Jelnares the Sea-Dweller & Badr al-Bâsim
Acrylic on papier-mâché, 150 USD
Jelnares the Sea-Dweller, 17 x 16 x 27 cm
Badr al-Bâsim’s multiple identities: fish, bird, human, 16 x 10 x 11 cm
This story is important to me because from the outset it shows that the world doesn’t only belong to humans, and that the sea is a living, mysterious, and independent realm.
Source
This tale is inspired by the story of the same name from the translation of One Thousand and One Nights published in 1885 by English author and Orientalist Richard Francis Burton. Burton is one of the prominent translators of these tales.
My telling of the story
This is the story of Badr Basim, a prince born to a human king and a mermaid named Julnar. After ascending to the throne, Badr falls in love with Jauhara, the daughter of King Samandal. However, his proposal is met with pride and hostility on the part of her father, which causes a war between the kingdoms. While Jauhara flees, her father Samandal is defeated and captured. After a long search, Badr finally finds Jauhara. But she’s furious about her father’s fate. Using magic, she transforms Badr into a bird and abandons him on a barren island. Although he eventually regains human form, Badr’s trials are far from over.
Badr later falls into the clutches of the powerful sorceress Queen Lab, who turns him into a bird once again. Upon learning of her son’s plight, Julnar rallies her brother, a jinn, plus the armies of the sea to rescue him. They successfully defeat the sorceress and break the curse. After returning home, the conflict with King Samandal is finally resolved.
Despite all of his suffering, Badr’s love for Jauhara endures, and the two eventually marry, enjoying a life of peace and splendor.
Takeaways
Family possesses an enduring power.
Love can pull one out of one’s comfort zone to endure many challenges.
Both destiny and human agency are important factors in the unfolding of events.