Multaka's favorite exhibits in four Berlin museums

At the end of 2015, the Museum of Islamic Art Berlin started the project "Multaka: Museum as Meeting Point – Refugees as Guides in Berlin Museums". In cooperation with three partner museums, Multaka trains refugees and immigrants with Syrian or Iraqi backgrounds as museum mediators, to develop and lead tours for other refugees and visitors in Arabic language.

Multaka guides

In this Special Feature, twelve "Multakis" introduce exhibits, which are personally significant to them, and explain the related topics that they talk about in their guided tours.

Museum of Islamic Art

Aleppo Room

For Zoya Masoud, it is an ideal example of a fruitful dialogue among different artistic traditions, cultures and religions in Syria.

Museum of Islamic Art

Samaritan Niche

The decoration in a private house reminds Razan Nassreddine of her childhood in Damascus and the architecture there.

Museum of Islamic Art

Simurgh, Mshatta Facade

For Narine Ali, a story about this mythological animal is a metaphor of a "journey that will lead us to ourselves."

Museum of the Ancient Near East

Lamassu figures

Iraqi archaeologist Hussam Zahim Mohammed raises the awareness for the values of pre-Islamic heritage.

Museum of the Ancient Near East

Weather God Hadad

Kefah Ali Deeb explains how "Hadad" is used as an everyday expression, and how people are not aware of its ancient origin.

Museum of the Ancient Near East

Great Tell Halaf Bird

For Bachar Shahin, the restored bird is like a phoenix raised from the ashes that imparts strength and hope for a better tomorrow.

Bode Museum

Gambling Machine

Mariam Bachich likes the gambling device from Constantinople that is related to ordinary people and their everyday lives.

Bode Museum

Antonio Canova's Dancer

Kenan Melhem is fascinated by how Canova is able to express the motion and beauty of a female body in a marble sculpture.