OBELISQUE Published quarterly
Design, Culture & Travel
middle east
media kit
OBELISQUE media kit
MAGAZINE
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2012 media kit Obelisque’s unique selling proposition: the luxury magazine that showcases the rich cultural heritage and contemporary creative talent across the Middle East.
2011
Design, Culture & Travel
OBELISQUE Published quarterly
Printed in Egypt. Distributed wholesale in Egypt, Lebanon and UK and distributed spontaneously worldwide to the Middle Eastern diaspora on every continent. Our Obelisque timeline: • • • • • • • •
Winter 2007 First edition Winter 2008 Orchid article brings prestigious UAE market opportunity to local horticulturalist Spring 2009 Exclusive feature: private collector of classic cars and carpets Autumn 2009 Exclusive feature: photo essay of the Rashida, Ababda and Bishari tribes Spring 2010 Partners with Milan Design Agency in the innovative Sharia El Muezz Design Festival 2010 Exclusive feature on THE EGYPTIAN ALTERNATIVE Volume 1 ‘In Search of the Identity o f the Egyptian Arabian bloodlines’. 2011 Exclusive insight into Libya’s architectural heritage 2012 Exclusive feature on THE EGYPTIAN ALTERNATIVE Volume II ‘In Search of the Identity of the Egyptian Arabian bloodlines’.
the Spirit of egypt
OBELISQUE
Design, Culture & Travel
Published quarterly
winter 2010
Obelisque readers’ profile: Obelisque readers are well travelled and cosmopolitan in their outlook and tastes; they are creative individuals, entrepreneurs and high net-worth consumers. Our Obelisque statistics:
egyptomania
Published quarterly, 164 pages, full colour glossy magazine, in English, independently owned. Circulation 65,000 approx. Readership:10 per copy. Shelf life: copies kept for reference and inspiration and permanent collection. Our Obelisque mission: to inspire, educate and encourage human creativity and aesthetic appreciation for fine art, craftsmanship and creative talent across the Middle East.
OBELISQUE
Design, Culture & Travel
Published quarterly
AUTUMN 2010
The potential for Obelisque:
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To be an artistic and unifying hub for human creative capital from the Maghreb to the Mashreq and across the Arabian Peninsula. To create an online community of subscribers worldwide, who appreciate and invest in the cultural wealth of the Middle East. To harness this e-database for likeminded products and services. To preserve and reinvigorate traditional crafts and lifestyles. To educate and enlighten other non Arab cultures and countries. To generate investment employment though cultural diversity. To show the world, through photo essays,pride in our rich cultural heritage and human talent.
OBELISQUE media kit
Contact Obelisque’s Managing Director:
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Lamia Hassanein (Founder, publisher and creative director: ) Mobile: 0020 01222200071 00971553064812 Email:Lamia _hassanein@yahoo.com Email: obelisque.publications@gmail.com Facebook: Obelisque magazine OBELISQUE IS AN INDEPENDENT MAGAZINE www.obelisquemagazine.com PUBLICATION BASED IN CAIRO
celebrating talent
SUmmEr 2010
OBELISQUE
Design, Culture & Travel
Published quarterly
red sea riviera
OBELISQUE
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EDITORIAL EVOLUTION
These dazzling collections are evidence of a cultivated and sophisticated class of people who wish to preserve examples of superior workmanship and taste from past generations. Their hope is that these collections might act as a model for present day designers and craftsmen. They generously chose to share their passion with our readers. The variety of objects featured in our articles includes valuable antique silver, contemporrary and antique glass pieces, ceramic tiles and pottery, handwoven fabrics, jewelry for men and women, vintage cars and antique furniture.
OBELISQUE media kit
COLLECTORS: Many of the collections featured in Obelisque belong to private or family collections that have not been previously shown to the public. Obelisque was privileged to photograph and document them.
