The abstract art of Ali Kaaf is the result of his interests and dealings with script, architecture, and history. Kaaf’s abstractions are inspired by important cities in his life—Damascus, Beirut, and Berlin—and concepts such as Sufi mysticism and Islamic philosophy. The solo exhibition 'I Know the Emptiness of this House' at Darat al Funun features new commissions and a range of selected works covering various artistic disciplines, from drawings of paper and ink to photography, sound, video, and installations. At the center of this exhibition, Kaaf presents a new commission titled I Know the Emptiness of this House (2023), a spatial installation reflecting on Qusair Amra, the historical building built during the Umayyad era (between 723 and 743 AD) by Walid Ibn Yazid in the eastern deserts of Jordan. This conversation with Ali discusses this new commission, solo exhibition, and the evolution of his artistic practice.

'Architecture of the Territory: Constructing National Narratives in the Arab World' examines the role that national narratives have in defining the Arab world through the use of architecture and urban planning. The publication uncovers some of the mechanisms and narratives that have shaped the territory and its society. The selected essays, written by researchers and professionals, are the beginning of a dialog, touching on themes such as agricultural strategies, imported housing typologies, the issues inherited from colonial borders, and the effect of politics on infrastructure projects and cultural heritage. While critical contributions draw on local histories and context, they also run in parallel and contribute to the discourse on current global issues.

The concept and design direction for the Nabila Hilmi Retrospective Exhibition catalogue entailed a historical survey and mapping of her trajectory as an artist. The exhibition, which took place at the Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts, and commissioned by Suha Shoman, covered the breadth of Nabila's work and experiments. A contribution in the form of an exhibition review serves as the introduction to this book, alongside essays by HRH Princess Wijdan Ali and Dr. Khaled Khreiss.