Joumana Medlej
@majnouna.com
Artist-scholar, specialised in early Arabic (Kufi) scripts & historical/natural materials. Interest in material culture & things real. Beirut émigré in Oxford. Earth lover, plastic-free. Contemplative. Whovian/Gallifrey…
Links: https://linktr.ee/Majnouna
Links: https://linktr.ee/Majnouna
Reposted by Joumana Medlej
Good morning Bluesky. Pastels for miles. Enjoy the soft and gentle ebb and flow of this scene.
December 9, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Good morning Bluesky. Pastels for miles. Enjoy the soft and gentle ebb and flow of this scene.
I have finally tried the 44-clove garlic soup and OM NOM NOM
December 9, 2025 at 7:38 PM
I have finally tried the 44-clove garlic soup and OM NOM NOM
Reposted by Joumana Medlej
Despite what you hear from fossil fuel-funded politicians, the U.K has just generated a record amount of clean, domestic wind energy.
Enough to power 23 million homes!
U.K decarbonisation policy is a recipe for energy security.
Enough to power 23 million homes!
U.K decarbonisation policy is a recipe for energy security.
December 9, 2025 at 9:27 AM
Despite what you hear from fossil fuel-funded politicians, the U.K has just generated a record amount of clean, domestic wind energy.
Enough to power 23 million homes!
U.K decarbonisation policy is a recipe for energy security.
Enough to power 23 million homes!
U.K decarbonisation policy is a recipe for energy security.
I can hardly believe it, but there's just a little over 24 hours left to back Inks & Paints of the Middle East (2nd edition).Tomorrow I start putting together surveys and working on logistics! (Woke up this morning thinking "I need to order more lapis lazuli" 😆)
www.kickstarter.com/projects/maj...
www.kickstarter.com/projects/maj...
Inks & Paints of the Middle East REVISED
A new, updated edition of my groundbreaking handbook of early Islamic art technology, incorporating five more years of research.
www.kickstarter.com
December 9, 2025 at 11:11 AM
I can hardly believe it, but there's just a little over 24 hours left to back Inks & Paints of the Middle East (2nd edition).Tomorrow I start putting together surveys and working on logistics! (Woke up this morning thinking "I need to order more lapis lazuli" 😆)
www.kickstarter.com/projects/maj...
www.kickstarter.com/projects/maj...
#artcalendar Day 9:
Dazzling Beauty بهاء
Wall sculpture from 2015, in acrylic and 24ct gold on mount board and wood.
majnouna.com/portfolio/da...
Dazzling Beauty بهاء
Wall sculpture from 2015, in acrylic and 24ct gold on mount board and wood.
majnouna.com/portfolio/da...
December 9, 2025 at 10:46 AM
#artcalendar Day 9:
Dazzling Beauty بهاء
Wall sculpture from 2015, in acrylic and 24ct gold on mount board and wood.
majnouna.com/portfolio/da...
Dazzling Beauty بهاء
Wall sculpture from 2015, in acrylic and 24ct gold on mount board and wood.
majnouna.com/portfolio/da...
#artcalendar Day 8:
Divine Love عشق
From 2011, in acrylic, ink, metal leaf on paper.
I actually held on to this one and had it on my wall all this time, but I'm now ready to let it go (framed or removed from it). DM to inquire...
majnouna.com/portfolio/di...
Divine Love عشق
From 2011, in acrylic, ink, metal leaf on paper.
I actually held on to this one and had it on my wall all this time, but I'm now ready to let it go (framed or removed from it). DM to inquire...
majnouna.com/portfolio/di...
December 8, 2025 at 9:32 PM
#artcalendar Day 8:
Divine Love عشق
From 2011, in acrylic, ink, metal leaf on paper.
I actually held on to this one and had it on my wall all this time, but I'm now ready to let it go (framed or removed from it). DM to inquire...
majnouna.com/portfolio/di...
Divine Love عشق
From 2011, in acrylic, ink, metal leaf on paper.
I actually held on to this one and had it on my wall all this time, but I'm now ready to let it go (framed or removed from it). DM to inquire...
majnouna.com/portfolio/di...
Oh my god, mum. I want a word with whoever came up with voice messages.
December 8, 2025 at 12:42 PM
Oh my god, mum. I want a word with whoever came up with voice messages.
Reposted by Joumana Medlej
Reposted by Joumana Medlej
My dad abhors any negative comments about immigrants. Asked him recently why he’s so strong on it: ‘Because we’re always happy to take the rich and clever ones. Which means it’s not about disliking immigrants. It’s about disliking the poor and vulnerable. And that’s a bad human instinct.’
December 7, 2025 at 8:31 AM
My dad abhors any negative comments about immigrants. Asked him recently why he’s so strong on it: ‘Because we’re always happy to take the rich and clever ones. Which means it’s not about disliking immigrants. It’s about disliking the poor and vulnerable. And that’s a bad human instinct.’
