10 /
  Brigitte Schiffer
    / Letters From Cairo

Brigitte Schiffer (1909-1986) played an important role in connecting European and Arabic music cultures. Following her studies in music and philosophy in Berlin, Schiffer fled the Nazi persecution in 1935, where she became an influential figure in Cairo’s musical scene. Through her compositions, publications, and correspondence, Schiffer shared insights into her life, shedding light on Egypt’s cultural landscape. The translation of her letters from German to Arabic aims to foster dialogue on artistic exchange and the internationalization of musical culture post-1945.

The typography and layout of Schiffer’s letters embody a nostalgic yet contemporary aesthetic. Complemented by Schiffer’s analog pictures, the book presents a blend of black-and-white, faded imagery intertwined with snippets of her handwritten notes. This fusion of old and new extends to the cover art, echoing the overall theme and reflecting the essence of her era and time spent in Egypt.

Auothers:
Ikram Hili & Matthias Pasdzierny

Bookdesign:
Safeya Fawzy

Artwork cover and analog photographs:
Katharina Marszewski

Commisioned work for:
The Arab-German Young Academy of
Sciences and Humanities (AGYA) | 2022