The Damascene Athan #7 by Mohamad Hafez is a contemporary art work that makes an excellent visual, audio, and conceptual link to Syria and the civil war that started in 2011.The Damascene Athan is part of a 12-piece series carrying the same title which derives from the daily call of prayers coming from the Great Umayyad Mosque in Damascus, one of the iconic early mosques dating to 706 CE. Although each piece in the series is quite different, they are all arranged as similar sized decorative mirror frames. Within each frame a different vignette of city life in Damascus is reflected through the protruding ensemble of various small repurposed items made to look like the architectural details of the city.This piece, numbered 7 in the series, shows a building façade with two doors, one placed inside an historical arch. A Toyota truck representing those used by the Syrian secret service is parked outside. A surveillance camera protruding from the building draws attention to the life of fear and stress lived daily by the civilians on the eve of the Syrian civil war. The piece also includes an audio recording captured by the artist during his last visit to the city in 2011. In the audio, the call of prayer from the Great Umayyad Mosque as well as children playing in the streets and people including the artist talking in Arabic in a café can be heard. Overall it is a contemplative piece reflecting the physical, historical, and political complexities of Syria.
Axis: 12.0Denomination: 50 piastresObverse legend: جمهورية مصر العربية [Arab Republic of Egypt]/ 50 PIASTRESReverse legend: ١٤٢٩ه ٢٠٠٨مReverse type: Cleopatra's head to l.
Axis: 12.0Denomination: 1 poundObverse legend: جمهورية مصر العربية [Arab Republic of Egypt]/ [1428] ONE POUND [2007]Reverse type: Tutankhamun's burial mask.
Axis: 12.0Denomination: 1,000,000 liraObverse legend: TURKIYE CUMHURIYETI / REPUBLIC OF TURKEY / 1 / MILYON / LIRAObverse type: line of text top margin round / line of text bottom margin round / national arms above the Turkish Mint building, 3 line text of denomination belowReverse legend: DARPHANE . 1467' DEN BERI / TURKISH MINT . SINCE 1467 / 2004 / OCAK / JANUARY / 12Reverse type: line of text top margin round / line of text bottom margin round / year in middle margin round / month top center margin round / month bottom center margin round / 12 in center
Axis: 6.0Denomination: 10 ouguiyaObverse legend: BANQUE CENTRALE DE MAURITANIEObverse type: National emblem divides date above value.Reverse type: Star and crescent divide sprigs with legend below value, all within circle.
Axis: 12.0Denomination: 10 sheqalimObverse legend: ISRAEL/ in field: 10/ NEW SHEQALIMObverse type: Legend, outer ring: small grape vine at 10 o'clock.Reverse legend: [hebrew]Reverse type: Palm tree; accosted by two baskets filled with fruits from palm tree.
Inscribed: In Arabic, Qur'an 2:255, Sura al-Baqara (Verse of the Cow):
"الله لا إله إلا هو الحي القيوم لا تأخذه سنة ولا نوم له ما في"
Read by Abdullah Ghouchani
Axis: 6.0Denomination: 20 ouguiyaObverse legend: BANQUE CENTRALE DE MAURITANIEObverse type: National emblem divides date above value.Reverse type: Star and crescent divide sprigs with legend below value, all within circle.
Axis: 6.0Denomination: 5 ouguiyaObverse legend: BANQUE CENTRALE DE MAURITANIEObverse type: National emblem divides date above value.Reverse type: Star and crescent divide sprigs with legend below value, all within circle.
Culture: Indian, HinduMaterials/Techniques: brassNote: General note: Lowe Art Museum, "Change and Continuity. Fold and Tribal Art of India." U. of Miami, 2004.