This week I went to London with my friend Catherine who was most helpful in helping me decide on the direction for my negotiated project. This discussion was generated by our exhibitions - firstly the Royal Manuscripts - The Genius of Illumination at the British Library. Exhibition Guide. This was an outstanding overview of the quality of handwritten books associated with royalty from between the 8th and 16 centuries. The over 150 richly decorated books are drawn principally from the Old Royal library that was given to the nation in 1757 by George II. We not only found the quality of the books and their artistry (especially those produced in Bruges in the 15th century for Edward IV) amazing but also the range of subjects covered - from the lives of the saints, moral treatises and warfare manuals to bestiaries and literary, cultural and social texts.
As I have been undertaking some calligraphy 'classes' at The Pen Room in Birmingham I was also able to appreciate the hours of work undertaken by the copists. I don't know if I've mentioned the new bible which was partially handwritten by Susan Hufton whom I meet a West Dean. Well worth a look - St John's Bible
We then walked down to the British Museum where we attended a free talk on Islamic Art, followed by the Grayson Perry - Tomb of the Unknown Craftsman exhibition.
Also featured at the BM was an exhibition entitled Hajj journey to the heart of Islam in partnership with the King Abdulaziz Public Library in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Our discussions centred round my visit to North Africa last year - Tunisia, Libya and Egypt just before the start of the Arab Spring.
This is quite an excited prospect and so I am going to start to do some research on the process as well as get out my photographs and notes from last year.
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