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OBELISQUE media kit
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Obelisque focuses on new and interesting Egyptian artists who actively participate in creating an original and distinctive style that conveys cultural, artistic and intellectual diversity. It embraces a wide range of media with the stress on individual vision and its relation to the culture and broader ideological concepts. The Egyptian artistic scene is rich in diversity and spans generations of artists. The kaleidoscope of styles and interpretations defies definition and explains why Egyptian artists continue to win accolades from the connoisseur collector community seeking avant garde art.
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Since its inception, Obelisque has been a comprehensive and innovative magazine that explores new ways of collaborating with artists so as to provide a high standard of visibility for their work and engage with the ideological trends in contemporary Egyptian art. Obelisque is one of the best publications of contemporary art and design and a collector’s item for art lovers, artists and galleries.
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TRAVEL: Obelisque has articles on unusual and little-known destinations in Egypt. These contain details of accommodation and show in graphic form the natural beauty of the environment. These articles are often aimed at the eco-tourist or at those with a strong interest in history or local culture. Many travellers looking to get off the beaten track and explore unusual places in Egypt whether on the coast or in the desert will find something of interest in Obelisque. Instances of this are the articles on the cave paintings in Gelf El Kebir; another is the story entitled ‘Faces of Egypt’ which describes the tribes to be found in the south on the border with Sudan. The superior and unique photos are matched by the in-depth background about the habits and customs of the different tribes. Egypt’s vast deserts and fertile oases are a great draw for travellers wishing to find peace and tranquillity in unspoiled surroundings. The remoteness of such places is often combined with luxury accommodation that rhymes with the local environment.
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The article on herbs and Egypt’s rich biodiversity entailed a visit to the mountains in North Sinai. It appealed to those who long to see where these spices are cultivated and to learn about the tribes that support this niche industry. Obelisque also has featured places outside of Egypt such as China, The Maldives and Antarctica. These articles inevitably invite vivid contrast with places nearer home.
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traVEL
Text & Photographs: Elsa Garibian
A Personal journey through
CHINA
OBELISQUE Design, Culture & Travel
SprIng 2010
Published quarterly
In 2008, the Beijing Olympic Games captured the world’s attention with its modern 21st century city, placed in 5000 years of history and culture. In 2010, The Shanghai Expo is again reminding the world of its prominence in the global market-place. No wonder China is a prime tourist destination. Foreign visitors to both events experienced first-hand the organizational capacity and accomplishments of China.
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The first imperial dynasty in China was the ‘Qin’ dynasty, which could well be the origin of the Republic’s name today as ‘Qin’ is pronounced ‘Ch’in’ – thus ‘China’.
Red is the symbol of joy and happiness. Yellow, which is also much in evidence, was the color of the emperor.
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For ‘culture’ travelers like myself, it is China’s civilization – as old as my own in Egypt – that attracted me. The country is vast, its population large and diversified, and its natural beauty breath-taking. I was determined to explore as many aspects of the country that I had time for.
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WIntEr 2009
Design, Culture & Travel
OBELISQUE Published quarterly
egyptian decade
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Photographs: Maha Aon, Rhea Tueni & May Aon
Concept: Lamia Hassanein
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Text: Fiona Warner
OBELISQUE
ExpERIENCE thE REAl AfRICA
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Design, Culture & Travel
aUtUmn 2009
OBELISQUE
Published quarterly
Exploring these valleys is like looking through a kaleidoscope of frequently changing shapes and colors. The paintings are in earth colors of brown, black, white, yellow, and red. The engravings were carved by sharp-edged flint tools. All depict wild animals – elephant, baboon, giraffe, ostrich, gazelle, lion; and domestic animals such as cattle, goat, camel and horse. The significance of this abundance of wild life gives us cause to wonder! When the climate was wetter and rivers flowed through the valleys, nomadic people congregated near the rocky cliffs that overlooked savannah. We can imagine a herdsman drawing images of animals on the walls of caves as he keeps a steady eye out for predatory wildlife. The drawings hint at the lives of nomads and hunters, of warriors and dancers and of communities long before the pharaohs ruled Egypt. Today, there are no inhabitants and though life in the valleys is fragile, the rare Barbary sheep and fennec fox continue to live among silvery-green shrubs and Acacia trees. From Fayoum to Kharga along a procession of five oases, the Libyan Desert spreads out over eastern Libya and northern Sudan.
