Issue 2-5

Canvas looks at the role of art in Lebanon as the country is burdened with conflict and war. We also visit the flagship gallery of Iwan Maktabi in the heart of Beirut, which was handed down from father to son and made the ancient art of carpet-weaving a distinguished art form. In a similar vein, we celebrate craftsmanship – both ancient and modern – with a fascinating visit to the Prince’s School of Traditional Arts in London and on the same trip we take a look at the re-opened Jameel Gallery at the Victoria and Albert Museum. Design guru Karim Rashid’s Cai vase graces the cover of this Ramadan issue, exemplifying the perfect marriage between tradition and belief, creativity and innovation.