Base | Naima Morelli

Beyond pandemic fatigue: craving a rebirth

24-03-2021

Una rinascita. A rebirth. A resurrection.
As it has appeared to me with increasing clarity in the past few weeks, this is not about how things will look from the outside, in line after the pandemic. It will rather be about how things will feel like, which is in turn determined by what things mean.
Although life has been good to me during these endless series of lockdowns and red zones going on in Italy, I am finally starting to feel a bit of pandemic fatigue, just like everyone. And like everyone, I’m looking in the way my attitude can overturn the situation, transforming it into a precious lesson. I’m looking for a shift in perception.

Published! Interview with Suha Araj for MEMO

By: Naima Morelli

22-03-2021

Interview, Middle East, Published

“For me, there is always a visceral element to how I create,” tells me Suha Araj from her home in Brooklyn. “That’s why I’m always drawn to the stories of the Diaspora, because that’s where I have the most emotion. I’m interested in how people survive, and the clashes of living between two cultures.”

My interview with Palestinian-American director Suha Araj has just been published on Middle East Monitor. It was a wonderful conversation that opened up to me new learning not only about Arab cinema, but also about how one becomes a director.

Here is the link to the interview

Published! Justin Lee and the Teng collection at TPM Singapore

By: Naima Morelli

16-03-2021

Collection, English, Interview, Singapore

The Singapore-based webmagazine Plural Art Mag has just published an interview with artist Justin Lee and Teng Jee Hum, one half of the Teng Collection, together with June Ong.

It was beautiful to learn how their synergies came together to create a one-of-a-kind show at The Private Museum in Singapore.

Here is the link to the piece

Published: Interview with Su Hui-Yu on CoBo

By: Naima Morelli

15-03-2021

Interview, Taiwan

Sui Hui-Yu is a Taiwanese artist and film director whose oeuvre is at times startling for its depictions of crude violence and explicit sexuality. However, the refined aesthetics of the visual imagery and cinematography make it irresistible to turn away from the screen.

I happened to really enjoy the work of this incredible artists, and I have interviewed him for the Hong-Kong based webmagazine CoBo Social.

Here is the link to the interview

Published! Vuth Lyno at MIRAGE for Plural Art Mag

By: Naima Morelli

09-02-2021

Cambodia, English, Published, Research

I went to Cambodia for the first time in 2018, doing Siem Reap, Battambang and Phnom Penh. During my one month research trip I spoke with as many artist, curators, gallerist that I could.

Cambodia and its arts scene operated a deep transformation in my spirit, and I became very fond of the burgeoning art scene there, steadily developing despite the many difficulties.

One of the most deep, articulated conversation that I had during that time was with artist and curator Vuth Lyno. When I visited him at the art space Sa Sa BASSAC in Phnom Penh, I mostly asked him about the art community.

This time, I have interviewed him for Plural Art Mag, about it latest work Sala Samnak at Mirage Contemporary Art Space, Siem Reap.

Here is the link to the interview

Published! Interview to curators Taipei Biennial on Plural Art Mag

By: Naima Morelli

03-02-2021

Interview, Research

I have been following the Taipei Biennial for three editions now, and I have always found an incredible timeliness of themes, and a great execution.

I have written about the 2020-2021 edition for Plural Art Mag, a cool and energetic new magazine from Singapore that I had the great pleasure to collaborate with.

The article is an interview with the curators of the new edition of the Taipei Biennale, Bruno Latour, Martin Guinard and Eva Lin

Here is the link to the piece

Published! How a stuntwoman created a badass community during the pandemic

By: Naima Morelli

28-01-2021

English, Essay, News

MUST WATCH] Badass Staff Spinning Reel | Michelle C. Smith - YouTube

Global Comment just published a piece of mine which is a bit different from what I usually write.

It’s an article about Canada-based teacher, actor and stuntwoman Michelle Christa Smith, who showed up every day on YouTube and Instagram from the very start of the pandemic, teaching not only her signature style of staff spinning, but also resilience, consistency, and building an amazing virtual community.

I know because, of course, I practiced along!

Here is the link to the article

Published! Interview with Najlaa Elageli on contemporary Libyan art

By: Naima Morelli

04-01-2021

English, Interview, Libya, Middle East, North Africa

In the last couple of years I have been developing a growing fascination with the complexities of Libyan culture. While in my past I have been focused mainly on how Italian artists were looking at colonialism in Libya, now I’m starting to delve on the voices of Libyan artists themselves.

And what a better way of approaching the subject than interviewing Najlaa Elageli for Middle East Monitor. She has greatly contributed to spread the knowledge on contemporary Libyan art in the country and abroad.

Here is the link to the interview

Published! Interview with Hind Shoufani for Middle East Monitor

By: Naima Morelli

17-12-2020

English, Interview, Middle East, News

Artist, director and poet Hind Shoufani insists that her Palestinian-ness is a political act. “It is a choice to be on this side of history,” she tells me, “whether we triumph or not, whether I carry some piece of identification paper with blue colours on it, or green colours on it, or rainbow glitter tie-dye on it.”

Middle East Monitor has just published my interview with Hind Shoufani.

Here is the link to the interview

Published! Interview with Dawit L. Petros on Global Comment

By: Naima Morelli

28-11-2020

Interview, Libya, North Africa, Published, Research

Among the different research I’m currently conducting around different themes and places in contemporary art, one of the interest trail in Italian colonialism in North Africa.

I have written some pieces about Italian colonialism in Libya, and now I looked at Ethiopia and Eritrea with Eritrean-born artist Dawit L. Petros.

He has focused for over a decade on a critical re-reading of colonialism. His artworks aim for an introspective and textured analysis of the historical factors that determined migrations, and his practice always includes extensive research on the field.

Here is the link to the piece

Published! Samandal, Lebanese graphic novelists collective

By: Naima Morelli

21-11-2020

English, Essay, Interview, Middle East, Published

Middle East Monitor has just published my interview with Lena Merhej, Karen Keyrouz and Barrack Rima, members of the Lebanese comics collective Samandal

Here is the link to the article

Published: Interview with Richard Hassell on Plural Art Mag

By: Naima Morelli

04-11-2020

English, Indonesia, Interview, Published, Singapore

It’s always a privilege to be able to interview cultural figures I have been admiring for a long time. Since my first inception to Singapore, I wowed at the green architecture of the firm WOHA.

Thanks to a virtual show at Gajah Gallery, I have found out WOHA’s founder Richard Hassell is also an art lover and collector. He curated the show Complex Humour highlighting works by I GAK Murniasih and Yunizar.

Both artists present humourous works overlaid with much more difficult themes, as well as tribal elements.

Here is the link to the interview

Naima Morelli

Beyond pandemic fatigue: craving a rebirth

Published! Interview with Suha Araj for MEMO

Published! Justin Lee and the Teng collection at TPM Singapore

Published: Interview with Su Hui-Yu on CoBo

Published! Vuth Lyno at MIRAGE for Plural Art Mag

Published! Interview to curators Taipei Biennial on Plural Art Mag

Published! How a stuntwoman created a badass community during the pandemic

Published! Interview with Najlaa Elageli on contemporary Libyan art

Published! Interview with Hind Shoufani for Middle East Monitor

Published! Interview with Dawit L. Petros on Global Comment

Published! Samandal, Lebanese graphic novelists collective

Published: Interview with Richard Hassell on Plural Art Mag

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