Palestinian artist Maliheh Afnan has been celebrated with a Google Doodle. Courtesy Google
Palestinian artist Maliheh Afnan has been celebrated with a Google Doodle. Courtesy Google
Palestinian artist Maliheh Afnan has been celebrated with a Google Doodle. Courtesy Google
Palestinian artist Maliheh Afnan has been celebrated with a Google Doodle. Courtesy Google

Culture

Art

Who was Maliheh Afnan? Google Doodle celebrates life of Palestinian artist

The painter, who died in 2016, was one of the most significant Middle Eastern artists of the 20th century

Sophie Prideaux
Sophie Prideaux

July 05, 2021

  • English
  • Arabic

The life of Palestinian artist Maliheh Afnan has been celebrated with a special Google Doodle.

Those using the search engine in the Mena region on Monday will see an illustration of the Palestinian-born artist, who died in 2016.

'Of Numbers' by Maliheh Afnan. Courtesy Maliheh Afnan and Lawrie Shabibi
'Of Numbers' by Maliheh Afnan. Courtesy Maliheh Afnan and Lawrie Shabibi

Afnan is widely regarded among the most significant Middle Eastern artists of the 20th century. Her signature “written paintings” explore themes of displacement and exile, as well as conflicts in the region and her cultural heritage.

Born in Haifa, Palestine, on March 24, 1935, Afnan’s family sought refuge in Beirut in 1949. From a young age, she was fascinated with written language and developed her skills in calligraphy. In 1956, she moved to the US to pursue her dream of becoming an artist.

Afnan graduated in 1962 with a Master’s in Fine Art, during which her style of infusing Arabic and Persian script into her work caught the attention of calligraphy artist Mark Tobey, who went on to become her mentor. He helped to facilitate Afnan's first solo exhibition, in 1971, which sparked the beginning of her 50-year career as an artist.

She returned to Beirut in the 1970s, before moving to Paris and eventually London, where she died in 2016 at the age of 81.

Her works can be found in New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art, as well as numerous museums and galleries across the Middle East and Europe.

The artist is being celebrated on Monday to mark a year to the day since an exhibition celebrating her work, entitled The Symmetry of Fragility, ended at The Institute of Contemporary Arts in Milan.

What are Google Doodles?

Google Doodles feature sporadically throughout the year, transforming Google’s traditional logo into an animation to pay tribute to an important figure or moment in history. The doodles can also mark seasonal or celebratory events, such as International Women's Day.

Click through our gallery below to see other regional Google Doodles:

