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    Art Informant

    A space for lovers, actors and welcomers to Islamic and Indian arts, to explore the actuality of the art market, exhibition and research.Every episode, join Isabelle Imbert as the Art Informant in conversations with specialists of the Islamic and Indian art history and art market.
    en-gb35 Episodes

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    Episodes (35)

    Turkish Ottoman Figure Painting with Suzanne Compagnon

    Turkish Ottoman Figure Painting with Suzanne Compagnon

    In today’s episode, Isabelle Imbert welcomes Dr Suzanne Compagnon, post-doctoral fellow at the university of Utrecht. Suzanne recently got her Ph.D. from the University of Vienna with a thesis focused on Turkish Ottoman painting, and more specifically on the single-page figures produced by the painters Levni and Bukhari in the first quarter of the 18th century. Ottoman painting in general has not been studied as much as its Persian and Indian counterparts, and Suzanne dived into the topic with passion. In the episode, they talk about the career and work of these two painters, their sources of inspiration, powdered wigs, bonnets, and much more.

    If you've liked this episode and want to support the Podcast, buy me a coffee!

    Mentioned in the Episode and Further Links

    Click here to see the reproductions of artefacts discussed in the episode. 

    Islamic Architecture of the Swahili Coast with Stephane Pradines

    Islamic Architecture of the Swahili Coast with Stephane Pradines

    Isabelle Imbert welcomes Pr Stephane Pradines, Professor of Islamic Art, Architecture and Archaeology at the Aga Khan University in London. Stephanes is an archaeologist with a particular expertise on Sub-Saharan Africa, a large region that is being discussed for the first time on this podcast, and for today the Swahili coast in the East. In the episode, they talk about Stephane’s past and ongoing archaeological projects, before diving into the architecture of the Swahili coast, artistic exchanges in the Indian ocean, as well as the practice of archaeology in different terrains and climates.  

    If you've liked this episode and want to support the Podcast, buy me a coffee!

    Mentioned in the Episode and Further Links

    Click here to see the reproductions of architectures and objects discussed in the episode. 

    ART Informant 2 Years Anniversary with Isabelle Imbert

    ART Informant 2 Years Anniversary with Isabelle Imbert

    For the 2 years anniversary of the ART Informant podcast, I welcome... myself. A very special host comes in to ask me questions about my newly released children's book, La Tortue et les Deux Canards, et autres fables de La Fontaine de source arabe, published at Versant Sud Jeunesse. We also talk about the podcast, of course, how and why it started, how it is going, and where I hope to take it in 2024. I hope you'll enjoy this very special episode!

    If you've liked this episode and want to support the Podcast, buy me a coffee!

    Mentioned in the Episode and Further Links

    Click here to see the reproductions of artefacts discussed in the episode. 

    Introduction to Art Law with Alexander Herman

    Introduction to Art Law with Alexander Herman

    In today’s episode, we take a step aside from Islamic & Indian art history to welcome Alexander Herman, director of the Institute of Art & Law in London. Alexander is specialised in the complex legislation of art and cultural heritage, and has recently published The Parthenon Marble dispute: Heritage, Law, Politics (Bloomsbury). In the episode, he offers the most valuable introduction to cultural heritage and provenance laws. He talks about his investigation in the dispute surrounding the Parthenon marbles, as well as several high profile cases involving art pieces, protection of cultural heritage and how to make sure the art you buy is legal and protected.

    If you've liked this episode and want to support the Podcast, buy me a coffee! 

    Mentioned in the Episode and Further Links 

     Click here to see the reproductions of artifacts discussed in the episode. 

    Art Informant
    en-gbNovember 13, 2023

    Al-Andalus and the V&A with Mariam Rosser-Owen

    Al-Andalus and the V&A with Mariam Rosser-Owen

    For the 30th episode of the ART Informant, Isabelle Imbert travels to mediaeval Spain with Dr Mariam Rosser-Owen, curator of the Middle Eastern Section in the Victoria and Albert Museum. Al-Andalus, Muslim Spain and Portugal, is particularly recognised for its rich production of carved ivory objects and its architecture, which Mariam and Isabelle talk about at length in the episode. They also discuss Mariam's role as a curator in the Victoria and Albert museum in London, the ongoing changes in the museum, and Mariam fascinating collaborations with contemporary artists.

    If you've liked this episode and want to support the Podcast, buy me a coffee!

