Egyptian artists were deeply involved in spearheading, capturing, and influencing the January 2011 uprising. Today a new generation of Egyptian activist artists carry the mantle of social justice and human rights. At times, their work takes a humorous angle, in the form of cartoons and political satire printed in newspapers, perhaps targeting a niche audience. Read more »
Archives for 2014
The renaissance of Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi’s cultural projects have been a boon to the country and the wider region. They have spurred much-needed reforms that will hopefully be expanded and even replicated in the region. These projects — being built as much of the region’s heritage is lost — are also offering optimism to many in the Middle East that our future can also be full of life, colour and hope. Read more »
On MIT Media Lab: imagination realized
The Media Lab was founded almost thirty years ago in 1985, however it was reenergized following the appointment of Japanese venture capitalist and entrepreneur Joi Ito in 2011. Joi, who is also an activist and DJ, immediately embarked on a rebranding exercise bringing in ‘antidisciplinary’ individuals to the 400 person strong institution which had an annual budget of $55 million USD. The most important ingredient of the MIT Media Lab however is not the state of the art technology or my admirably professional peers but the very students we are meant to inspire. Read more »
Dubai’s influence goes beyond just commerce
Over the past few decades Dubai has turned itself from a little known town to a global metropolis, hosting one of the world’s best airlines, biggest airports and most diverse populations. Dubai has become much larger than a city, it is now an idea. Read more »
Why Qatar’s intervention won’t help end the Gaza crisis
Weeks of brutal Israeli strikes on the heavily-populated Gaza strip have seen a number of political actors come forward to present a cease-fire plan. The deadlock, however, seems to be between Egypt and Qatar — both of whom have considerable leverage over Hamas, the Muslim Brotherhood-affiliated group that has ruled Gaza since 2007. The truth is that due to political bias on each side, neither country is fit to be an exclusive mediator in this situation. Read more »
Sky Over The East – In Conversation with Sultan Sooud Al Qassimi and Matthew Sansom
In an informative and upbeat discussion preceding the opening of the largest exhibition of modern Arab art in the UAE, Sultan Sooud Al Qassimi looked back on his adventures in art collecting. In addition to gaining a personal insight into the exhibition and the works presented, the audience learnt about the role of a collector, the story behind the Barjeel Art Foundation, the experiences of its founder, and his vision for the future. Read more »