Best Asia House Arts and Learning Podcasts (2024)

1
Teaching Islamic Art in Schools, with Rizwan Iqbal 35:43

2h ago35:43

35:43

Join Rizwan Iqbal as he explores how to get young people excited about Islamic art. Listen as he details the problems faced, solutions he has discovered, and the exciting work he has done as part of our Hands On Islamic Art project, which connects the wider UK to Islamic art collections, with funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.…

1
Seals of Sumatra, with Annabel Gallop 27:36

26d ago27:36

27:36

Join Annabel Gallop as she takes us to the Indonesian province of Aceh, where she introduces us to the Ninefold Seal, and through it, takes us on a tour through Mughal power, Chinese trade, European conquest, and the wonderful artistic expression of the people of Sumatra.By Asia House Arts and Learning

1
Lost Libraries of Tunis, with Laura Hinrichsen 26:00

2M ago26:00

26:00

Join Laura Hinrichsen as she walks us through her fascinating new research, reconstructing the great libraries of 16th century Tunis, once thought completely lost, by hunting down fragments scattered across the world. Listen as she explores the great conquest that destroyed these libraries, the sort of things you could read there, and the clever wa…

1
Material Power: Palestinian Embroidery, with Rachel Dedman 23:22

4M ago23:22

23:22

Join Rachel Dedman as she explores the beauty and politics of Palestinian textiles. Listen as she discusses her work on the current Material Power exhibition in the UK, whose public programme was part of our Hands On Islamic Art project which works to engage the UK public with Islamic art.By Asia House Arts and Learning

1
Gaza: Art History & Lost Monuments, with Leena Ghannam 30:25

6M ago30:25

30:25

Join Leena Ghannam as she walks us through an often unfamiliar aspect of Gaza: its art, architecture, and monuments. Listen in as she takes us through mermaid monuments and golden markets, from temples of Aphrodite to masterpieces of modern art, exploring from the conquests of Alexander until the recent annihilation of many of these precious sites.…

1
Unearthing Ottoman Greece, with Konstantinos Politis 24:42

8M ago24:42

24:42

Join Konstantinos Politis as he digs through the long history of the Greek city of Chalkida, from its war-altering strategic importance to its lush date farms. Listen as he discusses his work, as a grantee of The Barakat Trust, exploring the town's Ottoman Heritage, discovering several mosques, and navigating the complexities of Greek identity and …

1
West Asian Weaving, with Nour Hage 22:32

10M ago22:32

22:32

Join Nour Hage as she weaves a story of textiles in West Asia, from bridal practices, to talismanic symbols, to Nour's own work as an artist. Listen as she discusses her work on Leighton House's recent Kheit exhibition, as part of our Hands On Islamic Art project which works to engage the UK public with Islamic art.…

1
Delicious Delicacies, with Nawal Nasrallah 40:29

10M ago40:29

40:29

Join Nawal Nasrallah for a delectable dive into the world of Medieval North African cooking. Learn the connection between ostrich eggs and eggplants, how we have been stuffing birds wrong this whole time, and the brilliant historical stories behind these recipes. Listen as Nawal discusses her work translating centuries-old cookbooks to access an ar…

1
Saladin: Between Man and Myth, with Abdul Rahman Azzam 40:37

11M ago40:37

40:37

Join Abdul Rahman Azzam for a discussion of espionage and honour, history and technology, as he explores the life and legacy of one of history's greatest leaders: Saladin. Listen now to learn where the man meets the myth, why he has endured so strongly in the popular consciousness, the extent to which he impacted the lives of those often thought un…

1
Aga Khan Award for Architecture, with Farrokh Derakhshani 33:27

1+ y ago33:27

33:27

Join Farrokh Derakhshani for an inside look into the 2022 Aga Khan Award for Architecture, one of the most prestigious architectural awards in the world. Find out how one is awarded this notable prize, hear about the latest winners, and learn how the creation of the award changed the understanding of architecture forever.…