    Mentioned in the Episode and Further Links

    Click here to see the reproductions of artifacts discussed in the episode.

    Art Informant
    en-gbOctober 16, 2023

    Production and Trade of Ottoman Textiles with Amanda Phillips

    Production and Trade of Ottoman Textiles with Amanda Phillips

    In this episode of the ART Informant, Isabelle Imbert welcomes Dr Amanda Phillips, Associate Professor of Islamic Art and Material Culture at the University of Virginia. Amanda specialises in the consumption and trade of textiles in Ottoman Türkiye. It is the topic of her latest book: Sea Change: Ottoman Textiles between the Mediterranean and the Indian Ocean, published in 2021 (University of California Press). In the episode, they talk about the techniques and particularities of Ottoman silks, such as the so-called Studenica silk, and of course of crimson and gold-embroidered velvets made in Bursa, particularly well represented on the market, as well as academic career, book writing, and much more.

    If you've liked this episode and want to support the Podcast, buy me a coffee!

    Mentioned in the Episode and Further Links

    Click here to see the reproductions of artefacts discussed in the episode. 

    Art Informant
    en-gbSeptember 18, 2023

    Scents of India Gardens with Bharti Lalwani and Nicolas Roth

    Scents of India Gardens with Bharti Lalwani and Nicolas Roth

    In the episode, Isabelle Imbert welcomes Bharti Lalwani, art critic and perfume maker, and Dr Nicolas Roth, visual librarian at Harvard University Library, gardener and historian of horticultural knowledge and practices in India. Bharti and Nicolas have collaborated on an online exhibition: Bagh-e Hind, the Garden of India, a unique project combining art history and perfume making to recreate smells of Rajput and Mughal paintings. In the episode, they talk about the creation of the exhibition, smells, shared visual cultures, the accessibility of art history to all, and more. 

    If you've liked this episode and want to support the Podcast, buy me a coffee!

    Mentioned in the Episode and Further Links

    Click here to see the reproductions of artefacts discussed in the episode. 

    Western Muslim Manuscripts & NY Public Library with Hiba Abid

    Western Muslim Manuscripts & NY Public Library with Hiba Abid

    In today’s episode, Isabelle Imbert welcomes Hiba Abid, doctor in Islamic Arts History and curator for Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies in the New York Public Library. Isabelle and Hiba have known each other for a long time, so it was time to catch up on the topics that passionate Hiba, in particular the history of manuscripts production in the Muslim West, a region still often ignored. Hiba is now a newly appointed curator and gives the audience real insights into her role, as well as the particularities of the NY Public library Middle-Eastern collection and its significance. 

    If you've liked this episode and want to support, buy me a coffee!

    Mentioned in the Episode and Further Links

    Chinese-Persian Artistic Exchanges with Valentina Bruccoleri

    Chinese-Persian Artistic Exchanges with Valentina Bruccoleri

    Isabelle Imbert welcomes Valentina Bruccoleri, doctor in Chinese art history and postdoctoral researcher of the Marco Polo Centre for Global Europe-Asia Connections at the university of Venice. Valentina is a specialist of Chinese ceramic, and more precisely, she specialises in the artistic interactions between the Persian dynasties of the Timurid (1370-1507) and Safavid (1501-1722), and the Chinese Yuan (1279–1368) and Ming (1368-1644) dynasties. In the episode, they talk about the production and trade of blue & white porcelains and celadons, of the circulation of ceramic forms and decorative motifs and of the reception of Chinese ceramics in the Persianate sphere, all from a Chinese perspective.

     If you've liked this episode and want to support, buy me a coffee! 

    Mentioned in the Episode and Further Links 

     Click here to see the reproductions of artefacts discussed in the episode. 


    Art Informant
    en-gbApril 17, 2023

    History of Early Qur'anic Manuscripts with Eleonore Cellard

    History of Early Qur'anic Manuscripts with Eleonore Cellard

    Isabelle Imbert welcomes Dr Eleonore Cellard, researcher in early Qur'anic manuscripts and specialist in codicology and palaeography. She holds a Ph.D. from the Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes in Paris and have been working ever since on uncovering the secrets of the oldest Quranic manuscripts. In the episode, they talk about when and how the Qur’an was put into writings and the characteristics of early Quranic manuscripts, including the challenges to date and locate them. We also talk about an important project Eleonore is currently conducting on early Moroccan manuscripts, and the urgency of documenting them.

