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 »
Arts & Culture
How the CIA Secretly Funded Arab Art to Fight Communism
Following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, details began to emerge about the CIA’s covert role in using art as a tool for political ends during the Cold War. But while much is known about CIA funding for American art during the Cold War, their support for Arab art during the same period has rarely been discussed. 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 »
In the Library with Sheikh Sultan Sooud Al Qassemi
Sharjah-based writer and art collector Sultan Sooud Al-Qassemi reveals a selection of his favourite books and talks about using culture to counter the shortcomings of mass and social media. Read more »
Walid Ebeid: Outside Prisoners
Take a closer at Walid Ebeid’s, “Outside Prisoners.” In this episode for AJ+, watch as Sultan analyses the different layers of the piece which examines the daily struggle for food in Egypt. Read more »
Afifa Aleiby: War Painting
In this episode of AJ+ Arabic, Sultan takes a classic look at Afifa Luaibi’s powerful painting, “The Destruction of Iraq,” which was painted around the time of the 1991 Gulf War. Read more »