1
Jeddah: Crossroads of the World with Ahmad Angawi 37:07

2y ago37:07

37:07

Join celebrated artist Ahmad Angawi as he explores how Jeddah has been influenced by many cultures, from Morocco to Indonesia, and how Jeddah has influenced them back. Learn about the cultural exchanges that pilgrimages brought, explore the traditional woodworking that Ahmad is helping to keep alive, and discover how traditional crafts can cooperat…

1
The Power of the Visual with Ulrike Al-Khamis 34:42

2y ago34:42

34:42

Join Ulrike Al-Khamis for an inside look at the Aga Khan Museum's latest exhibition in Toronto, Canada. IMAGE? The Power of the Visual explores image-making over the centuries, exploring through the lens of Islamic art from across many periods and cultures. We are surrounded, in fact inundated, by images and we often have little time to contemplate…

1
Olive Oil Empires with Anna Leone 32:04

2y ago32:04

32:04

Join Anna Leone for a tour through time as she explores life in North Africa from the Roman era to today. Find out how (olive) oil has been driving the world economy since antiquity, how you can tell a lot about a time period by its frying pans, and how superstitions about their brothers defined how Amazigh women weave their textiles.…

1
Saudi Modern with Abdulrahman and Turki Gazzaz 38:47

2y ago38:47

38:47

How did the discovery of oil transform Saudi Arabia's cities and its architecture? How can art and architecture come together to capture the spirit of modernism in a nation known more for tradition? Join this conversation with Abdulrahman and Turki Gazzaz, two architect brothers, to discover how their curiosity to understand their home city of Jedd…

1
Secret Geometry with Wael Sabry and Seif El Rashidi 32:41

2y ago32:41

32:41

Join Wael Sabry on his quest to save the ancient craft of Kundekari - complex wooden geometry. Sabry is tracking down the few remaining master carpenters in Turkey and Egypt, trying to learn their carefully-guarded secrets, hidden even from father to son. Discover how he is using technology to save this remarkable craft from disappearance and inven…

1
Decoding Arms and Armour with Arthur Bijl 35:15

2+ y ago35:15

35:15

Join Arthur Bijl, Hutton McRoberts Assistant Curator of Ottoman, Middle Eastern and Asian Arms and Armour at The Wallace Collection for a fascinating conversation about the social history of arms and armour. Discover how what we think of as 'weapons' today were once also fashion statements, works of art, and status symbols in the pre-modern age.…

1
Revealing Esna: An Egyptian Hidden Gem with Kareem Ibrahim 38:25

2+ y ago38:25

38:25

Join Kareem Ibrahim, an architect and CEO of Takween Integrated Community Development, as he reveals an Egyptian hidden gem, the ancient city of Esna, and an innovative project to introduce sustainable tourism through community "site-doing"rather than site-seeing!By Asia House Arts and Learning

1
Andalusia's Great Inventor: Ibn Firnas, with Glaire Anderson and Seif El Rashidi 36:15

2+ y ago36:15

36:15

Join Glaire Anderson for a fascinating conversation about one of great inventors of Andalusia: Abbas Ibn Firnas, who successfully invented a glider plane in the 9th century, and undertook the first known flight when in his 60s! Find out about this fascinating man, his many inventions, and the relationship between science and religion in Muslim Spai…

1
Ephemeral Palaces and Eternal Poetry of Iraq - Matt Saba & Seif El Rashidi 34:01

2+ y ago34:01

34:01

Join Matt Saba for a fascinating conversation about the magnificent palaces built by the Abbasid Caliphs of Iraq. This dynasty realised that kingdoms invariably rose and fell, and that the longest lasting legacy of the reign would be literature. This podcast is part of Converging Paths, an initiative organised by Asia House and the Barakat Trust ex…

1
Heritage is Ours - May Al-Ibrashy and Seif El Rashidi 31:08

3y ago31:08

31:08

May Al-Ibrashy, conservation architect and founder of Megawra Built Environment Collective and al-Athar Lina (Heritage is Ours!), talks to us about the projects she is leading to preserve historic Cairo, putting the community first. May discusses the recently completed Imam Shafii Conservation Project - one of the most magnificent buildings of hist…

