Exhibition: Retracing A Disappearing Landscape

Today I attended the opening of the exhibition "Retracing A Disappearing Landscape’,  held at the P21 Gallery in London, which runs from 29 March-15 May, 2018 and explores "people’s direct experience of and fascination with memory and personal history as well as the collective narratives that arise in connection with modern day Libya."  Artists featured included Elham …

Art in the “New York” of the Arab World

Chilean photographer Jaime Puebla, speaking about his project "TV" which includes photographs of "futuristic" UAE studios, describes “The UAE, and Dubai especially" as "like the New York of the Arab world, where most young Arabs dream of going to make it.” I've heard this kind of description before, and though I think it's exaggerated, it is certainly true …

Stories from My Grandmother

Gazan novelist Atef Abu Saif's novel A Suspended Life, was shortlisted for the International Prize for Arabic Fiction for 2015.The novel deals bravely with Hamas's grip on Gaza.  Perhaps not appreciating this, Hamas delayed the author's exit permit, preventing him from attending the the announcement of the shortlisted works in Casablanca, Morocco, in February. Despite …