A giant stained-glass installation by British artist Sir Brian Clarke was unveiled at Bahrain International Airport on Thursday.
Bahrain Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, who is also Prime Minister, was also on hand for the reveal.
Spanning 34 metres in width and 17 metres in height, Concordia is one of the largest stained-glass installations in the world. The design was inspired by Clarke’s visit to Fez, Morocco, but uses several cultural influences to show off a harmonious fusion of styles that reflect Bahrain’s role as a meeting point of East and West.
Traditional Islamic geometric patterns with natural elements symbolic of Bahrain’s landscape include jasmine flowers, dragonflies and hawks. Additionally, the work draws from the West, referencing medieval European tapestries and illuminated manuscripts, such as those from the Books of Hours.
Concordia also serves as a symbol of the country’s openness and warm hospitality as well as its artistic ambitions, as it welcomes travellers from around the world.
The installation had a production time of two and a half years, from its design to completion and unveiling at the airport. The handcrafted stained glass used for the piece was assembled into 127 individual panels, while the glass creation took 40 days as it was mouth-blown by German artisans.
“I have always had a dream of making a composition in a building on a great rectangular scale that is like a view through to another world,” Clarke told Globe Newswire.
“It’s something that in some ways unites the two parts of the world, the one that I come from and this region. Everything I have ever learnt about stained glass is in some ways is expressed in this window. I am very grateful that I am able to share my enthusiasm about paradise with anyone who sees this window.”
Clarke, a renowned painter and architectural artist, is often referred to as the “father of modern stained glass”. He has created works for architectural sites and collaborated with architects Zaha Hadid and Norman Foster. His work has appeared in landmarks including the Al Faisaliah Centre and Mosque of King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; and the 14-metre-high, stained glass pavilion, The Stamford Cone in Connecticut, US.
In 2021, Bahrain International Airport introduced a new 210-square-metre terminal with a capacity to handle up to 14 million passengers per year. It also featured two large-scale glass art installations that overlook the central hub of the terminal building. Designed by British artist Andrew Moor, the 125-square-metre pieces incorporate the work of Bahraini artists Sheikh Rashid bin Khalifa Al Khalifa and Hussain Al Sunni.
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Barcelona 1 (Mingueza 60')
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Top 10 locations for inquiries from US house hunters, according to Rightmove
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Rating: 4.5/5
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Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
Our family matters legal consultant
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Monday, January 28
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Tuesday, January 29
UAEv Qatar, Mohamed Bin Zayed Stadium (6pm)
Friday, February 1
Final, Zayed Sports City Stadium (6pm)
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Now aged 16, Nora has decided she wants to dedicate her career to helping other victims of crime.
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A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.
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Lightweight (60kg): Rimma Volossenko (KAZ) beat Huswatun Hasanah (INA) KO round-1.
Light Welterweight (64kg): Milana Safronova (KAZ) beat Lalbuatsaihi (IND) 3-2.
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Light Heavyweight (81kg): Farida Sholtay (KAZ) beat Ruzmetova Sokhiba (UZB) 5-0.
Heavyweight (81 kg): Lazzat Kungeibayeva (KAZ) beat Anupama (IND) 3-2.
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Company name: Big Farm Brothers
Started: September 2020
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Industry: food and agriculture
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France has organised a delegation of leading businesses to travel to Syria. The group was led by French shipping giant CMA CGM, which struck a 30-year contract in May with the Syrian government to develop and run Latakia port. Also present were water and waste management company Suez, defence multinational Thales, and Ellipse Group, which is currently looking into rehabilitating Syrian hospitals.
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Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
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Who: India v Bangladesh
When: Friday, 3.30pm, Dubai International Stadium
Watch: Live on OSN Cricket HD
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