NEW COLLECTION…

In the vast cosmos,
Stars are being born,
Galaxies expand,
And dark matter fills the infinite space. 

In the middle of all this, I stand, infinitely small, infinitely big. Every atom of me is made of stardust, of cosmic fragments created 

in the fires burning at the heart of stars. 

So like the stars, I shine and I resonate with the vibrations of the Universe. 

Equanimity is what measures the extent to which one is able to embrace changes, find meaning in times of hardship, sees each day as a gift, and feels good about the direction of ones life.

 In daily life, equanimity is not something easy to reach. It takes a practiced mindset to look at any situation from a bird’s eye view. When we go through difficult times, often our first reaction is to try to get rid of the pain or pretend it’s not there. 

A very important aspect of equanimity is the ability to face what’s actually here and to open to all the feelings that arise, good or bad.

When my journey on this earth goes through a rough patch, I try to remember my own past dramas and disappointments that have taught me important life lessons and that helped me grow. 

By consciously switching my thoughts to the bigger picture, I create a small window of equanimity in my life, in the hope that with time and experience these windows will get bigger and bigger.

In Buddhism, equanimity is neither a thought nor an emotion, it is the ground for wisdom and freedom and the protector of compassion and love. How beautiful is that!

I am so happy to present you this new little project… The journey of a spiritual traveler. His musings and tribulations as he moves through the world and seeks a deeper understanding of life.
Through the ideal journey of this little traveler, I reflect and question my very own life experience in a  playful and light-hearted way.

The Sahasrara chakra is a reminder of oneness. That we are all one. That we have always been and we will always be. That we care about others.

This month of October, the breast cancer awareness month, we would like to offer a 10% discount on the Sahasrara pendants on thread in 18k rose gold, white gold or yellow gold.

Enter code THINKPINKBH upon checkout to get your special discount.
10% of the proceeds from this code will go to Think Pink Bahrain.
Discount code is valid until 31st October 2021.

For you or for any woman you care about.
Be aware, love yourself.

A conversation with Dalal Al Najem, a young Bahraini filmmaker and visual artist. She majored in Film and TV at the the University of Arts in London.

tinyOm: Thank you dear Dalal for collaborating with us! We’ve been following your beautiful works and especially enjoyed your collaboration with Elias Madan shown at the Annual Bahrain Fine Art Exhibition last year. We also had the pleasure of attending the Ta’a Alshabab film festival of Bahrain and see you casted in the opening night film, which you also co-directed. In general, I see that your recurring narratives are mostly connected to tradition and heritage. Can you tell us a bit more about your work, your inspirations?

Dalal: To start off, personally, what my hands and mind create are definitely a visual reflection of myself translated from past experiences and what I’ve seen through my perspective. The connection to tradition that reoccurs in my work is not necessarily predominant but rather involuntary. As if it is has been constructed deep within me since birth. It’s not something I found, but rather something that has developed over time. My inspiration comes mainly from women from the region. Listening to women’s stories, especially women close to home and women who have left their mark on the world. Because we live in a male dominant society, I think when a woman flourishes and thrives, she can inspire a whole generation and make such an impact. These women should be remembered, appreciated, supported and listened to.

tinyOm: Do you find that Bahraini women stand-out?

Dalal: Of course, they also stand-out from many of the other gulf countries. Bahrain women are very in touch with their upbringing, with their legacy. They have a sense of home to them, because that’s where they feel safe. It is in the comfort of our homes that we are able to be fully ourselves, as queens and princesses. There’s an Arabic saying that translate to “a mother is a school” and I believe our women are accurate examples of this, schools in which we can learn the smallest to the biggest lessons from.

tinyOm: Do you have a role model or woman that stand-out in your family or friends?

Dalal: Most definitely, the lineage of family from my great-grandmother to my grandmother to my mother has inspired me immensely. Since I was a young girl, I would always say I hope to grow into the woman my mother is. From her strength and patience to her endurance to deal with what life throws at you with grace. My mother will forever be my role model and who I wish to become one day is someone she is proud of. And in general, the success story of any woman, that’s enough for me to be inspired.

