The Biography of a Syrian Interior: Shangri La’s Damascus Room

July 12, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Mānoa Campus, Art Auditorium, Art building Rm. 132

In the early 1950s, Doris Duke (d. 1993) acquired an 18th-century Damascene interior for her private Honolulu residence known as Shangri La.

This talk traces the history of Duke’s lifelong interest in Syria and its domestic interiors from 1938 until the early 1980s. Devoting attention to Duke’s travels in the country in 1938 and 1952-53, it examines the circumstances surrounding the Damascus Room’s acquisition, contextualizes it in relation to in situ examples, and considers how Duke’s interest in Syrian interiors resonated with broader trends in the history of collecting, display, and cultural heritage preservation.

From July 11 on the newly restored and opened Damascus Room will be included in Shangri La public tours.


Ticket Information
Admission Free

Event Sponsor
Art & Art History, Mānoa Campus

More Information
Carol Khewhok, 808-792-5502, ckhewhok@ddcf.org, http://www.sahngrilahawaii.org

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