Last October, the whole world watched in disbelief as Israeli forces dismantled and dragged a 16-foot-tall sculpture across the streets of Jenin in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. The monument, Al-Hissan ("The Horse" in Arabic) commonly known as The Jenin Horse, was built in 2003 out of the wreckage of an ambulance and other vehicles during the Israeli invasion. The statue was a collaboration between German artist, Thomas Kilpper, and 12 Palestinian youth.

A poem I wrote back in 2017, "Lost Rhyme," was a part of a collection of short poems and quick sketches I made using only a regular speedball inscribed on a notepad. The collection, titled "Sketches and Scribbles", is a series of experimental attempts to knit together poetry and visual art, and was initially posted on my Facebook and Instagram accounts. The collection is now on display on my official website, Lines of Lila.

"Lost Rhyme" is one of my poems reflecting on war and the many lives lost because of it. It was published in my first poetry collection, Line Breaker. This version is a revision of the original poem and is intended to depict the war crimes on occupied Gaza, Palestine.

For the past few years, veganism has taken baby steps in permeating the local and regional culinary scenes in this part of the world, as many vegans across the region come out of the open to demand for animal emancipation. Although many dishes in the Middle East are, by default, considered plant-based, the V-word has yet to enter the vocabulary of every household. 

Caking Moments is at the forefront of those that make the world accessible for vegans in Kuwait. With sweets that are aesthetically delightful, mouth-watering, and unbelievably vegan—from cakes and cookies to cupcakes and any kind of pastries or confections that fit any occasion—you name it, Caking Moments veganizes it. 

The vanilla cupcakes are on top of my list. The cupcakes are filled with chocolate made with coconut milk and coconut cream, in which the subtle flavor of vanilla complements the dark, strong flavor of the chocolate. Meanwhile, the chocolate cake is the jewel in the crown. It is made with completely rich organic cocoa powder, oatmeal, coconut oil, with thick caramel filling made with coconut milk, unrefined cane sugar, and vegan butter. Plus, it is packed with crushed, roasted peanuts that are a mob favorite.

Speaking with the owner and manager of Caking Moments, Bhavani, who is a pediatric occupational therapist for 12 years in Kuwait, I learned that she started baking by the end of 2020, and turned the gear to vegan baking after realizing the big space that needed filling for the market. Hence, she started combing through reading materials on vegan food and baking from then on, resulting to the birth of Caking Moments on March 2021.

With encouragements and wise advice from the family, especially Bhavani's sister, Caking Moments diverted its focus on vegan-friendly and allergen-free substitutes from traditional baking ingredients, which parents of children with allergies will love, and that any sweet-toothed foodie, vegan or non-vegan alike, will surely enjoy. To order, please visit Caking_Moments on Instagram.

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Among the products are creations by Emirati talents, as well as, national small and medium companies, including clothes made from recycled materials, souvenirs, and futuristic educational games.

Locally inspired products include those from the Calligraphy collection. They are intricately decorated in Arabic calligraphy (the cursive script also known as thuluth is the same one wrapped around the building) inspired by quotes from His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, which embodies the spirit of the museum and its mission.

Taking home the museum experience

The store provides visitors with the opportunity to find souvenirs with which to relive their experience of the museum. Among the collections are souvenirs related to the unique design of the museum and its character, depicting elements such as the building's recognisable stainless-steel façade. These include travel mugs, bookmarks, notepads, and pens among others.

The museum's elaborate Arabic calligraphy and the building's use of 3D printing technology in the construction process are among the features that have inspired gifts for the store. Exhibits including OSS Hope, the Heal Institute and Al Waha have inspired some of the souvenirs.

Products within the OSS Hope collection include keychains that feature the museum's depiction of humanity's home in space and the potential for future space travel. The Heal Institute collection comprises prints impressed on tote bags, coin purses, pouches, and scarfs.

There are also A3 prints of the digital recreation of flora, replicating the museum's digital rainforest. Reflecting Al Waha's earthy tones, the collection includes cream-colored tea and coffee sets. Among the souvenirs are gifts related to the Future Heroes exhibit, dedicated for children ages 3 to 10. Lastly, a number of products are inspired by the museum's Tomorrow Today exhibit, relating to areas such as health, education, smart cities, energy, and transportation. 

The fictional artist is based on two historical women, Judith Leyster and Sara van Baalbergen. They were the first women painters to be included in a Guild of St. Luke in the Netherlands during the 17th century. Both artists whose names were almost buried with them and forgotten as none of their works would have survived until one collector discovered Leyster's monogram on a Frans Hals painting in 1892.

In Dominic Smith's "The Last Painting of Sara de Vos", Sara's artwork, At the Edge of a Wood, was stolen and forged. Assumed to be the only surviving work of the 17th century artist, the painting was replaced with the one created by art history doctoral student, Eleanor "Ellie" Shipley. 

Sara is described as a still-life Dutch painter, facing gender stereotype in that era, and involved in art sale in the Netherlands as member of a painters' guild. Her daughter's death resulted in her family's financial predicaments until she finally gives up her craft and focused on domestic life.

[Marty de Groot] won’t mention that it’s the only surviving painting of Sara de Vos, the first woman to be admitted, in 1631, as a master to a Guild of St. Luke in Holland. And who could he tell that he liked to stare up at the girl’s pale and cryptic face while he made slow, contemplative love to his melancholic wife in the years after her second miscarriage?

Exerpt, The Last Painting of Sara de Vos, Dominic Smith