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tinyOm: What attracted you to film and image?

Dalal: The hunger we humans have for stories is part of our DNA. Storytelling has been our first tools of learning and surviving. Being able to tell stories gives you prestige and when people listen, they’re entertained, they learn. Film and image are the premier method of storytelling today and is also the greatest tool for preserving history. Growing-up all I can remember was my father with a video camera in his hand and I didn’t realize how important it was until later in life, when I look back at videos of me as a baby. My memories were like bits and pieces pieced together like a puzzle. With me being a visual person, it is certainly the reason why I chose the path of film. Looking back at those home movies, I got a sense of what my childhood was like and was able to connect with my childhood senses – the smells, sights, smells and textures.

tinyOm: How do you define your connection to your roots, your heritage?

Dalal: I feel it’s important to remain connected to them because they ground you. It is such a big part of me, its hereditary, kind of like a string of DNA, this is how I feel when I think about my heritage and it will show up in my work involuntarily, whether I like it or not.

tinyOm: I perceived the installation you did with Elias Madan as very nostalgic…

Dalal: Absolutely. It was a video called ”Home” filmed in the most iconic locations of home. Again, it is a reference to why I used the word home when describing Bahraini women. I displayed the film on my grandmother’s actual TV set that’s still at my grandmother’s house and has been there for almost more than 50 years, with so many memories attached to it. I remember as a kid running around it and scraping it and noticing that it still carries those very same marks. It was like taking a corner of my grandmother’s house and showcasing it at the Bahrain National Museum. It had that kind of a nostalgic feeling, expressed in a very personal way but every Bahraini or even non- Bahraini and it could be relatable. There was a deep connection to growing-up and being nearby the elder generation.

tinyOm: You started talking about your childhood memories, is there a specific one that stands-out? A smell, a sound, an odor?

Dalal: My most distinctive memory and the most vivid one is the sound of the oud. My Dad is a musician, so growing-up every single night I would hear the sound of the oud coming from his room as if it was just something casual, like the sound of the birds chirping outside my window every morning. It’s all I grew-up knowing, so the oud is a very significant instrument for me especially because I’ve been listening to my father’s music ever since I was in my mother’s womb. And this is why music has a significant role in my life, being a descendant of a musician.

tinyOm: Would you say that there’s a place which you find very iconic that really embodies Bahrain for you?

Dalal: Anywhere vintage. I’m into restoring what we already have instead of westernizing it. I prefer when we take what we have from our traditions and make it better instead of disregarding it and turning to the west. I would say, Muharraq is my hometown, its where my Dad was born and raised so every time we go back there I have this sense that my Dad is telling hidden stories, stories that are concealed underneath the bricks, which once-upon-a-time was sand. I believe that all of the stories lie in the sand. So the most iconic places of Bahrain for me are literally the sand and Muharraq.

tinyOm: We call our collection Land of Destiny. Can you tell us a little bit what destiny evokes for you?

Dalal: The concept of destiny is a very hopeful one. Being able to believe that what is yours will reach you no matter where it is in the world. Destiny is what has been written for us before we were even born. Our purpose. The goal is to find out what it is. Being able to believe in the idea that life occurrences are because of what’s written for you is a very soothing feeling.

tinyOm: Another word we use in the collection is joy. Can you tell us what brings you joy?

Dalal: I am also a firm believer that we are able to write our own destiny, based on our actions, our karma, what we put out to the universe, that itself is delightful to understand. Knowing that by being able to truly believe that if I put out good into the world I will receive good. So you give what you get. Happiness for me is feeling content. Things that bring joy to me are womanhood, sisterhood, family, friends, laughter, travel, adventures and most importantly just going to bed at night with no worries. I think that’s what joy is. The little blessings.

tinyOm: Finally, how would you define Bahrain to someone who has never visited the island?

