Manamat Al Gossaibi

Opening Date:

2 March 2019

“Manamat Al Gossaibi” is a tribute to Saudi beloved public figure Dr Gazi Abdul Rahman Al Gosaibi in the heart of Manama. Housed in a traditional Bahraini house in Al Gosaibi’s childhood neighbourhood – Fareej Al Fadel – the cultural centre includes various displays and artistic expressions that celebrate Gazi Al Gosaibi; the poet, outspoken liberal, reformist, minister and ambassador.
In line with its cultural mission and continuous efforts to preserve local heritage, the Shaikh Ebrahim Bin Mohamed Al Khalifa Centre for Culture and Research established a vibrant cultural centre as a tribute to one of the most beloved and respected Arab authors. Thanks to the generous financial support of HRH Al Waleed bin Talal Al Saud (Alwaleed Philanthropies), the historic house, donated by Khalifa Abdul Rahman Al Gosaibi family, was restored and renovated. In addition to the architectural intervention, the Shaikh Ebrahim Centre developed with the help of an international team a curatorial concept to give proper heed to the poet and his intellectual legacy.
The innovative scenography of architect Christophe Martin at the intersection of traditional and modern architecture unravels the interweaving identities of Al Gosaibi and his timeless love for Bahrain. While the immersive multimedia displays conceived by Paris based La Méduse allows for Gosaibi’s presence and voice to resonate in the historic house, a potent art installation by renowned Saudi artist Nasser Al Salem, hanging from the courtyard ceiling, reflects on Al Gosaibi the poet and his diverse and ever-changing worlds. Moreover, a mesmerizing indoor garden, conceived by New York based landscape architect Madison Cox, establishes the passage between the renovated historic house and its new modern extension where a café area designed by Ammar Basheir and a temporary exhibition space are meant to host cultural events all round long. The artistic intervention by Hala Al Khalifa honours Al Gosaibi’s grounded nationalism and his legacy towards the Arab nation.