#artcalendar Day 7:
Love Is a Madman
A 2017 piece in laser-cut copper, fired and mounted on wood.
majnouna.com/portfolio/ma...
Love Is a Madman
A 2017 piece in laser-cut copper, fired and mounted on wood.
majnouna.com/portfolio/ma...
December 7, 2025 at 12:59 PM
#artcalendar Day 7:
Love Is a Madman
A 2017 piece in laser-cut copper, fired and mounted on wood.
majnouna.com/portfolio/ma...
Love Is a Madman
A 2017 piece in laser-cut copper, fired and mounted on wood.
majnouna.com/portfolio/ma...
We told you AI was a tool of fascism.
“School officials have created a Microsoft Copilot prompt to review course descriptions with an eye toward avoiding ‘advocacy-oriented or prescriptive terms.’”
Terms: “dismantling, decolonizing, interrogating, challenging, centering, combating, liberation, resistance, activism, justice oriented”
Terms: “dismantling, decolonizing, interrogating, challenging, centering, combating, liberation, resistance, activism, justice oriented”
To Root Out Wokeness in the Course Catalog, This Texas University Is Turning to AI
“The AI was upset with my use of the phrase ‘women's rights movement.’”
www.texasmonthly.com
December 6, 2025 at 5:47 PM
We told you AI was a tool of fascism.
Reposted by Joumana Medlej
The narrow answer to "why can't computer vision see the past?" is bc CV is linear algebra & I reject the premise that math is sight. But the big answer is that the data extraction industry is leveraging computer vision to engineer an anti-human future.
sonja-drimmer.squarespace.com/blog-1/2025/...
sonja-drimmer.squarespace.com/blog-1/2025/...
How to See the Past Seeing the Past — Sonja Drimmer
When I ask the question, "why can't computer vision see the past?" the narrow answer is because computer vision is linear algebra, and as an art historian I reject the premise that math is sight. ...
sonja-drimmer.squarespace.com
December 6, 2025 at 3:25 PM
The narrow answer to "why can't computer vision see the past?" is bc CV is linear algebra & I reject the premise that math is sight. But the big answer is that the data extraction industry is leveraging computer vision to engineer an anti-human future.
sonja-drimmer.squarespace.com/blog-1/2025/...
sonja-drimmer.squarespace.com/blog-1/2025/...
If there are old-fashioned stamp collecting enthusiasts out there, I've listed a number of sets from my collection on eBay with more to come... www.ebay.co.uk/usr/joumanam
December 6, 2025 at 4:18 PM
If there are old-fashioned stamp collecting enthusiasts out there, I've listed a number of sets from my collection on eBay with more to come... www.ebay.co.uk/usr/joumanam
#artcalendar Day 6:
Patience صبر
A piece from 2011, in watercolour, ink and metal leaf on paper.
majnouna.com/portfolio/pa...
Patience صبر
A piece from 2011, in watercolour, ink and metal leaf on paper.
majnouna.com/portfolio/pa...
December 6, 2025 at 11:17 AM
#artcalendar Day 6:
Patience صبر
A piece from 2011, in watercolour, ink and metal leaf on paper.
majnouna.com/portfolio/pa...
Patience صبر
A piece from 2011, in watercolour, ink and metal leaf on paper.
majnouna.com/portfolio/pa...
Ah but Ukrainians are human beings and Palestinians aren’t, don’t you know. Or at least not “the right kind” of human beings.
People are so terrified of being labelled anti-Semitic if they criticise Israel.
Eurovision had no problem banning Russia when it invaded Ukraine.
Israel's guilt in slaughtering more than 66,000 Palestinians is just as egregious. Israel is JUST ANOTHER WARMONGERING COUNTRY, FFS. #Eurovision
Eurovision had no problem banning Russia when it invaded Ukraine.
Israel's guilt in slaughtering more than 66,000 Palestinians is just as egregious. Israel is JUST ANOTHER WARMONGERING COUNTRY, FFS. #Eurovision
December 5, 2025 at 6:27 PM
Ah but Ukrainians are human beings and Palestinians aren’t, don’t you know. Or at least not “the right kind” of human beings.
#artcalendar Day 5:
Lebanon لبنان
Watercolour and metal leaf on paper, from 2016.
majnouna.com/portfolio/le...
Lebanon لبنان
Watercolour and metal leaf on paper, from 2016.
majnouna.com/portfolio/le...
December 5, 2025 at 2:46 PM
#artcalendar Day 5:
Lebanon لبنان
Watercolour and metal leaf on paper, from 2016.
majnouna.com/portfolio/le...
Lebanon لبنان
Watercolour and metal leaf on paper, from 2016.
majnouna.com/portfolio/le...
