"Koranschüler, Sultan Qaboos Mosche, Nizwa"

pigmentbased inkjet print on aluminum Dibond

titled, dated, and signed on verso

The picture was created as part of a commissioned work for the 50^th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Austria and Oman.

Since the 15^th century, Nizwa, 180 km southwest of the capital Mascat, has been the seat of the Islamic leader (Imam) - in contrast to Mascat, which is traditionally the seat of the Sultan of Oman. As a result, Nizwa is a city of religious and cultural traditions.  One of the largest mosques, the Sultan Qaboos Mosque, is also located in Nizwa, where this picture was taken. 
When I visited the mosque for the first time one afternoon, I spotted this remarkable spatial alignment. However, the mosque was almost deserted at the time. But I was able to find out that a Koran school is also housed in this part, where lessons are always held in the morning. So I positioned the camera on a statv half an hour before midday the next day. And lo and behold, after only a short wait, the young and cheerful students were already streaming down this corridor.
(Nikolaus Korab)