1
The Making of a Master Calligrapher - Bilal Badat and Seif El Rashidi 38:25

3y ago38:25

38:25

The Making of a Master Calligrapher - Bilal Badat and Seif El Rashidi Join Bilal Badat, master calligrapher and scholar for a conversation about the meaning of Islamic calligraphy. Badat explains calligraphy not just as a craft but as a means of transmitting and glorifying sacred knowledge. He shares fascinating on the making of calligraphers - the…

1
The Jewel of Damascus - Alain George and Juan de Lara 29:00

3y ago29:00

29:00

Alain George shares his most recent book research on the Mosque of Damascus, an incredible building in Syria that is a living testament to better our understanding of community relations between Pagans, Christians and Muslims during the formative years of Islam. This podcast is part of Converging Paths, an initiative organised by Asia House in part…

1
Epic Iran - Tim Stanley and Juan de Lara 38:23

3y ago38:23

38:23

Tim Stanley, co-curator of the blockbuster exhibition 'Epic Iran' at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, shares with us the challenges of putting together such ambitious exhibition, and the rewarding effect it has caused around the public. The show is the major survey on Iranian art history since 1931, and is pioneer by the inclusion of art f…

1
Meeting for Coffee: Ottoman Style – Doğukan Atmaca and Seif El Rashidi 34:03

3y ago34:03

34:03

Featuring in our new Young Perspectives series, Doğukan Atmaca explores the emergence of coffeehouses in Istanbul, and the way in which coffeehouse culture spread like wildfire despite accusations that cafes were the source of political unrest and seduction. This podcast is part of Converging Paths, an initiative organised by Asia House in partners…

1
Retracing the Silk Roads – Christopher Wilton-Steer and Seif El Rashidi 38:16

3y ago38:16

38:16

Join photographer and writer Christopher Wilton-Steer on a colourful journey of five months through the many Silk Roads to discover the cultures, peoples, traditions, flavours and beliefs he encountered on this magnificent odyssey. This podcast is part of Converging Paths, an initiative organised by Asia House in partnership with the Barakat Trust …

1
Iraq: Seeking Inspiration in Tradition - Mysa Kafil-Hussain and Juan de Lara 31:23

3y ago31:23

31:23

Mysa Kafil-Hussain explores the changes that Iraqi art went through to form a unifying identity across the nation by revitalising aspects of ancient folklore and traditional art. This podcast is part of Converging Paths, an initiative organised by Asia House in partnership with the Barakat Trust that promotes the arts and cultures of the Islamic Wo…

1
Discovering Arabia - Robert Hoyland and Juan de Lara 32:48

3y ago32:48

32:48

Professor Robert Hoyland takes us on a journey through time to discover the many faces that inhabited the ancient Arabian Peninsula, evidencing a much more multi-cultural and cosmopolitan world than what it is often assumed. This podcast is part of Converging Paths, an initiative organised by Asia House in partnership with the Barakat Trust that pr…

1
Searching for Minarets in the Mountains - Tharik Hussain and Seif El Rashidi. 38:09

3+ y ago38:09

38:09

Tharik Hussain, Journalist and travel writer speaks to us about his projects to discover and tell the stories of Muslim Europe, include trails he worked on reveal and share the stories of Muslim Britain, and his upcoming book, "Minarets in the Mountains," the outcome of his journey in search of Muslim Europe, following in the footsteps of a 17th ce…

1
Why Art History!? - Wendy Shaw and Juan de Lara 38:39

3+ y ago38:39

38:39

Wendy Shaw, professor of Islamic Art History at the Free University of Berlin, reflects on the importance of 'Art History' as a discipline to engage with the different narratives that conform our history and a subject that provides the means by which we can gain a different perspective by assuming a different way of being in the world. This podcast…

1
Art, Revolution & People's Voices - Bahia Shehab and Seif El Rashidi 30:00

3+ y ago30:00

30:00

Artist, educator and activist Bahia Shehab discusses the role of artists during times of political change, and reflects on what it meant to take part in the Arab Spring. Shehab discusses her newly-published book ‘You Can Crush The Flowers: A Memoir of the Egyptian Revolution,’ and her work to help develop a new generation of creative minds through …