Dalal: I would say, Bahrain, the land of the two seas, is a diverse island with a great love for community. Because it’s such a small island, everyone is in close proximity and knows each other so everyone wants to help out. Because their hearts are lenient on each other. Everyone wants to cooperate, everyone wants to shine and rise and we’re all here for it. It’s an island life, so the ocean is your playground and were blessed enough to be treated to the most beautiful sunsets. We love eating fish, which is the most common lunch dish in almost every household. And it’s an island surrounded by brown and blue, life is laid back and there’s a lot of sensation for community and family. And you kind of get the best of both worlds, it’s an island but you get the city life entertainment too, so its two-in-one.

Land of Destiny Collection
Dalal Al Najem Films: https://vimeo.com/dalalalnajem

Reem Al Khalifa is the founder of Green Bar Inc., a Bahraini apothecary crafting botanical skin care with native medicinal plants. 

Her passion is to bring awareness to the healing potential of the plants in this geographical area, connecting the people to the land, and bringing awareness to the environment.

Reem creates products that reinvent the use of forgotten ingredients, for a modern world.

We enjoyed this conversation with Reem about what inspires her and how she connects to her Bahraini heritage while being an adventurous innovator.

tinyOm: So what does heritage mean to you? How would you define it?

Reem: I think that heritage means being from a place, being completely Bahraini, I think heritage can be a heavy word. But I feel the sense of community here, and I love the community. I also love the land because of the challenges that come with living in the desert. It’s kind of like accepting what you have and loving what you have.

tinyOm: Do you connect heritage to culture?

Reem: Culture is only the culture that I’ve grown up with. I don’t force myself to accept anything that doesn’t come naturally to me. Everything I experience that has culture is by osmosis.

tinyOm: Is there a memory like smell, color or texture that comes to mind when you think about heritage?

Reem: The smell of a tomato is something that I really love because it reminds me of being in the garden with my grandfather, and tomatoes grow really well in Bahrain. I just love their smell. It’s one of my first aromatic memory.

tinyOm: How did Green Bar Inc. come about?

Reem: I was very interested in using the harvest and the local resources and not letting them go to waste. I wanted to integrate them again into our daily life. Even if I feel I am only at the beginning of my research, using the ingredients that we have and that grow here, that is something that I feel is worth pursuing.

tinyOm: You also have a really sustainable approach in your work, like using the date seed that used to be mostly disposed of.

It’s actually a bit rebellious because I am finding new ways to use local ingredients. For example, if something like aloe vera is cooling then why wouldn’t I start using it even if it wasn’t before?  It’s a form of rebellion when you’re trying to create a new culture.

And when I started using the date seeds and transforming them into activated charcoal, it worked so well and it was fun. I like that I could even keep the pretty shape of the date seed. It’s a bit experimental. It’s not part of the heritage, its experimental but it’s using some old and new remix.

My work is often experimental, I just check if something is worth doing. If no one has used it before but it works and its good for you, then I’ll start.

tinyOm: What is the product that is the most emblematic for Green Bar and the most connected to Bahrain for your?

Reem: I think one of the most emblematic things to Green Bar, is the rose. Rose water is something that everybody here understands. It’s one of the beauty secrets of the Middle East and it was also used as a medicine. It’s very potent. It is digestive, astringent, cooling, it really has many benefits.

tinyOm: What is the most iconic place for you in Bahrain?

Reem: I think the Tree of Life is special, because that tree offers so much shade and being in the desert, shade is something that we really appreciate and treasure.

And we don’t know how old it is, it’s mysterious in so many ways.

tinyOm: how do you connect to this ancient Sumerian script that was used mainly for trade but also to sing lullabies?

Reem: I think its very interesting to connect to this old script, we really haven’t spent enough time in our schools looking at the Island’s own history. I think that words are always special because they are affirmations. Any words can be your affirmation. And especially if you wear it, it’s so powerful to have your affirmation on you reminding you all the time.

