Middle East | Naima Morelli

Published: Interview with Lebanese artist Zena El-Khalil for MEMO

28-09-2020

English, Interview, Middle East, Published

Whirling on site at Beit Beirut [Zena el Khalil]

In my research on contemporary art I started to focus a lot on the spiritual values that artists carry with them and let come through their artworks and practice – despite the many hardships they might be facing.

In this sense, the life experience of Zena El-Khalil, a wonderful artist I had the pleasure to interview for Middle East Monitor, is emblematic. We talk specifically of her way of coping with the terrible explosion that has devastated Beirut, and the way art and her spiritual practice have helped her to look for the spring to come.

Kicking off the new season of articles with this interview makes me really proud, warms my heart and encourages me to look at the struggles in life with a different perspective. Hope it will do the same for you:

Here is the link to the article

Published! Interview with Steve Sabella on Middle East Monitor

By: Naima Morelli

06-04-2020

English, Interview, Middle East

For multimedia artist Steve Sabella, these hard times require us to access the potential of our imagination in order to conjure up our collective future. His works of art reflecting the hardships of the Palestinians become universal metaphors for global rebirth.

My interview with Berlin-based Palestinian artist Steve Sabella has just been published on Middle East Monitor.

Here is the link to the interview

Published! Age of anxiety in Sharjah on Al-Monitor

By: Naima Morelli

24-03-2020

English, Essay, Interview, Middle East, Published, Review

The webmagazine Al-Monitor has just published my article on the exhibition “Art in the Age of Anxiety” at the Sharjah Art Foundation.

The exhibition (now postponed) looked at online technology and communications feeding existential angst. It seems more relevant than ever today amid the global fears due to the coronavirus outbreak and the extensive information available.

Here is the link to the article

Published! Palestinian political posters show on MEMO

By: Naima Morelli

18-03-2020

English, Essay, Interview, Middle East, Published, Review

The exhibition at Palestinian Museum “Glimmer of a Grove Beyond” aims to outline the links between landscape representations and historical circumstances, through the medium of political posters.

Such posters came to prominence in Palestine between the mid-1960s and late-1980s as a means of motivating and mobilising political support in the national movement and revolution, and its armed struggle.

Here is the link to the article

Published: Interview with Carlos Spottorno and Guillermo Abril on Qantara

By: Naima Morelli

18-08-2019

English, France, Germany, Interview, Italy, Middle East, Published, UK

LaGrieta

In their wonderful graphic novel/field journal “The Crack” photographer Carlos Spottorno and journalist Guillermo Abril report the unfolding of Europeʹs migrant crisis from Africa to the Arctic over the course of three years. Their aim is to identify the causes and consequences of Europeʹs identity crisis.

I have interviewed the two reporters for Qantara, a webmagazine promoting cultural exchange, based in Germany. I’m super-excited because of this new collaboration, which allows me to bring back my explorations in foreign realities back to my homeland Europe.

Here is the link to the interview

Published! Interview with Yasmine Laraqui on MEMO

By: Naima Morelli

25-07-2019

Interview, Middle East, Published, Research

YasmineLaraqui
I have a growing interest for Marocco and the way contemporary art is developing in this country. This time I discussed the emerging art scene with curator, artist and gallerist Yasmine Laraqui founder of Dasthe Art Space and Agency in Casablanca for Middle East Monitor.

Here is the link to the interview

Published! Interview with Hamid Sulaiman for MEE

By: Naima Morelli

29-06-2019

English, Interview, Middle East, Published

HamidSulaiman

For my first article for the webmagazine Middle East Eye I have realized an interview to Syrian artist and graphic novelist Hamid Sulaiman. It was a great chat about his work “Freedom Hospital” and his future projects going forward.

Here is the link to the interview

Published! Interview with Pal Museum director Adila Laïdi Hanieh

By: Naima Morelli

27-06-2019

English, Interview, Middle East, Published, Research

PalestinianMuseum
I might be repeating myself, but even a short piece of writing – meant to announce the publication of a new piece – is an opportunity to speak about the true wonder of this job. The knowledge, hope and excitement that it brings. Every conversation is a gift, every piece published a way to let all this interestingness out, to feel part of those bringing light and understanding to our human society.

Anyway, this interview with Palestinian Museum director Dr Adila Laïdi Hanieh, adds up to my research on art and culture in Palestine, I have been started researching since I wrote my first few articles for the excellent web magazine Middle East Monitor. The conversation with such an elegant personality, whose direction is bringing harmony and rationalisation to the Palestinian Museum, was truly inspiring.

Here is the link to the interview

2019 Venice Biennale on Middle East Monitor

By: Naima Morelli

14-05-2019

English, Essay, Indonesia, Middle East, Published, Review

VeniceBiennale2019
The 2019 Venice Biennale has asked artists to step into the socio-political realm, in the middle of far-right Matteo Salvini’s Italy. And they have done it, dismantling Orientalism and getting the Mediterranean closer together in the process.

My first article on this 2019 Venice Biennale has just been published by Middle East Monitor.

Here is the link to the article

Published! Sharjah Biennal on Memo

By: Naima Morelli

06-04-2019

English, Essay, Middle East, News, Published

SharjahBiennal

“It is not usual to find a politically and religiously conservative country going hand in hand with being one of the most culturally active. An exception is Sharjah, a unicorn in the United Arab Emirates.”

The webmagazine Middle East Monitor has just published my article on the Sharjah Biennale.

Here is the link to the article

Published: Laila Shawa on Middle East Monitor

By: Naima Morelli

03-04-2019

English, Essay, Middle East, Published, Research

LailaShawa
Lend your pen to what’s important, my friend. Life is beautiful when you use what has been given to you – in my case this passion for writing – to share with others what inspires you and makes you – and others – feel that tingling of excitement.

So a lot has been written already about Islamo-Pop Palestinian artist Laila Shawa. However I wanted to measure myself with the work of this artist too, and learn about about her incredible life. And I did it for Middle East Monitor, some of the kindest people devoting themselves to the socio-political realm.

Here is the link to the article

Published! Interview with Rana Samara on Middle East Monitor

By: Naima Morelli

18-12-2017

English, Interview, Middle East, Published

RanaSamara

I have interviewed Palestinian artist Rana Samara for Middle East Monitor. Rana is a highly inquisitive, courageous and determined woman. These characteristics propelled her to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Fine Art as a mother of three children from a conservative background. Her passion for art has led her to a two-year MA in Fine Art at Northwestern University, Chicago.

The backbone of Rana’s work are conversations with women about gender and intimate relations. Her latest series of work called “Intimate Space”, was presented by Ramallah’s at Art Dubai 2017 and put the spotlight on the depth and complexity of the research of Palestinian artist.

Here is the link to the interview

Naima Morelli

Published: Interview with Lebanese artist Zena El-Khalil for MEMO

Published! Interview with Steve Sabella on Middle East Monitor

Published! Age of anxiety in Sharjah on Al-Monitor

Published! Palestinian political posters show on MEMO

Published: Interview with Carlos Spottorno and Guillermo Abril on Qantara

Published! Interview with Yasmine Laraqui on MEMO

Published! Interview with Hamid Sulaiman for MEE

Published! Interview with Pal Museum director Adila Laïdi Hanieh

2019 Venice Biennale on Middle East Monitor

Published! Sharjah Biennal on Memo

Published: Laila Shawa on Middle East Monitor

Published! Interview with Rana Samara on Middle East Monitor

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