1
Episode 9. Who are the Parsis? - Sarah Stewart and Juan de Lara 25:56

3+ y ago25:56

25:56

By Asia House Arts and Learning

1
Reviving the Cradle of Hindustani Culture - Ratish Nanda and Seif El Rashidi 36:24

3+ y ago36:24

36:24

Ratish Nanda, CEO of Aga Khan Trust for Culture India, tells us about his work at the organisation and how they worked on the transformation of neighborhoods and communities based on their needs. Nanda along his team has been able to revive and reinvigorate public spaces in India, creating new places for recreation, in particular gardens--giving pe…

1
Episode 7. Contextualising the Occult - Liana Saif and Juan de Lara 34:40

3+ y ago34:40

34:40

Episode 7. Contextualising the Occult - Liana Saif and Juan de Lara Liana Saif explores how divination, talismans, amulets and ritual have helped people address social anxieties and cultural challenges throughout history. This podcast is part of Asia House Arts in Isolation Series and Converging Paths, an initiative organised in partnership with th…

1
Episode 6. The Taj Mahal - Mehreen Chida-Razvi and Juan de Lara 27:37

3+ y ago27:37

27:37

By Asia House Arts and Learning

1
Episode 5. A World of Pearls - Robert Carter and Seif el Rashidi 41:08

3+ y ago41:08

41:08

Professor of Arabian and Middle Eastern Archaeology at UCL, Robert Carter, tells us about the importance of pearl trade in the Gulf and India, and with over 7,000 years of history defining and shaping the global economy. This podcast is part of Asia House Arts in Isolation Series and Converging Paths, an initiative organised in partnership with the…

1
Episode 4. The Epics of Heroes – Jaimee Comstock-Skipp and Seif El Rashidi 35:39

3+ y ago35:39

35:39

Jaimee Comstock-Skipp, PhD candidate affiliated with Leiden University, takes us on a magic journey to learn more about the mythical spine of Iran: Firdausī’s Shāhnāma epic. This podcast is part of Asia House Arts in Isolation Series and Converging Paths, an initiative organised in partnership with the Barakat Trust that promotes the arts and cultu…

1
Episode 3. A Journey to Mount Sinai - George Manginis and Juan de Lara 33:06

4y ago33:06

33:06

George Manginis, Academic Director at the Benaki Museum in Athens, sheds light on the importance of the Monastery of St. Catherine in Mount Sinai, Egypt—the bridge between Asia and Africa. George will reveal, how unlike popular belief, the monastery has been an important place of pilgrimage for three Abrahamic religions alike: Christendom, Islam an…

1
Episode 2. The Story of Coffee – Nancy Um and Seif El Rashidi 36:45

4y ago36:45

36:45

Nancy Um, professor of Art History at Binghamton University, takes us on a journey to discover the stories and myths associated to one of the largest commodities of modern world, coffee. This podcast is part of Asia House Arts in Isolation Series and Converging Paths, an initiative organised in partnership with the Barakat Trust that promotes the a…

1
Episode 1. Cultural Resilience in a Changing World - Salma Tuqan and Juan de Lara 28:57

4y ago28:57

28:57

Salma Tuqan, Deputy Director of Delfina Foundation and former Contemporary Middle East Curator at the V&A, gives us a better insight of the thriving and resilient cultural scene experienced in the Levant countries of the Mediterranean, in particular Lebanon, Palestine and Jordan. Through her sounded expertise, Salma explains the several ways in whi…

1
Episode 18. The Spirit of Hagia Sophia - Bissera Pentcheva and Juan de Lara 39:08

4y ago39:08

39:08

The Hagia Sophia has featured in thousands of books and treatises throughout the centuries, many of which have praised the awe-inspiring spaces of this architectural feat. Yet recently, the building has made headlines for very different reasons, as politics and heritage become entangled. In this week’s podcast, Professor Bissera Pentcheva helps us …

1
Episode 17. The Importance of the Moon – Ulrike Al-Khamis and Juan de Lara 31:25

4y ago31:25

31:25

The Moon has been a revered orb for civilizations from all over the world. It provides gentle light during the night, sets the calendars and regualtes the tidal force. Ulrike Al-Khamis explores our fascination with this mystical celestial body and looks at the role it has played in faith, science, and the arts across the Muslim world and beyond. Th…

