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Background on my series "1001 nights"

This series is dedicated to better understanding in our multi-cultural world, based on the human values and ethics that unite us, rather than the narrow-mindedness and greed that separates us. Here is how it came about:

We recently had an inter-cultural discussion, initially so friendly and promising. We discussed family, his love of poetry, cultures, and - unfortunately - politics, obviously influenced by events (at the time the Israel-Lebanon war). I tried to understand his specific points, and told him I actually agreed with most of them. And that "The West" wasn't a uniform bloc on a crusade against Islam. But the dialogue degenerated. And when "The West" in general, no exception, all of us, were accused and actually threatened, I hit the delete button.

I felt devastated, demoralized. Was this Huntington's "Clash of Civilizations"? How could I avoid falling myself into the trap of generalizations, and how could I regain an open and constructive attitude?

My thoughts went to our recent trip to Morocco, to the warm-hearted welcome and hospitality we enjoyed, to its beautiful cultural sites. And I admired our youngest son and his charming wife from Morocco. How the two were happy with each other, respecting each other's cultural background, and how much they enriched our own lives, our already so multi-cultural family. And my thoughts went to their newborn son, with his wonderfully revealing name Younes-Max.

This is how I would like to see the world. A kaleidoscope of cultures and of differing expressions of the search for the meta-physical, respecting each other's interpretations with tolerance.

As I regained a positive spirit, I began to paint - and regained happiness: the series "1001 nights" appeared in front of me. Not that caliph Harun-al-Rashid was an example of romantic virtue (nor were Indian moguls or Renaissance popes). But, despite the cruelty, and with the distance of time, Tales of 1001 Nights, like perhaps the Indian epic Mahabarata, has a romantic, dream-inducing flavor, that helps idealize the sentimental setting of their respective cultures.

After I had shared my experience with a cherished artist friend, he sent me this wonderful email:

"Hi Karl - beautiful work! I like it that you've found a way to express the noble side of Islam … you connected on a deeper plane – which is healing not only for you but all of us, both Moslem and non-Moslem - but this is what real art is about - I know you're a real artist in spite of thinking yourself 'only an amateur'." - Ciao – Ted Knerr, New York, USA