Reposted by Joumana Medlej
big finish's live recording of "the stuff of legend" has been shortlisted for a bbc audio award. listen to the popular
@trapone.bsky.social #doctorwho podcast where @majnouna.com, lucymccaul.bsky.social, @quarkmcmalus.bsky.social, and i rhapsodize about it!
podbean | podchaser | spotify | apple
@trapone.bsky.social #doctorwho podcast where @majnouna.com, lucymccaul.bsky.social, @quarkmcmalus.bsky.social, and i rhapsodize about it!
podbean | podchaser | spotify | apple
December 5, 2025 at 2:14 PM
big finish's live recording of "the stuff of legend" has been shortlisted for a bbc audio award. listen to the popular
@trapone.bsky.social #doctorwho podcast where @majnouna.com, lucymccaul.bsky.social, @quarkmcmalus.bsky.social, and i rhapsodize about it!
podbean | podchaser | spotify | apple
@trapone.bsky.social #doctorwho podcast where @majnouna.com, lucymccaul.bsky.social, @quarkmcmalus.bsky.social, and i rhapsodize about it!
podbean | podchaser | spotify | apple
Reposted by Joumana Medlej
the thing all the discourse around Eurovision and Israel seems to miss is that: Russia got kicked out!! there is not only precedent, there is immediate and *still active* precedent. it’s the hypocrisy as much as anything
December 5, 2025 at 1:27 PM
the thing all the discourse around Eurovision and Israel seems to miss is that: Russia got kicked out!! there is not only precedent, there is immediate and *still active* precedent. it’s the hypocrisy as much as anything
I just got a letter forwarded from my previous address, that turned out to be a reform leaflet bitching about Sadiq Khan. I’m this instant returning it shredded in the freepost envelope, with a note along the lines of F*** YOU RACIST BIGOT LYING HYPOCRITES and I welcome additional suggestions.
December 5, 2025 at 12:55 PM
I just got a letter forwarded from my previous address, that turned out to be a reform leaflet bitching about Sadiq Khan. I’m this instant returning it shredded in the freepost envelope, with a note along the lines of F*** YOU RACIST BIGOT LYING HYPOCRITES and I welcome additional suggestions.
Reposted by Joumana Medlej
New for 2026, we’re running an intensive short course on Arabic manuscripts! Ideal for those wanting to get to grips with Arabic sources. In person, in London. 📖👇 @ies-sas.bsky.social @soasuni.bsky.social @soaslibrary.bsky.social
ies.sas.ac.uk/study-traini...
ies.sas.ac.uk/study-traini...
Unlocking the Islamic Literary Heritage: An Intensive Practical Introduction to Arabic Manuscripts
Unlocking the Islamic Literary Heritage: An Intensive Practical Introduction to Arabic Manuscripts
ies.sas.ac.uk
December 5, 2025 at 10:26 AM
New for 2026, we’re running an intensive short course on Arabic manuscripts! Ideal for those wanting to get to grips with Arabic sources. In person, in London. 📖👇 @ies-sas.bsky.social @soasuni.bsky.social @soaslibrary.bsky.social
ies.sas.ac.uk/study-traini...
ies.sas.ac.uk/study-traini...
#artcalendar Day 4*:
Perplexity حيرة
Acrylic and gold leaf on hand-cut paper, from 2017.
majnouna.com/portfolio/pe...
*sshhh, don't know how I missed a day but I'll post #5 later today.
Perplexity حيرة
Acrylic and gold leaf on hand-cut paper, from 2017.
majnouna.com/portfolio/pe...
*sshhh, don't know how I missed a day but I'll post #5 later today.
December 5, 2025 at 8:49 AM
#artcalendar Day 4*:
Perplexity حيرة
Acrylic and gold leaf on hand-cut paper, from 2017.
majnouna.com/portfolio/pe...
*sshhh, don't know how I missed a day but I'll post #5 later today.
Perplexity حيرة
Acrylic and gold leaf on hand-cut paper, from 2017.
majnouna.com/portfolio/pe...
*sshhh, don't know how I missed a day but I'll post #5 later today.
Reposted by Joumana Medlej
If you teach the History of the Book, or Information Technologies, or the long history of Text and materiality, this might be the coursebook for you—Treharne and Willan—now with StanfordUP’s 40% off. Bargain!
www.sup.org/books/litera...
www.sup.org/books/litera...
December 4, 2025 at 9:36 PM
If you teach the History of the Book, or Information Technologies, or the long history of Text and materiality, this might be the coursebook for you—Treharne and Willan—now with StanfordUP’s 40% off. Bargain!
www.sup.org/books/litera...
www.sup.org/books/litera...
Reposted by Joumana Medlej
Heads up everyone
#Oxford people, #birdflu has been confirmed on Port Meadow.
Take care everyone.
www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/2567322...
Take care everyone.
www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/2567322...
Urgent warning issued after bird flu outbreak in popular city meadow
An urgent warning has been issued after positive cases of bird flu were confirmed in Port Meadow, Oxford.
www.oxfordmail.co.uk
December 4, 2025 at 6:35 PM
Heads up everyone
If there's going to be a BFI event for season 21, someone who's a member PLEASE grab me a ticket! #doctorwho
December 4, 2025 at 2:19 PM
If there's going to be a BFI event for season 21, someone who's a member PLEASE grab me a ticket! #doctorwho