1
Episode 16. A Matter of Perspective – eL Seed and Juan de Lara 18:12

4y ago18:12

18:12

eL Seed works in the public sphere, for the people and most of the time, with the people. During this interview eL Seed sheds light into his career, his projects democratising art and on his roots, to reveal the ingredients that form his unique sense of perspective and community cohesion. This podcast is part of Asia House Arts in Isolation Series …

1
Episode 15. Rethinking Identities: Iran & Beyond – Sussan Babaie and Seif El Rashidi 38:41

4y ago38:41

38:41

Dr Sussan Babaie offers an illuminating conversation about how we, as a society, deal with misconceptions and stereotypes regarding our past and own cultures. She uses the example of Iran to reflect on these and other issues such as identity, education and rethinking cultural boundaries. This podcast is part of Asia House Arts in Isolation Series a…

1
Episode 14. China & the Other – Nixi Cura and Juan de Lara 26:59

4y ago26:59

26:59

Nixi Cura gives us a comprehensible historical insight on how has China dealt with the different ethnicities and minorities that form the modern-day country, and reflects on why trade is important to build up tolerance and harmonious coexistence. This podcast is part of Asia House Arts in Isolation Series and Converging Paths, an initiative organis…

1
Episode 13. The Sanctuary at the Heart of Islam – Simon O’Meara and Seif El Rashidi 35:25

4y ago35:25

35:25

The Kaaba is the sanctuary at the heart of Mecca, where over one million pilgrims from around the world gather every year, and towards which the world's 1.8 billion Muslims pray. Join Dr Simon O'Meara for a fascinating conversation about the Kaaba and how Muslims have written about it over the centuries. This podcast is part of Asia House Arts in I…

1
Episode 12. A Game of Thrones - Tarek Swelim and Seif El Rashidi 34:21

4y ago34:21

34:21

Professor Tarek Swelim shares with us a remarkable time in history full of political conflict, intrigue and of course, beauty: Mamluk Egypt. Follow us on this inspiring journey to discover the savage outcome of this dynasty. This podcast is part of Asia House Arts in Isolation Series and Converging Paths, an initiative organised in partnership with…

1
Episode 11. Storytelling: The Art of Greater Being – Alia Alzougbi and Juan de Lara 22:09

4y ago22:09

22:09

Join BAFTA-nominated artist, Alia Alzougbi, in this inspiring and thought-provoking tale about individuality, self-overcoming and our role within a community. Alia’s practice is based on storytelling techniques and traditions and, as well as performing, she curates and produces cultural events. Alia is renowned storyteller, educator and cultural pr…

1
Episode 10. The Forgotten Kingdoms of India - Navina Haidar and Seif El Rashidi 34:15

4y ago34:15

34:15

Navina Haidar, Curator in Charge of the Department of Islamic Art at the Metropolitan Museum of New York, takes us on an inspiring journey to South India and the sultanates of the Deccan. This was a land of great natural wealth that produced striking art and a culture of tolerance—a land where at least one sultan saw himself as both the ‘son of Gan…

1
Episode 9. World Trade & Art: The Malay World- Michael Backman and Juan de Lara 29:29

4y ago29:29

29:29

Gallerist, economist and author Michael Backman reveals the importance and key role of the Malay world in the history of economy, business and trade; and discusses how the fluidity of the Malay world and its interaction with the rest of the world has impacted on its art. This podcast is part of Asia House Arts in Isolation Series and Converging Pat…

1
Episode 8. The Fascination of Islam - Anna Contadini and Juan de Lara 34:24

4y ago34:24

34:24

Professor Anna Contadini takes us through an evocative journey to discover the fascination and curiosity that Islamic art and intellectual thought inspired in the pre-modern European thinkers and scholars, and how that fascination—led by wonder and awe—resulted in the creation of some of the most beautiful cultural dialogues in the history of manki…

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Asia House Arts And Learning Podcasts

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