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tinyOm: So one of the words is ‘Joy’, what does it evoke for you?

Reem: You don’t really need to spend much to have joy. You need to be grounded, you need to be in the sunshine a bit, so there are really simple ways that you can find joy in your daily life. Like working out in in the morning, and then taking cold shower, followed by a nice breakfast. It’s important to remember that you can easily bring joy to yourself. You can choose it. A little bit of sunshine, a little sweat and you’ll feel much lighter.

tinyOm: And what about destiny? What does destiny evoke for you?

Reem: I think that you can definitely change your destiny. You can tweak it here and there, depending on how grounded you are and how interested you are to evolve yourself. It is definitely a pro-active process to be in touch with your destiny.

tinyOm: How would you define Bahrain for someone who has never visited the island?

Reem: Bahrain is very communal, which is great. I think that people here are very open. Generally, people living on an island are relaxed. Bahrain is are known to be kind, it’s kind of innate. And we are excited and curious to know people passing by us. It’s like they bring the world to us. We tend to be happy to embrace that because it just opens us up!

Land of Destiny Collection
Green Bar website: https://greenbarinc.com / Instagram @greenbarinc or @greenbarcafe

A conversation with Ghada Khuji – the stories of her adventures, inspirations and heritage…

Ghada Khunji is a graduate of the Parsons School of Design (1995) and the International Center of Photography’s documentary programme, both in New York. She received numerous awards as a documentary photographer, including the Lucie Discovery of the Year (2006).

In recent years, Khunji has shifted her lens from the peripheral to explore her deepest contemplations on cultural identity and the perspective of women hail.

tinyOm: Thank you so much Ghada. Thank you for coming and joining this creative adventure. It is very special that you collaborate with us today. Can you tell us a little bit about you and your art?

Ghada: My pleasure… I’m kind of your typical story of growing up with a camera in my hand. I think I had my first camera in my hand when I was 6 years old. And then I found my mother’s suitcase full of old negatives, so and that’s where the inspiration came from. I decided at 18 that I was going to go to college abroad and started with doing Public Relations and Business, but realize that my interest really lay in Photography so I went to Parsons School of Design in New York. I first wanted to do fashion photography but then soon realized I was more into the reality, the real people. You know, the forgotten ones, the ones behind the scenes, so I focused on documentary photography and I did that for 25 years! But when I came back to Bahrain I decided to focus on myself instead – whatever inner demons I have, or fears, or things I wanted to express. So I stared to more photo collage, and expanded, you know sort of like Leonardo da Vince did everything, was a man of all trades. I decided not to just focus on photography, but installations and brought me back to fashion by making my own dresses now. And so, like they say “the world is a big oyster”, for me like there’s many pearls in that oyster shell. And that’s what I’m focusing on now.

tinyOm: So you said when you came here you kind of reconnected you art to the Bahraini culture and heritage, can you tell us a little bit how you connected now to the culture and heritage?

Ghada: Well you know, a lot of us travel away to go and study abroad, and for me being away for 25 years I was sort of what they call a ‘third culture child’, you are caught between two cultures. You don’t know if you’re here or there. But where you’re born is so important, because it’s almost inherent in your genes, and so yes it took me a while but when I came back and looked at Bahrain and what’s going around, and the sort of the pearl diving community… it brought me back to what my grandfather used to do, he was a pearl merchant. And so the first piece I did which I feel was very culturely and in my heritage is making two big six-meters sails made of the women in my family, the abayas and the men’s thawb, and I called them mother and father – Baba and Mami. So I brought sort of, not just the time that I’m living in but brought back the history in the culture of my own heritage and my upbringing. So although being abroad and being away for so long, it’s almost like the fire just lit up when I came back and I started to really focus on my own culture.

tinyOm: So we all have kind of a very personal sense of heritage and its meaning like when we’ve been discussing with different people. Its quite a personal definition, it really varies from one person to the next. How would you define it, what is for you a heritage is?

