Musafiri: Of Travellers and Guests

‘Musafiri: Travellers and Guests’ explores the journeys and encounters of those who leave familiar surroundings. “Musafiri” denotes both traveler and guest in many languages, including Arabic, Romanian, Turkish, Farsi, Urdu, Hindi, Swahili, Kazakh, and Uygur. This reader examines themes of departure, arrival, hospitality, artistic expression, and the circulation of ideas, religions, and commodities. Accompanying the Musafiri exhibition at HKW, it presents diverse perspectives: the hermit’s retreat in ancient China, Japanese artists in Latin America, Afghan traders along the Silk Road, and the s?la yolu route to Turkey. Essays, interviews, and artistic contributions illuminate past and present migration, offering insights into determined travelers and displaced communities.