  • A Google Doodle celebrating Egyptian actress Karima Mokhtar's 89th birthday. All images: Google
    A Google Doodle celebrating Egyptian actress Karima Mokhtar's 89th birthday. All images: Google
  • Egyptian writer Ihsan Abdel Quddous
    Egyptian writer Ihsan Abdel Quddous
  • Kuwaiti actor and comedian Abdulhussain Abdulredha's 83rd birthday
    Kuwaiti actor and comedian Abdulhussain Abdulredha's 83rd birthday
  • UAE National Day 2022 Google Doodle.
    UAE National Day 2022 Google Doodle.
  • Ousha Al Suwaidi was a poetess from the United Arab Emirates.
    Ousha Al Suwaidi was a poetess from the United Arab Emirates.
  • Prof. Hamed Abdel Fattah Goher was an Egyptian oceanographer, scientist and TV presenter.
    Prof. Hamed Abdel Fattah Goher was an Egyptian oceanographer, scientist and TV presenter.
  • Tunisia's Tawhida Ben Cheikh was a pioneer in women's medicine.
    Tunisia's Tawhida Ben Cheikh was a pioneer in women's medicine.
  • Google Doodle of Egyptian actor and director Nour El-Sherif honours him on what would have been his 75th birthday.
    Google Doodle of Egyptian actor and director Nour El-Sherif honours him on what would have been his 75th birthday.
  • Google celebrates Syrian-Egyptian composer and actor Farid Al Atrash with a Google Doodle to mark what would have been his 110th birthday.
    Google celebrates Syrian-Egyptian composer and actor Farid Al Atrash with a Google Doodle to mark what would have been his 110th birthday.
  • Children's author Notaila Rashed is honoured with a special Google Doodle to mark her 86th birthday.
    Children's author Notaila Rashed is honoured with a special Google Doodle to mark her 86th birthday.
  • Egyptian actress, producer, writer and filmmaker Bahiga Hafez was born 112 years ago, on August 4.
    Egyptian actress, producer, writer and filmmaker Bahiga Hafez was born 112 years ago, on August 4.
  • The Google Doodle for January 20, 2020, celebrates Mufidah Abdul Rahman, Egypt's first female lawyer.
    The Google Doodle for January 20, 2020, celebrates Mufidah Abdul Rahman, Egypt's first female lawyer.
  • A Google Doodle on June 10, 2019, celebrates Egyptian author Ahmed Khaled Towfik.
    A Google Doodle on June 10, 2019, celebrates Egyptian author Ahmed Khaled Towfik.
  • Google Doodle honours Persian mathematician, poet and astronomer Omar Khayyam on what would have been his 971st birthday.
    Google Doodle honours Persian mathematician, poet and astronomer Omar Khayyam on what would have been his 971st birthday.
  • Mary Mounib was a renowned actress in the Egyptian cinema scene. Her 114th birthday is marked in a Google Doodle on February 11, 2019.
    Mary Mounib was a renowned actress in the Egyptian cinema scene. Her 114th birthday is marked in a Google Doodle on February 11, 2019.
  • Egyptian poet Gamila El Alaily is honoured in a Google Doodle on March 20, 2019.
    Egyptian poet Gamila El Alaily is honoured in a Google Doodle on March 20, 2019.
  • Syrian artist Louay Kayali is the subject of Google's doodle on January 20, 2019.
    Syrian artist Louay Kayali is the subject of Google's doodle on January 20, 2019.
  • Egyptian-French singer and actress Dalida is honoured on her birthday by Google Doodle, on January 17, 2019.
    Egyptian-French singer and actress Dalida is honoured on her birthday by Google Doodle, on January 17, 2019.
  • Egyptian actress Hind Rostom is celebrated in a Google Doodle on her 87th birthday, on November 12, 2018.
    Egyptian actress Hind Rostom is celebrated in a Google Doodle on her 87th birthday, on November 12, 2018.
  • Ibn Sina, one of the greatest thinkers of Islam's golden age, is honoured on August 7, 2018.
    Ibn Sina, one of the greatest thinkers of Islam's golden age, is honoured on August 7, 2018.
  • A Google Doodle honours Saudi musician Talal Maddah on what would have been his 78th birthday, on August 5, 2018.
    A Google Doodle honours Saudi musician Talal Maddah on what would have been his 78th birthday, on August 5, 2018.
  • A Google Doodle gif marks Egyptian actor Omar Sharif's birthday on April 10, 2018.
    A Google Doodle gif marks Egyptian actor Omar Sharif's birthday on April 10, 2018.
  • Egyptian poet Farouk Shousha is honoured by Google on what would have been his 82nd birthday, on January 9, 2018.
    Egyptian poet Farouk Shousha is honoured by Google on what would have been his 82nd birthday, on January 9, 2018.
  • Google celebrates Lebanese singer Sabah's 90th birthday on November 10, 2017.
    Google celebrates Lebanese singer Sabah's 90th birthday on November 10, 2017.
  • Egyptian painter Inji Aflatoun's Google Doodle pays homage to her style of bold brushstrokes.
    Egyptian painter Inji Aflatoun's Google Doodle pays homage to her style of bold brushstrokes.
  • Google celebrates the birthday of Algerian painter Mohammed Khadda, who was born on March 14, 1930.
    Google celebrates the birthday of Algerian painter Mohammed Khadda, who was born on March 14, 1930.
  • Lebanese singer-songwriter Melham Barakat is honoured by Google on his birthday.
    Lebanese singer-songwriter Melham Barakat is honoured by Google on his birthday.
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Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri 

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2. E-invoicing in the UAE

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3. More tax audits

Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks. 

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Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer

When Umm Kulthum performed in Abu Dhabi

  

 

 

 

Known as The Lady of Arabic Song, Umm Kulthum performed in Abu Dhabi on November 28, 1971, as part of celebrations for the fifth anniversary of the accession of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan as Ruler of Abu Dhabi. A concert hall was constructed for the event on land that is now Al Nahyan Stadium, behind Al Wahda Mall. The audience were treated to many of Kulthum's most well-known songs as part of the sold-out show, including Aghadan Alqak and Enta Omri.

 
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Favourite author - Paulo Coelho 

Favourite holiday destination - Cuba 

New York Times or Jordan Times? NYT is a school and JT was my practice field

Role model - My Grandfather 

Dream interviewee - Che Guevara

Safety 'top priority' for rival hyperloop company

The chief operating officer of Hyperloop Transportation Technologies, Andres de Leon, said his company's hyperloop technology is “ready” and safe.

He said the company prioritised safety throughout its development and, last year, Munich Re, one of the world's largest reinsurance companies, announced it was ready to insure their technology.

“Our levitation, propulsion, and vacuum technology have all been developed [...] over several decades and have been deployed and tested at full scale,” he said in a statement to The National.

“Only once the system has been certified and approved will it move people,” he said.

HyperloopTT has begun designing and engineering processes for its Abu Dhabi projects and hopes to break ground soon. 

With no delivery date yet announced, Mr de Leon said timelines had to be considered carefully, as government approval, permits, and regulations could create necessary delays.

Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.

Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.

“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.

“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.

Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.

From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.

Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.

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Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.

Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.

“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.

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Company name: Jaib

Started: January 2018

Co-founders: Fouad Jeryes and Sinan Taifour

Based: Jordan

Sector: FinTech

Total transactions: over $800,000 since January, 2018

Investors in Jaib's mother company Alpha Apps: Aramex and 500 Startups

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Released: 2017

Peak chart position: No.1 in more than 47 countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Lebanon

Views: 5.3 billion on YouTube

Sales: With 10 million downloads in the US, Despacito became the first Latin single to receive Diamond sales certification

Streams: 1.3 billion combined audio and video by the end of 2017, making it the biggest digital hit of the year.

Awards: 17, including Record of the Year at last year’s prestigious Latin Grammy Awards, as well as five Billboard Music Awards

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Updated: July 05, 2021, 4:27 AM