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BAHRAINI photographer Ishaq Madan has given the Pearling Path a new lease of life, capturing the iconic location with a unique perspective, for a collaboration with an international magazine.
The creative was approached by Condé Nast Traveller Middle East for a story about the site that found a spot on the globally revered Unesco World Heritage List in 2012.
Last month, Pearling Path was also featured among the 100 greatest places of the year by Time Magazine.
“I really love walking around Bahrain, observing, experiencing and documenting different things,” the 31-year-old told GulfWeekly. And so, when the magazine approached him for an assignment in Bahrain, he instantly agreed.
“There was an onboarding process with the team and I met writer Nicola Chilton and we just went on a walk,” he added.
The Pearling Path is a testament to Bahrain’s rich pearling history – the kingdom’s economy was fuelled by pearl trade in the 19th century until the 1930s. The 3.5km tour offers a glimpse into Muharraq – the ‘pearling capital’ of Bahrain for centuries – and includes three vast oyster beds, the Bu Maher seashore and historic buildings and architectural structures, including the homes of pearling merchants.
“The site is incredible and has elevated Muharraq and its cityscape,” Ishaq said.
“These points around Muharraq tell a story about the past. And, in a way, also bring the past to the present, preserving heritage and culture. It’s a way for the new generation to understand and learn about the past and the older generation to appreciate what we had and still do.”
What really stands out for him is how the Pearling Path incorporates public spaces or mini plazas, which are named after different types of pearls. “I find that really beautiful,” Ishaq said.
“The site also offers a place for communities to come together – locals and people from abroad - and for everyone to indirectly or directly interact, which is the hallmark of the pearling path,” he added.
“Capturing it photo-graphically was an honour. A huge thanks to the Pearling Path team. I enjoyed the architecture, the streets, especially people interacting with spaces; I think there’s such a poetic narrative in how we interact with spaces around us. It speaks volumes about who we are as islanders and helps relay our story about our island.
“Amidst the globalisation and developments, Bahrain, at its core, is an island, and the pearling heritage has helped propel the kingdom to where it is now,” the self-taught shutterbug added.
Ishaq has been capturing the beauty of Bahrain for more than 10 years and it all started with an iPhone 4. Since then, he has graduated to a Nikon, however, the sentiment behind his passion remains the same.
A fan of Japanese photographer Daidō Moriyama’s ‘raw and unorthodox’ work, Ishaq received recognition for his participation as a judge in the Nasser bin Hamad International Youth Creativity Award in 2021. He then discovered the Japanese concept of ‘wabi sabi’ this year, which underpins the beauty in imperfection.
“The way you approach life and capture things can unlock new ways of seeing it,” he added.
The creative director of Ishaq Madan Photography is currently working on a photobook about Bahrain.
The Pearling Path sites, managed by the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities, are closed for maintenance until September 1, according to their official page on Instagram.
Follow @ishaqmadan on Instagram.
