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KEEN photographer and long-term Bahrain expat resident Dagmar F. von Harryegg has received the perfect Christmas present in the shape of a stunning book featuring a pictorial journey into the island’s fascinating history.
The coffee-table book which traces the history of the ancient Dilmun civilisation as seen through the eyes of more than 20 international artists and photographers will have pride and place in her home on Amwaj Islands.
Delighted Dagmar picked up the prize from Herve Peyre, general manager of Swiss-Belhotel Seef Bahrain after correctly naming the hotel’s location in a recent GulfWeekly readers’ competition and having her entry drawn out first.
“I am very pleased to have won this competition, as I am not that lucky ... usually!
“I’m hoping to learn new aspects of Bahrain’s history. In addition, I am very much looking forward to the photos in the book as I am a keen photographer myself and have published several photographs in various publications.”
Dagmar was born in the city of Bonn in western Germany straddling the Rhine river, although she has held Belgian nationality for many years.
Now retired, she first came to Bahrain in 1983 for a six-year spell when her husband, Robert, was appointed as the regional manager for Commerzbank of Germany, before returning 10 years ago. “Our son Alexander was born here,” she said, “and just came all the way from Australia to visit us only last week. We always remembered Bahrain very fondly and are happy to be back.”
The renowned Rowaq Al-Balqa Foundation for Arts, Jordan, in partnership with Swiss-Belhotel Seef Bahrain, launched the limited edition publication entitled Dilmun: Love & Peace last month, as reported in GulfWeekly.
The one-of-a-kind 300 pages volume focuses on the ancient Dilmun civilisation and goes back to 3,000BC to shed light on the life of its people, its geographical expansion and its arts and legends.
As a key player in Bahrain’s tourism industry, the owners and management of the award-winning Swiss-Belhotel Seef wanted to celebrate the heritage of its home island and share the responsibility of conveying its history and values to visitors and residents.
“We believe that protecting and understanding culture and heritage is important to our community and, therefore, it is important to us,” said Herve. “This is why we happily took part in the Dilmun: Love & Peace project. Cultural heritage can provide a sense of unity and belonging within a local community, and it is the message that we want to communicate.”
Khaldoon Daoud, the Jordanian painter, designer and filmmaker who helped orchestrate the project, as well as long-time Bahrain resident and international photographer Manfred Erber, a German expat, whose work is featured in it, both signed Dagmar’s cherished prize.
Described by one book-lover as ‘a true collector’s piece,’ Dilmun: Love & Peace is available priced BD60 at Swiss-Belhotel Seef Bahrain.
