Storytelling Sundays # 1: Writing and Illustrating The Blessed Beauty chronology

In this talk, Violetta will speak about her inspirations and her process for creating this vast chronology, which is almost 400 pages long, and contains 825 photographs as well as 115 pieces of original art, and close to 60 handmade graphics and maps, illustrating the life and Revelation of Bahá’u’lláh. The Blessed Beauty is a dual-enmeshed story of the life and Revelation of Bahá’u’lláh highlighting 92 of Bahá’u’lláh’s most important Tablets, epistles, prayers, and poems into the chronology.

Violetta Zein Discusses the Inspirations Behind ‘The Blessed Beauty’ Chronology

Join us for an insightful session as Violetta Zein, an artist and graphic designer, presents her journey in creating ‘The Blessed Beauty’, a detailed chronology of Baha’u’llah’s life and revelation. Violetta shares her inspirations, creative processes, and the meticulous research involved in compiling this 400-page work filled with photographs, original art, graphics, and maps. The session also includes engaging discussions on the importance of preserving Baha’i historical materials, resources available for studying the Baha’i writings, and practical advice for artistic endeavors. Guest contributions from Bijean Ian highlight the significant efforts made by both historians and the Baha’i community in chronicling the faith’s rich history. This episode is an essential watch for anyone interested in Baha’i history, art, and the meticulous effort behind preserving and illustrating important religious texts.

00:00 Welcome and Introduction
00:44 Meet the Presenter: Violetta Zein
01:29 The Utterance Project
03:14 Understanding ‘The Blessed Beauty’
05:13 Opening with Hidden Words
07:59 Technical Difficulties and Presentation Start
09:04 Violetta’s Creative Process and Inspirations
15:28 The Utterance Project: Origins and Inspirations
21:33 Creating the Chronologies
50:42 Artistic Inspirations and Conclusion
52:55 Technical Difficulties and Embarrassment
53:20 The Art of Cy Twombly and Personal Lessons
55:09 Julie Mehretu’s Impact and Artistic Techniques
56:01 Creating Art Inspired by Historical Figures
57:32 Influence of Amelia McGee and Collage Techniques
58:40 Stories of Baha’u’llah and Historical Discoveries
01:09:03 The Power of Research and Historical Context
01:10:00 Resources for Baha’i Writings and Research
01:25:28 Discussion on Preservation and Backup of Work
01:32:15 Closing Remarks and Future Talks