The environment that fosters a person is often the source of inspiration, especially when the place is known for it throughout the ages and times, and is characterized by a unique character that draws for its owner the path of art and creativity, as is the case for the Jordanian Tariq Malkawi.

Malkawi, 41, found nothing from his hometown in the ancient village of Umm Qais (north) except for solid basalt stones, which he transported in his small car to his place of residence in the capital, Amman, to shape them in his own way, making the most beautiful shapes and carved drawings out of them.

“The distinction in that the hardness and color of the stone is what increases the demand for it, because it contradicts the natural order, which is the white stone.” With these words, the forty-year-old Jordanian summarized his speech to the Anatolia correspondent, during his visit to his home in the Shafa Badran area in Amman.

Malkawi, whose nickname is Abu Nawras, told Anadolu Agency: “I learned this craft since I was 15 years old, it was a hobby, and it turned into a source of livelihood, and I am still working with it until now, and it is my main and only work.”

He continued, “The stones of the ancient city of Umm Qais inspired me to do so, as it is famous for its black basalt stones, as 90 percent of the city is made of basalt stone, which is a basalt stone and one of the hardest and hardest types of rocks on earth.”

Malkawi continued, while holding a pointed iron piece for sculpture, in the corner of the parking lot of one of the buildings, which he rented to be his atelier.

He added, “I started this work by carving a few sculptures, and showing them to tourists in the city of Umm Qais, and I found that there was a demand for them.”

The city of “Umm Qais” is located 28 kilometers from the governorate of Irbid in northern Jordan, and bears the name of a village approved by the World Tourism Organization, last year, as one of the best 136 villages around the world.

Its historical roots go back to the Greek era as one of the cities of the Roman alliance (it included 10 cities at its inception), while “Umm Qais” was called the city of wise men and philosophers, and it was also famous at that time for many poets.

The distinguished geographical location of this city gave it great importance, as it overlooks the Yarmouk River, the Golan Heights, and Lake Tiberias, which also indicates the advanced thought of its founders.

The area of ​​the archaeological site of the city of “Umm Qais” is about 550 dunums (a dunum is equivalent to 1000 square metres), while its ruins vary between Greek, Roman, Byzantine and Islamic buildings.

Malkawi pointed out that “forming basalt stones is more difficult than white stones, and I carve them manually and using some electrical equipment.”

Regarding the nature of the sculptures, he indicated that “the manual grinder, known as the millstone, is the most demanded and produced, followed by the mortar and pestle (traditional and dedicated to grinding coffee), garden decorations, animal figures, waterfalls and fountains.”

As for those interested in his products, Malkawi said: “They are the farmers who own sheep and roam with them in the wild.

With regard to the time needed for carving, he explained that this “depends on the size of the piece and the techniques it contains, as some of them require hours and some require days and months.”

He continued: “There is an average demand for this type of product, and it is often limited to shop owners and bazaars, and I send some orders outside Jordan, especially Saudi Arabia and Iraq.”

“Prices start from 10 dinars (14 US dollars) and reach 200 dinars (281 dollars),” Malkawi continued.

He said, “This work costs me nothing but my hard work and effort. The tools are simple and manual, and the stones are available everywhere.”

(Anatolia)