Ghada: I think we can’t escape heritage. You know a lot of us try to sometimes run away from it, but its so instilled in me that I couldn’t help but look at the old stories, the old books, the old negatives, the old pictures that brought me to a sense of like who I really am. You can’t, even though you’re abroad doesn’t mean it changes what happens in the first 5 years or 10 years of your life. This is the land of destiny, the land of immortality, this is where the tree of life is, and so, I don’t know I feel like I’m a goddess within it now. Whereas being away was very important, to also learn from other cultures, but it wasn’t truly the heritage for me. Now I feel like I’m one of the old doors that belong here.

tinyOm: And I feel you have connected very beautifully your personal family heritage with the global island heritage, and that just creates something which is both very personal and very Bahraini in a really beautiful mix.

Ghada: Thank you, and I mean I also think that is what heritage is, it’s to share it with others.

tinyOm: For you its connected really to your culture, your heritage?

Ghada: Absolutely. My culture, my past, who my grandfather was, who my grandmother was. But yet learning, it was important to leave and learn from other people, and then to comeback to sort of the heart and soul of who I really am. Its like opening a new chapter that never opened before.

tinyOm: Is there a specific memory, smell, color, texture that comes to mind – maybe from your childhood, when you think about your heritage or your culture?

Ghada: Well the smells are so interesting, its anything from chicken biryani, to an Indian curry, to the smell of oud and incense that my grandmother used to wear, my mother. Smell is such an important sense, I can smell a perfume now and it reminds me of someone from 30 years ago. And for me, its really the color of this region its brown, its earthy, its rich with hints of color. Its earth, it’s the sand and the dunes and the burial mounds, its really everything, its years and thousands of years of history.

tinyOm: Is there a place that you find very iconic, that kind of embodies all this Bahraini heritage?

Ghada: For me it would have to be Manama, that’s where I was born. In the part of Manama that’s near La Fontaine I was born around there, so still now I can go back and walk around the homes and still see some of them. You know sadly they’re barren, but their soul is still there, so definitely I’m a Manama girl.

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tinyOm: One of the collections is destiny, so can you tell us a little bit what destiny evokes for you?

Ghada: Destiny is what you make. Destiny is when you see and visualize who you want to be. You make destiny, destiny does not make you. And so here I am, years later thinking my destiny is meant to be in the US or Europe, but no destiny is here, its home. And destiny is everywhere. I see it going far, I want to be in one of those encyclopedia books. So I thinks that’s what I feel about destiny. And its powerful. Its divine. Its women. All those things are destiny.

tinyOm: And I think you’re really becoming like such an iconic Bahraini, that you are now heritage of Bahrain already when you’re alive.

Ghada: Inshallah, but we are far far away to go. And that’s the thing, never stop believing. Tomorrow really is another day. And dream big. And its time I feel like women need to shine. Like I’m woman hear me roar. I’m Arab woman. I’m every kind of woman. In Bahrain, the beauty of this country is that its multi-cultural, we’re accepting of all – every religion, every color – doesn’t matter, we’re all just one. Its time for us to shine.

Land of Destiny Collection
Ghada Khunji Instagram: @gkhunji

“Divine Pure Lady
Palm Tree Land and meadow serene
Life happy destiny
All bound by the wind”

Nathaly – artist and founder of the home design brand Yalla Habibi – and I have been friends and sharing artistic ventures for many years.

We both call Bahrain Home and during a museum visit, we came across a minimalist ancient script called Cuneiform, the widely used writing system from the ancient Middle East, dating back to 3400 BC.

After playfully deciphering the meaning of various pictograms, we had fun putting together our favorite Cuneiform pictograms in a small poem and made it into a pendant. The pleasing result led us to develop the Heritage Collection, now including delicate necklaces, bracelets, earrings and rings bearing the meaningful pictograms “Destiny” and “Joy”.

Love Virginie

Land of Destiny Collection