Translated by Hiba Morcos When art assumes a new understanding in the collective intellectual repository and a form of social consciousness, attaining to it an aspect of struggle, this essentially constitutes a rebellion against and refusal of the given social condition. In other words, it constitutes an unceasing desire for radical change and the […]
Translated by Hiba Morcos I have a very particular opinion about art criticism in general, and in Syria specifically; it is sharp and frank. An artist’s mission ends when he presents his production to the audience, and nobody has the right to ask for an explanation from the artist about his work of art. […]
Bearing the nickname “The Screw”, which fits perfectly with his emaciated physique and his ability to pierce through situations and beings, Rafik Majzoub migrated from Amman to Beirut in search for more breathing freedom. Rafik Majzoub n-and-b: Hom 2 acrylic and charcoal on paper 2001 Carrying everywhere a diary sketch book, he unceasingly consigns […]
With Hands Unfolded: Public Portraits and Majzoub’s Outsider Rafik Majzoub Memoirs Untitled acrylic on canvas 1996 Every few years Lebanon’s apartments and office buildings become a vast outdoors portrait exhibition, as candidates for parliamentary elections wage their campaigns by vying for virtual presence in the form of acrylic hand-painted on plywood. Local residents announce their […]
” Theatre never ends. We have suffered, but our children will not,” was the optimistic statement made by nine Turkish countrywomen at the end of the play “The Outcries of Women.” Their performance was a result of intense preparations, which transformed their own tragic stories into a play under the supervision of the local […]
1 My voice rings out, this time, from Damascus It rings out from the house of my mother and father In Sham. The geography of my body changes. The cells of my blood become green. My alphabet is green. In Sham. A new mouth emerges for my mouth A new voice emerges for my voice […]
Interview with Khaled Hafez, Former Pupil of Hamed Nada Seggerman: When did you first meet Hamed Nada and what are your memories of that meeting? Hafez: It was 1981. I was a student in medical school and there was an all-universities art competition judged by Zakareya el Zeiny, one of the best painting professors […]
A film festival weaves a narrative. Through their programming national film festivals tell a story about a country at a particular time. When we organised the first Turkish film festival in Australia in 1998, we deliberately set out to challenge and educate an Australian audience that had outdated notions of a country in rapid transition. […]
Story by Suhail Shadoud Translated by Marlin Dick Four in the morning, in the East Village. A band’s playing in the loft of the restaurant. A girl’s playing with the band. I know her. It’s a Brazilian song, and my head could ignite a thousand fires. The fire of the playing fingers whose smell […]
by As‘ad AbuKhalil Translated by Marlin Dick Tis the season for Arab liberals to walk in the path of their guides, namely the conservatives in the west whom they emulate. You can follow the upcoming influences on Arab liberals by following the current and earlier paths of rightist discourse in the west. Arab liberals […]