     If you've liked this episode and want to support, buy me a coffee! 


    Mentioned in the Episode and Further Links 





    Art Informant
    en-gbMarch 13, 2023

    Medieval Arab Cooking with Daniel Newman

    Medieval Arab Cooking with Daniel Newman

    Isabelle Imbert welcomes Daniel Newman, professor at Durham University, specialist of Arabic language and literature and passionate about Medieval Arabic cooking books and culinary tradition. For years, Daniel has been recreated Medieval recipes, especially from the "Garden flowers in elegant food" (Zahr al-ḥadīqa fi ‘l-aṭʿima al-anīqa), written by Shihāb al-Dīn Aḥmad Ibn Mubārak Shāh in Egypt in the first half of the 15th century. In the episode, he talks about his work as a translator, the link between food and medicine and his experimentation with Medieval cuisine.

    If you've liked this episode and want to support, buy me a coffee!

    Mentioned in the Episode and Further Links 

    Click here to see the reproductions of artefacts discussed in the episode. 



    Art Informant
    en-gbFebruary 13, 2023

    Archaeology of Smells with Sterenn Le Maguer

    Archaeology of Smells with Sterenn Le Maguer

     In the first episode of 2023, Isabelle Imbert welcomes Dr Sterenn Le Maguer, archaeologist and specialist of the history of incense trade in the Islamic world before the 16th century. Sterenn is what we could call an archaeologist of smells, but she’s also the first archaeologist to come on the podcast, so in the episode, we talk about methodology and techniques of archaeology, but also of smell profiles and the importance of incense consumption in Islamic societies. 

     If you've liked this episode and want to support, by me a coffee! 

    Mentioned in the Episode and Additional Information

    Click here to see the reproductions of artefacts discussed in the episode

    Art Informant
    en-gbJanuary 16, 2023

    Calcutta on your Plate: History of Indian Cuisine with Nilosree Biswas

    Calcutta on your Plate: History of Indian Cuisine with Nilosree Biswas

    In the last episode of 2022, Isabelle Imbert welcomes Nilosree Biswas, Indian filmmaker and writer, author of Banaras: Of Gods, Humans and Stories and Alluring Kashmir: The Inner Spirit, as well as her latest book, Calcutta on your plate. Nilos grew up in Calcutta and has an intimate knowledge of its culinary cuisine, but through her book, she writes the history and tells the story of colonialism, communities, and particularly women. Through her knowledge and skills for storytelling, she paints the rich and complex cultural landscape of the city. This was a very enlightening conversation about an enlightening book.

     If you've liked this episode and want to support, by me a coffee! 

    Mentioned in the Episode and Further Links 

    Islamic and Indian Arms and Armours with Rachel Parikh

    Islamic and Indian Arms and Armours with Rachel Parikh

    This episode is part 2 of the interview with Dr Rachel Parikh, doctor in Islamic and Indian art history and curator specialised in arms and armours. In Part 1, her and the host, Dr Isabelle Imbert talked about her career as an art historian, her research on the Falnama manuscript in the Khalili collection, and her shift to curating. In this episode, they continue their conversation and focus on arms and armours of the Islamic and South-Asian lands. This is a very large field of inquiry, with few specialists and many unknowns, so Rachel was the perfect guest to talk about it and share her passion. 

    Trigger warning: this episode contains mentions to killing and certain details regarding executions.

    If you've liked this episode and want to support, buy me a coffee! 

    Mentioned in the Episode and Further Links 

     Click here to see the reproductions of artefacts discussed in the episode. 

    History of the Falname (Book of Omens) with Rachel Parikh

    History of the Falname (Book of Omens) with Rachel Parikh

    In this episode, Isabelle Imbert welcomes Dr Rachel Parikh, doctor in Islamic and Indian art history and curator specialised in arms and armours. Rachel and Isabelle started talking and didn’t see the time go by, ending up with a very long episode. After a vote on Instagram, it was decided that the episode would be divided in two, Part 1 focusing on Rachel’s career, her research on the Falnama manuscript in the Khalili collection, and her shift to curating, while Part 2 will be dedicated solely to arms and armours. 

     If you've liked this episode and want to support, buy me a coffee!
     
     Mentioned in the Episode and Further Links 

     Click here to see the reproductions of artefacts discussed in the episode. 

