02 Paintings, MIDDLE EASTERN ART, Anna Boghiguian's Zar, with Footnotes, #62

Anna Boghiguian (b. 1946)

Zar, c. 1999

Mixed media (watercolour, crayon, marker on paper)

sheet: 40.5 by 59.5 cm.; 16 by 23 1/2 in.

Private collection

Estimated for 4,000 - 6,000 GBP in Apr 2023

In the cultures of the Horn of Africa and adjacent regions of the Middle East, Zār is the term for a demon or spirit assumed to possess individuals, mostly women, and to cause discomfort or illness. The so-called zār ritual or zār cult is the practice of exorcising such spirits from the possessed individual.

Anna Boghiguian (b. 1946)

Zar Near Qait Bay, c. 1999

Mixed media on paper

41.5 by 59.3 cm. 16 1/4 by 23 1/2 in.

Private collection

Estimated for 4,000 - 6,000 GBP in Apr 2023

Zār exorcism has become popular in the contemporary urban culture of Cairo and other major cities of the Islamic world as a form of women-only entertainment. Zār gatherings involve food and musical performances and they culminate in ecstatic dancing, lasting between three and seven nights. The tanbūra, a six-string bowl lyre,[3] is often used in the ritual.[4] Other instruments include the manjur, a leather belt sewn with many goat hooves, and various percussion instruments. More on Zar

Qaitbay Citadel In Alexandria was built in the 15th century, Qaitbay Citadel is located in the far north of the entrance to the eastern harbor, at the same place where the ancient Lighthouse of Alexandria lay.

Anna Boghiguian, B. 1947, EGYPTIAN. Born in Cairo, Anna Boghiguian studied art and music at the Concordia University in Montreal and political science and economics at the American University in Cairo. Throughout her travels the artist developed an intimate visual diary, drawing and colouring her surroundings assimilated with text, poetry and sketches. Every image is marked with a different kind of dynamic, often spontaneous.

Anna Boghiguian has been widely exhibited in renowned institutions throughout the world since the late 1980s. Her works can be found in the permanent collections of Neue Galerie, Kassel, Germany; Institut du Monde Arabe Paris, France; Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, UAE; Kadist Art Foundation, Paris, France and Musée Carre d'Art, Nîmes, France. More on Anna Boghiguian

Please visit my other blogs: Art Collector, Mythology, Marine Art, Portrait of a Lady, The Orientalist, Art of the Nude and The Canals of Venice, Middle East Artists, 365 Saints, 365 Days, and Biblical Icons, also visit my Boards on Pinterest and my art stores at  deviantart and Aaroko

Images are copyright of their respective owners, assignees or others. Some Images may be subject to copyright

I don't own any of these images - credit is always given when due unless it is unknown to me. if I post your images without your permission, please tell me.

Ads are shown only to compensate the hosting expenses.

If you enjoyed this post, please share with friends and family.

Thank you for visiting my blog and also for liking its posts and pages.

Please note that the content of this post primarily consists of articles available from Wikipedia or other free sources online.