.
An Omani door is always a piece of art in and of itself
Finally, mosaics play a big part in art all over the Arab world. Here is a mosaic found at the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque in Muscat.
mosaics
a nomad in the land of nizwa 
Beautiful – particularly the mosaics, of which the Muslim world must be – despite their Chinese antecedents – the world masters. And I love he door, of course, being a bit of a “door whore” myself. Great entry all around:)
Thank you very much Wanderlust Gene!
🙂
Simply gorgeous, all of them. The mosaic is terrific, and I too love the softness and the lines of the first one – I could stare at it for hours, but that door… wow.
Thank you Ailsa. You don’t really see the kind of street art in Muscat that you see in other cities. But I’ll post one soon in Hanoi that is similar to your subway mosaic….
are you obliged to wear headscarves too?
No, thank goodness! In Saudi Arabia I would be required to. But all the women here, except more modern women in Muscat, wear them. I don’t know how they stand it, Frizz, in this heat. They also wear the black abaya. Temperatures are always hot here in Oman, even in winter, but now they are regularly 45C or more!
Beautiful selection! Love all three, but agree that the door is particularly lovely!
Thank you Madhu. Just a note, in case you didn’t notice, that it’s a PAINTING of a door, not a real door.. 🙂
I did notice 🙂
Ahhh, good. I think yours was my second comment about the door, and honestly I’ve never seen an actual door this beautiful, although there may very well be some!
I agree, the painting of the Omani women is soft and dreamy – it looks like it was done with pastels. I love mosaics, and the one pictured is beautiful, but doors are really appealing and I really like that painting. I would hang that one in my house
Carol, last evening I heard from the woman who did that painting. I wrote her back to ask if it’s a painting or pastel, but I haven’t heard back. I’ve added her name to the post and a link to her Facebook page where you can see more of her artwork. I love the door painting as well.
That painting of a door could inspire one to paint!
You are so right Jo! If only inspiration was all it took (and not talent ~ of which I have none!)
Such a beautiful mosaic…I would also love to hang such a masterpiece in my house! If only…
Yes Ameena, wouldn’t that be wonderful to have one in your house, on a wall for example? 🙂
Terrific interpretation of the challenge. I love old, ornate doors AND mosaics. 😉 If you come across more old doors in your travels in Oman, take pics and post them for us.
Thank you Ruth! I love the old doors and mosaics too, so when I find them I will certainly share! 🙂
Love your choice of art. It’s difficult to choose which I like the best, but I think the door wins out. 😉
The painting is so ethereal and I love the door and mosaics of course – Islamic arts are just superb.
Yes, Gilly, I love Islamic arts as well… 🙂
Outstanding… especially the door …
Thank you Paula!