“Stories of Parallel Worlds and Mysterious Secrets.” That’s the subtitle of a book inspired by Bait Al Hurma. This building served as a muse for a series of writing workshops. Welcome to Bait Al Hurma.
Bait Al Hurma is not just a building. It is an old coral reef located in Al Mureijah. The building’s symbolic value inspired five writers to speculate on its interlayered histories. They explored its meanings and imagined it as a portal.
Nasir Nasrallah served as the creative director of the book. The writers who contributed to this anthology include Muhammad Issa Jaqdul, Saleha Obaid Hassan, Nadia Al-Najjar, Manal Ali bin Amr, and Abdul Rahman Al-Hamiry.
Wafa Ibrahim created the visuals for the book. She responded to the original Arabic writings and their translated English counterparts. Her illustrations infuse traditional symbols of Emirati culture with flora and fauna. She also incorporated elements from local mythical stories.
The publication is the second in a series of commissioned literary works. These works draw inspiration from historical buildings in Sharjah. In 2022, SAF collaborated with several creative writers to produce “The Flying Saucer: Experimental Texts in Science Fiction.” These stories were inspired by the Flying Saucer Building. It is one of the most well-known landmarks in the Emirate.
The artist book about Bait Al Hurma is a softcover edition. It comprises 284 pages. It includes 13 visuals. The dimensions are 13 x 19.6 cm. The book is published in both Arabic and English. The Sharjah Art Foundation published it in 2023. The ISBN is 978-9948-771-77-7.
Bait Al Hurma inspired a volume of fantasy fiction. It delves into the Foundation’s venue. The building’s stories are parallel worlds and mysterious secrets.