Egyptians call this vastness, The Western Desert, while others refer to it as the Eastern Desert. The northern part of the Libyan Desert (or the Western Desert of Egypt) spans from Siwa, in an immense sand sea, to Gilf Kebir and the southern granite mountains of the Uwaynat. Egypt was under water 500 million years ago during the Paleozoic Era. This sea, named Thetys, deposited marine fossils that formed layers of rock. Still to be found fossilized oyster shells, sea urchin, and scallops are evidence of this ancient sea. During the Carboniferous period – around 300 million years ago – the uplifting of land began in the southwestern corner of Egypt as sedimentary rock shaped the base rock of sandstone and limestone. Eventually these layers eroded exposing the basement rock of the Uwaynat Mountains that we see today. Bottom left: Rock art is an Egyptian national treasure and is in need of protection from the irresponsible visitor who sign their names or douse the image with water or oil for better pictures.
artists’ edition
Right: The first humans known to inhabit Egypt were during the Paleolithic Era, in 300,000 BC. The wadis of the Uwaynat, once fertile, supported nomads and communities up to one hundred years ago. Drawings of camels date from 500 BC when caravans moved through the Uwaynat or “Land of the Springs” on their way to Egyptian oases and the Nile.
SUmmEr 2009
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housands of awe-inspiring rock paintings are to be found in Karkur Talh (Acacia Valley) which is deep within the Uwaynat Mountains, Land of the Springs in the south of Egypt. Wadi Sura (Picture Valley) in Gilf Kebir, has hundreds. This primitive rock art has survived under rock ledges and in shallow caves dating from 8000 BC.
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Design, Culture & Travel
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summer sPeCTACuLAr Photographs:George Fakhry
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Have you heard about this wild and remote Antarctic sanctuary scattered between the stormy Southern Atlantic Ocean and the Scotia Sea? The ocean journey started from Ushuaia, the southermost city in the world and capital of Tierra del Fuego, Argentina. South of here is only Antarctica.
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Text and photographs: Elsa Garibian
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Design, Culture & Travel
SPRING 2009
OBELISQUE
THE Colors of EgypT
OBELISQUE
Published quarterly
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Design, Culture & Travel
Khayrbek is a figure of some notoriety. Some say he was a traitor. He was a senior Mamluk prince but preferred intrigue with the invading armies of the Ottomans rather than fight for the ailing Mamluk Empire he served. Some sources suggest that he was bribed to defect to the invading Ottomans, others that his recognition of the technical superiority of their armies may have cAIRO - RIcH persuaded him to defect. Whatever IN DIVERSITY motivated his betrayal heLIVING was rewarded IN for his collaboration byTHE being CITY made the first Ottoman viceroy of Egypt - a position he occupied from 1517-1522.
OBELISQUE
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OBELISQUE
WINTER 2008
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There were accepted conventions regarding the modest dimensions of a tomb; these Khayrbek strictly observed but this did not prevent him from building a structure of awe-inspiring magnificence in which to house it. Above his tomb he erected a chamber, topped by a huge decorated dome, ON THE above his which towers 18 meters EGYPTIAN humble resting place. It SIDEisOFelaborately THE MEDITERRANEAN carved – as was the fashion among the elite of the Mamluk court in the late fifteenth and early sixteenth centuries – and was first constructed and carved on SECOND HOMES the ground before being erected. SEPTEMBER 2008
Design, Culture & Travel
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Right: The calligraphy on the magnificent main dome is a work of art and an expression of piety. Top: This is the decorated ceiling of the sabil. RESTORATION: Obelisque has devoted muchfeatures space toare chronicling thetomany thatuse haveofbeen Above: These architectural decorated great buildings effect by the color and form. The dome, considered as restored over the years part of the Historc Cairo project - a government program for savingof the tomb chamber. What makes it anas architectural and engineering achievement, is onesupported of the outstanding features Islamic monuments remarkable in the heart isofits thesize oldand city.the fact that it is decorated both inside and out. Inside, the worshipper stands below the dome in awe of its resplendent beauty; from the street, the dome and minaret are testament to the artistic and engineering skill of 98 architectural the men who built have them.been restored. These include old houses or apartments, Many of Egypt’s treasures JUNE 2008
OBELISQUE Published quarterly
Design, Culture & Travel
The process of restoring the magnificent buildings in Islamic Cairo was described and detailed in special articles written in cooperation with prestigious organizations like the Agha Khan Foundation and the Egyptian Ministries of Culture and Antiquities. A DECORATING TRIUMPH Opulence & style on the Nile
EGYPT’S BEST
Exclusive pictures of the Milan Fair
EGYPTIAN PERSPECTIVES
A ROYAL PAVILION A princely country retreat
DANY BARBARI
A life dedicated to Arabian horses.
