Egyptian artist Gazbia Sirry’s, “The Nubian Family,” captured the moment of displacement of thousands of residents by the flooding caused by the construction of the Aswan Dam. In 1962, artists throughout Egypt were invited to capture the moment. Instead of painting the construction of the dam itself, Sirry chose to pay homage to the villagers that lived there. Find out more in this AJ+ Arabic piece with Sultan. Read more »
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Kadhim Haidar: He Told Us How It Happened
In Iraq, popular opposition to The Baghdad Pact reached a climax after the attack on Egypt in 1956. Kadhim Haidar’s, “He Told Us How It Happened,” examines the immense political repression that activists faced during that time. Learn more in this AJ+ episode with Sultan. Read more »
Naeem Ismail: Commemorative Photograph of Lebanon
Watch Sultan’s AJ+ episode about Naim Ismail’s “Commemorative Photograph of Lebanon,” which explores the multiple layers of destruction that were caused by Lebanon’s fifteen year civil war. لوحة+ | تذكارية من لبنان سياسيون ومقاتلون في حفلة تنكرية على مسرح لبنان، في لوحة+ Sultan Sooud Al-Qassemi Posted by عربي +AJ on Friday, May 5, 2017
Abdullah Al Muharraqi: Eternal Torment
“Eternal Torment,” by Bahraini artist Abdullah Al Muharraqi is a tribute to the trials and tribulations of pearl diving. Painted in 1982, it stands as a monument to those that lived and died on the seas. Learn more about this painting in this AJ+ episode by Sultan. لوحة+ | العذاب الأبدي قصة البحرين من اللؤلؤ […]
Kamal Ishag: The Zār (Exorcism)
In this painting by the pioneering modernist Sudanese artist Kamala Ibrahim Ishaq, a spiritual ceremony from the Sudan where women are believed to be exorcised is depicted through the artist’s signature crystalist style. Learn more by watching this AJ+ Arabic video hosted by Sultan. Read more »
Abdalla Omari Mediterranean: Bashar Al Assad
Abdalla Omari’s “The Mediterranean” depicts Syria’s Bashar Al Assad in a vulnerable position and comes as part of a series where other world leaders are shown in similarly precarious situations. Learn more in this AJ+ video with Sultan. Read more »