Portrait of Sama Alshaibi
During the 14th century, explorer and scholar Ibn Batūtah set out on a bold trek, traveling through the Middle East, north Africa and the Maldives.
Artist Sama Alshaibi, a political refugee of Iraqi-Palestinian descent, learned of his travels in a book and grew interested in his journeys. Over the course of six years, she worked to retrace his path and documented 15 predominantly Muslim countries. She completed her project this spring in Morocco, where Batūtah started his expedition.
Alshaibi's videos and photos from her travels are presented in "Silsila," showing for the first time in the U.S. at the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art. The exhibit opens June 4.
