Showing posts with label Kairouan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kairouan. Show all posts

Thursday, 18 February 2010

Inspired by Die Tunisreise


Ordering another leather sketchbook from the diary shop to fill with watercolour paper, I was looking again at my sketches from Tunisia. I was heavily influenced in the 2 images of Kairouan backstreets above by looking through 'Die Tunisreise' kindly lent by Margaret before my trip. ( I've since sourced my own copy!) . This features the work of artists Paul Klee, August Macke and Louis Moilliet on their painting trip to Tunisia in 1914, a milestone in modern painting. I've long been a fan of Paul Klee, what was new to me in this book were all the drawings and photographs of locations and awareness of the work of Louis Moilliet.



Of the 3 artists, it is the work of August Macke (above) which seems to best capture the spirit of Tunisia - many of the locations don't seem to have changed that much, just different clothes and the addition of satellite dishes!

Tuesday, 19 January 2010

Great Mosque, Kairouan











The Great Mosque of Kairouan is Islam's fourth most holy centre ( after Mecca , Medina and Jerusalem). A beautiful, simple place (if on a grand scale) made of recycled Roman columns and carved stone, fitted together ingeniously into a harmonious whole.