Power of the Word is a participatory curatorial project at the Calouste Gulbenkian Museum, involving principally Arabic and Persian speakers who join curatorial and educational staff and guest researchers to study the Middle East collection. It aims to enhance our experience of these works by encouraging collaborative research and vibrant, contemporary interpretations which affirm intangible culture.

A group of Arabic speakers living in Lisbon gathered for a two days workshop to unlock some of the inscriptions in the Middle East gallery, which are mainly religious. Together, they revealed words and shared words, and then associated a selection of them with seven objects. The final collection of work was showcased in the Calouste Gulbenkian Museum.

https://gulbenkian.pt/museu/en/the-power-od-the-word/power-of-the-word-pilgrimage-hajj/

Guest Curator: Hassane Ait Faraji
Faculdade de Belas Artes, Universidade de Lisboa

Coordinated by Jessica Hallett (curator) and Diana Pereira (Education Department)
Calouste Gulbenkian Museum

Collaboration: Fabrizio Boscaglia, Jad Khairallah, Maryam Loutfi, Rahman Nighighi, Shahd Wadi, Sheila Namazi, Sheikh Zabir Edriss e Yasir Aboobakardaud.

(Image courtesy of Calouste Gulbenkian website 2020)