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Sunday, June 20, 2021

SCULPTURES - NOW & THEN

THE HARSH CLIMATE OF JEDDAH REQUIRES SUITABLE CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS FOR ITS MANY SCULPTURES. CONSTANT MAINTENANCE IS CALLED FOR - NECESSITATING REPAIRS, REFURBISHING OR REPAINTING. WITH CHANGES TO ROADWAYS AROUND THE CITY, SOME SCULPTURES HAVE BEEN RELOCATED. OTHERS HAVE JUST DISAPPEARED.

THIS COLORFUL BOAT SCULPTURE IS LOCATED IN THE OBHUR DISTRICT OF JEDDAH. ABOVE IS HOW IT APPEARS TODAY. I POSTED THE BELOW PHOTO OF THE SAME SCULPTURE BACK IN 2009 WHEN IT HAD A RED, WHITE AND BLUE COLOR PALETTE.  


THIS SCULPTURE IS CALLED THE SHAHADAT AL TAWHID. THE CORNICHE AREA ALONG THE RED SEA WHERE IT IS LOCATED WAS COMPLETELY REDONE SEVERAL YEARS AGO. ABOVE IS HOW IT APPEARS TODAY.  THE TWO PHOTOS BELOW WERE TAKEN BY ME IN 2010 FROM DIFFERENT ANGLES.  

THE SHAHADA IS A PHRASE IN ARABIC RECITED BY EVERY MUSLIM PROFESSING THEIR MONOTHEISTIC BELIEF THAT THERE IS ONLY ONE GOD.  THIS SCULPTURE WAS MADE BY SPANISH ARTIST JULIO LAFUENTE, WHO DID NOT READ OR SPEAK ARABIC HIMSELF.


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7 comments:

  1. While I know it can be terribly hot there, does it get quite cold too? I really like the Shahadat Al Tawhid work.

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  2. ...public art seems to be common there!

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  3. I always enjoy the sculptures you share!

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  4. What a fun post! How terrific to know these things a cared for - and changed as needed. 🙂

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  5. That's a very cool sculpture!!#Allseasons

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