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We, we need that everything be expressed. We need to feel, to
embrace. We need a rational form in the language. Take the French
poets, the German poets, the Roman poets; there is always a
description that helps us to vibrate with the poem. When a poem
succeeds in describing something overwhelming to us, then we grasp
it and we vibrate. They, I don’t think they need this. Everything is
caught outside the writing sheet, by the tone of the voice, by
something elusive. In a way, I find them more... near my culture, not
because we do not embrace each other, but because we are shy to do
it in public, and because we have a whole world of silent expressions,
a world of shared traditions.”
Ibrâhim took a stem of the Arabian Arak, a little piece of
wood shaped like a brush. During his speech, he rubbed his teeth with
it, then he stood up and disappeared for a moment. I could hear him in
the adjacent room muttering some verses while performing one of the
daily Islamic prayers.
A page of the Noble Qur'an written in Arabic and in Kanji
Source unknown. Please help us find the provenance.
While I am waiting for him to return, I look around his flat,
intrigued by this incredible medley of cultures. I thought for so long
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that they had nothing in common that I was surprised by my
interviewee's point of view. Now I understand better how they could
complete each other harmoniously.
Near the Noble Qur'an displayed on a traditional book holder, I
discover a piece of board. Its red ink is obliterated. It is old and the
words are written in Arabic. This writing for me seems as mysterious
as the Japanese writing. Next to little Japanese punches painted with
the traditional Indian ink, rest several Arabic calligraphies. One uses
the script to define the shape of a Muslim performing his prayers.
Most notable, there is a picture of a barbarian woman wearing a
woolen veil ornamented with staples of wool red, yellow and blue. Her
face half hidden by the black cloak shows fair brown eyes spangled
with the brown powder of the antimony.
When Ibrâhim enters the room again, I ask:
“Why do you think that the Moroccan culture resembles the
Japanese culture?”
“Well... When a woman drinks tea, the manner she spreads her
fingers, the habit she has to hide her mouth is very typical of the
Arabic culture.
Although she uncovers herself or she bares her head, without a veil,
the veil exists. She will not look you straight in the eyes, ever; her
eyes will meet yours only for a few seconds. On the opposite side, a
girl from the Occident is able to look at you during hours without any
problem. The fixation on something or someone is responsible for her
to lose most of her expression.”
Veiled Japanese woman (up)
And
Traditionally veiled Moroccan
woman(right)
Both images are
2000-2001 www.arttoday.com
The gaze of Ibrâhim had again this affectionate look that
characterizes him. The power of the eyes, he learnt its meaning one
day he took the bus to go to the railroad station, EKKI, almost the
only word he knew at this time in Japanese. In his way to Ekki, he
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