OBELISQUE
Obelisque is also keen to highlight the contribution made by a whole new generation of artists and artisans specialized in the skills of restoration. Many are graduates of the Colleges of Fine Arts while others are talented craftsman who have received the recognition they deserve for their invaluable work on these jewels of Islamic architecture.
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religious sites in the Islamic city including mosques, tombs, fountains and madrassas, family mausoleums and Pharaonic monuments such as Abu Simbel.
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asmine and Ali Shaarawi chose to live outside the city and far away from the usual agricultural areas favored by horse breeders. One hour’s drive from the smog and chaos of the city, they established an Egyptian Arabian horse stud that combines traditional values and vision with a contemporary life-style. Their priorities were for an environment that was uncluttered with farms and second homes, clean air, wide open spaces (25 acres) and the latitude of choice that such a space would allow them in order to build a home and adjoining stables.
Nazih is a collector who appreciates the creative work of others but he also loves creating things himself. See the car above which is his design.
This nature loving couple built their house and stables as one unit. For them horse rearing is not a business, it is a vocation. This is clear when you see how they talk to their horses, address them by name, reel off their pedigrees and describe the personal idiosyncrasies of each. It is also apparent when you see the quality of the stabling where the horses are fed and groomed.
One aspect of Nazih’s life that does not receive much attention is his philanthropic work. He founded and now funds two major projects – a charity hospital and an orphanage for children between the ages of two and eighteen. He takes a personal interest in the welfare of the children and the sick. Success and privilege have not blunted his sympathy and understanding of other people’s misfortunes. This is a badge of honor that he wears lightly but it is there all the same and deserves recognition.
Yasmine’s rapport with horses explains why she emphasizes that gentleness is an essential quality in her relationship with these lovely animals. ‘Discipline should be gentle but firm’. It is not pretentious to say that she and her husband have developed their own philosophy of breeding horses: one that is worthy of imitation. All the horses are exercised daily, including the stallion which Yasmine rides regularly.
The mares and stallion stay with them for a life-time. Only the superfluous foals are sold.
The two Rolls Royce cars in this collection are of slightly different vintages. Both are named ‘Silver Shadow’. The 1967 model was well ahead of its time technically when it first appeared. The later model - Silver Shadow 2 - is more luxurious and became an all-time favorite for its classical good looks and its sophisticated technical features. Nazih comments that – ‘the Bentley is the kind of car the owner drives himself whereas the Rolls is a car driven by a chauffeur’.
The man – a portrait:
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Happiness comes in many forms. For Nazih Sallam the principal source is his family. He speaks eloquently about the influence his parents had on shaping his view of life especially of the practical ways in which they demonstrated their compassion and sympathy for others. In particular Nazih recalls a time during his childhood that his father got out of the car to help a lone stranger who was obviously in need. This act of kindness stamped itself on Nazih’s impressionable and questioning mind. The incident was further imprinted in his memory because he witnessed the encounter from the back seat of his father’s large car. His love of cars dates from his childhood.