    ART Informant x Art Illuminated podcast with Esra Alhamal

    ART Informant x Art Illuminated podcast with Esra Alhamal

     In this episode, Isabelle Imbert welcomes Dr Esra Alhamal, doctor in design and visual artist specialised in Islamic illumination. Esra has been researching and creating biomorphic patterns for many years, as well as teaching the art of illumination in London and creating her own paint with natural pigment from a Medieval recipe. In the episode, we talk about her artistic practice, as well as her research on Safavid biomorphic pattern in architectural ceramic. She is also a fellow host of the Art Illuminated podcast, in which she interviews artists and makers working with traditional techniques.

     If you've liked this episode and want to support, by me a coffee! 

    Mentioned in the Episode and Further Links 

     Click here to see the reproductions of artefacts discussed in the episode. 





    History and Art of the Shahname with Firuza Melville

    History and Art of the Shahname with Firuza Melville

    In today’s episode, Isabelle Imbert welcomes Dr Firuza Melville, director of research of Cambridge Shahnama centre for Persian Studies and eminent specialist of the Persian poet Firdausi (c. 933-1020) and his Shahnama, the book of kings telling the epic history of Iran before Islam. The text was illustrated many times, including under the reign of Safavid ruler Shah Tahmasp (r. 1524-76). His manuscript was finished around 1535 and is considered by most as the pinnacle of Persian painting. Pages of the manuscript sometimes appear on the market, and one page will be sold at Sotheby's on the 26th October, so it is a perfect time to invite a great specialist to talk about the text, the manuscript and its history. 

    Firuza’s computer made some impromptu interventions at different points of the recording, which I couldn’t remove. I apologize for the inconvenience and hope it won’t be too distracting.

     If you've liked this episode and want to support, buy me a coffee!

    Mentioned in the Episode and Further Links

     
     Click here to see the reproductions of artefacts discussed in the episode. 

    Gingko Library & Leighton's house with Melanie Gibson

    Gingko Library & Leighton's house with Melanie Gibson

    Isabelle Imbert welcomes Dr Melanie Gibson, Art Historian specialised in Islamic ceramics, editor of the art history series at Ginkgo library, and board member and scientific advisor of the Leighton House in London. Melanie has been involved in teaching, research and edition for many years and has a wealth of experience to share. She has also participated in the restoration of the Arab hall in the London house of 19th century British artist Frederick Leighton, which will reopen to the public on the 15th October. Melanie gives us a tour of the house and explain in great details the intricacies of its breathtaking decors and the constitution of Leighton's collection.

     If you've liked this episode and want to support, by me a coffee!

    Mentioned in the Episode and Further Links 

     Click here to see the reproductions of artefacts discussed in the episode. 

    Mughal Architecture & the Khalili Collection with Mehreen Chida-Razvi

    Mughal Architecture & the Khalili Collection with Mehreen Chida-Razvi

    For the first episode of Season 2, Dr Isabelle Imbert welcomes Dr Mehreen Chida-Razvi, in-house editor and deputy curator in the Khalili collection of Islamic Arts, and specialist of Mughal architecture. The Mughal empire reigns between 1526 and 1857 on a territory that encompass, at its peak, modern India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, parts of Afghanistan, parts of Tibet, so talking about Mughal architecture is no small feat. Through the tombs, palaces and mosques, Mehreen gives some insights in what we call today Mughal architecture, its patronage, stylistic evolution, and the inherent challenges of its preservation. 

     Mentioned in the Episode and Further Links

    Click here to see the reproductions of artefacts discussed in the episode. 

    Architecture and Material Politics in the 15th c. Ottoman Empire with Patricia Blessing

    Architecture and Material Politics in the 15th c. Ottoman Empire with Patricia Blessing

    In the last episode of the first season of the ART Informant, Isabelle Imbert welcomes Patricia Blessing, Assistant Professor of Islamic Art and Architecture. Patricia specialises in the history of architecture in medieval Turkey. She published her first book in 2014, titled Rebuilding Anatolia after the Mongol Conquest: Islamic Architecture in the Lands of Rūm, 1240–1330, and is presenting today her second book, forthcoming in July 2022, Architecture and Material Politics in the Fifteenth-century Ottoman Empire (Cambridge University Press). Through the book, Isabelle and Patricia discuss multisensory architecture, artistic networks, the evolution of Turkish Ottoman architecture and the process of publishing a scientific book.

    If you've liked this episode and want to support, please consider donating.

     Mentioned in the Episode and Further Links 

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