What was it like curating the biggest exhibition of Arab art happening right now? Why is “Kawkaba: Highlights from the Barjeel Art Foundation” such a landmark exhibition? Afikra sat down with the exhibition’s curator and deputy chair of Christie’s MENA, Dr Ridha Moumni, and Barjeel Art Foundation founder Sultan Sooud Al Qassemi to go behind the scenes of the curation process. Read more »
Archives for 2023
Sultan Sooud Al Qassemi of the Barjeel Art Foundation: ‘My aim is to have Arab art taught on a par with other art histories’
As Christie’s hosts London’s largest exhibition of modern and contemporary Arab art, we speak to the founder of the UAE-based Barjeel Art Foundation, whose unique collection is finding new audiences for Middle Eastern artists past and present. Read more »
Marwan exhibition in Berlin highlights legacy of late Syrian artist
A new exhibition in Berlin brings Marwan’s work back to the city that was at once his home and the crucible of his ghurba. The exhibition is titled The Jewels of My Career. It is organised by the Barjeel Art Foundation and is running at art auction house Lempertz until June 30, 2023. Read more »
Talking about Modern Middle Eastern Art
The King’s Academy community got a tantalizing taste of the fascinating, but often overlooked, world of contemporary Middle Eastern art during a visit by the authority on the subject, Sultan Sooud Al Qassemi. Read more »
Revisiting the Arab Charter for Human Rights
In this article Sultan Sooud Al Qassemi discusses the history of the Arab Charter of Human Rights and the changes that could facilitate much-needed improvements with regard to human rights in the Arab world. Read more »
Berlin Cultural Majlis: Steve Sabella
The April 1, 2023 edition of the Cultural Majlis in Berlin features Palestinian artist Steve Sabella. Read more »