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Photographs: George Fakhry
Concept:Lamia Hassanein
Text: Donald Benson
A city oF A thousAnD yeArs
cAiro
“Mother oF cities....peerless in beAuty AnD splenDor””
OBELISQUE media kit
Ibn bAttutA 14th century traveler
t Imperial Orchids they are defying nature by growing and cultivating tropical orchids in the Egyptian desert. These are used to decorate homes and five star hotels in Egypt. Orchids have become enormously popular worldwide. These exotic flowers are associated with warm, humid climates where there is an abundance of rain. Orchid cultivation is a science but it is also an art and appeals to many amateur gardeners and home-makers. Ahmed Nagib, the CEO in this company was a brain-surgeon in the USA and orchids have been his passionate hobby for the last forty years. Today he is a professional grower and enjoys every minute of this labor intensive activity at the nursery. Imperial Orchids is pioneering an ‘orchid culture’ in Egypt.
CULtUrE
Obelisque Magazine a visual feast of Middle Eastern design, culture & travel.
ahmed Nagib and his son Sharif - dedicated orchid growers.
To the right is Bab Zuwayla today. This is one of the surviving city gates that, in Fatimid times, was closed at sunset to ensure the safety of the rulers and their retinue living within the city walls.
an exotic and colorful flower!
Down the ages the gate has witnessed the magnificent processions of rulers, the execution of tyrants and the departure of the annual pilgrimage caravan to the holy city of Mecca.
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in the DeSeRt Photographs: Mahmoud Hanafy
Text: Donald Benson
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The platform above the gate was the viewing stand for the sultans and, on occasions, the bandstand for the musicians whose drums and trumpets heralded or accompanied important events.
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To the left is a late 19th century painting of Bab Zuwayla by the Scottish traveller and artist, David Roberts, one of many European visitors who found the old city a cause of wonder and delight.
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aunter down Al Mu’ezz Street starting at Bab Zuwayla and experience the wonders of history. Appreciate the beauty of the medieval buildings and see for yourself some of the finest examples of architectural decoration in this city of a thousand years. Visit the mosques, markets and shops. Listen to the stories that these magnificent buildings have to tell about their turbulent past and the powerful men who built them. Voices from those distant times mingle with the street cries of today’s inhabitants who ply their trade and carry on their business much as people have always done.
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hese luxuriously appointed craft belong to the company well known for its Lake Nasser luxury cruises - M.S. Eugenie. The traditional dahabiyas featured here sail between Aswan and Luxor. The one-way trip takes seven days. They combine the leisurely pace of the sailing boat with the reassuring backup power of an engine. There are six craft. Each has a distinctive Egyptian name – Musk, El Bey, Nesma, Amber, Al Hanem and Zahra. Each evokes an aspect of Egyptian history or culture.
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The grooms are copying the way that the Shaarawis coax the horses and the care they give them. This couple has established a culture of nurture and respect for horses that everyone living and working in the stables observes.
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This couple is dedicated to preserving the Egyptian Arabian horse and the heritage it represents. For them this breed has unique qualities of endurance, personality and appearance. Besides, Egypt is the repository of an invaluable Egyptian Arabian genetic pool. Their wish is to revive the best in Egypt’s horse-breeding past when horses were prized for their individuality and not for their potential as marketable commodities. Yasmine and Ali Shaarawi explain why they do not go to shows. Such ‘beauty competitions’ are stressful for the horse and preparing and training for them requires a great deal of time. Above all they regard them as a distraction from their chosen vocation of breeding. Private clients wishing to purchase horses approach them directly and then visit by appointment.
The house and stables were built as one continuous unit. The land that started as desert, now has lush green paddocks, orchards and lawns around the house, thanks to Ali’s diligence and artistry. It is only three years since the project began and the grounds are already looking well established.
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Keeping horses is a demanding occupation. In this case the daily routine of the Shaarawis is determined by the needs of their charges. Exercise, rest and feeding times are strictly adhered to in a way that is reminiscent of a well run house-hold in Switzerland which is where Yasmine was brought up by her mother, Princess Ferial, daughter of King Farouk and Queen Farida. Yasmine says that she was riding before she could walk.
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