Salah Elmur | Discover Arab Artists – The Misk Art Library Podcast

Mona Saudi & Filwa Nazer | Discover Arab Artists – The Misk Art Library Podcast

This episode of The Misk Art Library Podcast reflects on the work of Filwa Nazer and Mona Saudi. Nazer reflects on her own textile-based practice, her early inspirations, and the process of documenting her first monograph, while Myrna Ayad speaks about Mona Saudi’s resilient career and her profound connection to stone as a living material. Together they consider themes of motherhood, politics, and community, as well as the importance of publications in documenting artistic legacies. Their work is featured in the Misk Art Library volumes Filwa Nazer: Embodied Spaces and Mona Saudi: Formations, available in English and Arabic.   00:00 Introduction  01:59 Filwa Nazer on Being Featured  03:33 First Encounter with Mona Saudi  07:33 Early Artistic Influences  10:07 Reflections on Saudi’s Sculpture and Personality  13:24 The Aliveness of Stone  16:27 Themes of Motherhood and Politics  22:05 Fashion Design and Art Practice  29:00 Artistic Communities in Jeddah and Beirut  36:26 Discussion of Specific Works  44:13 Challenges of Archiving  47:39 Book Recommendations Born in Amman, Jordan, Mona Saudi (1945-2022) was one of the rare sculptors of her era. She worked exclusively with stone as her medium, and her sculptures often centred around basic shapes, such as squares, circles, cylinders, and rectangles. These dynamic compositions frequently circled back to themes of fertility and growth. Her works are included in the collections of renowned international institutions, such as Sharjah Art Foundation; the British Museum, London; Barjeel Art Foundation, Sharjah; the Institut du monde arabe, Paris; the Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts, Amman; the Khalid Shoman Foundation, Amman; the National Museum of Women in the Arts, Washington D.C.; Dar al-Athar al-Islamiyyah, Kuwait; the Museum of Modern Art, Kuwait; and the Ministry of Culture, Cairo.   The work of Filwa Nazer (b. 1972) revolves around exploring emotional and psychological identity within spatial and social contexts. The multidisciplinary visual artist employs digital prints, collages, textiles, and installations as mediums to delve into the ever-evolving boundaries between public and private spaces. Drawing on her experience in the fashion industry, she crafts textile sculptures and geometric embroideries that evoke deconstructed clothing patterns and traditional handicrafts. Her works are featured in prominent public collections, including the Saudi Ministry of Culture, Riyadh; the Al-Mansouria Foundation, Jeddah; the Jameel Arts Centre, Dubai; and the Greenbox Museum of Contemporary Art from Saudi Arabia, Amsterdam, as well as numerous private collections worldwide. Connect with Filwa Nazer 👉 https://instagram.com/fillimore [https://instagram.com/fillimore] Myrna Ayad is a Dubai-based cultural strategist and publisher, and founder of her namesake consultancy (2018), through which she works with leading luxury brands, government entities, private companies, and non-profits. She has authored and edited books and publications with Assouline, Skira, Rizzoli and Kaph Books, and frequently serves as a panelist, jurist, moderator, and workshop leader on art and culture from the region. From 2016-2018, she was Director of Art Dubai, overseeing its most globally diverse editions and non-profit programs. Before that, she wrote on Arab and Iranian art to outlets including as a contributor to major international newspapers and publications, and served as Editor of Canvas magazine (2007–2015). Connect with Myrna Ayad  👉 https://instagram.com/myrnaayad [https://instagram.com/myrnaayad]   Mikey Muhanna 👉  https://instagram.com/mikey_mu [https://instagram.com/mikey_mu] FOLLOW & RATE THE MISK ART LIBRARY PODCAST: » Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/misk-art-library-podcast-powered-by-afikra/id1838991319 » Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0dQ5Mxt8ITcQfHHjl4dVLM » Anghami: https://play.anghami.com/podcast/1074425862  THIS SERIES IS PART OF THE AFIKRA PODCAST NETWORK Explore all episodes in this series: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfYG40bwRKl4rdCQr8BWgdjEj6wTFZ3ZW ABOUT AFIKRA afikra | عفكرة is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region – past, present and future – through conversations driven by curiosity. 📍 Local events in 40+ locations worldwide explore.afikra.com [explore.afikra.com] 🎧 New podcasts + videos weekly https://explore.afikra.com/podcast-network [https://explore.afikra.com/podcast-network] ⚡ Become a member: https://explore.afikra.com/insiders [https://explore.afikra.com/insiders] 🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afikra_ [https://www.instagram.com/afikra_] 🔗 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/afikra.official [https://www.facebook.com/afikra.official] 🔗 Twitter: https://twitter.com/afikra [https://twitter.com/afikra] Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Hassan Sharif & Manal Aldowayan | Discover Arab Artists – The Misk Art Library Podcast

This episode of The Misk Art Library Podcast explores Saudi artist Manal AlDowayan and pioneering Emirati artist Hassan Sharif. The conversation highlights AlDowayan’s evolving practice, the challenges of documenting art histories, and the pioneering experimentation of Hassan Sharif. Together they reflect on how archives sustain artistic legacies and how intergenerational dialogue enriches the contemporary art landscape.  Their work is celebrated in the Misk Art Library volumes Manal AlDowayan: Participatory Acts and Hassan Sharif: Woven.   00:00 Introduction 00:33 The Importance of Preserving Archives 01:55 AlDowayan's Early Journey 03:22 Catherine David on Hassan Sharif 05:43 Sharif’s Studies and Experiments 12:53 Themes in AlDowayan’s Work 14:00 Through Lines in Sharif’s Practice 18:23 Re-educating Audiences on Arab Art 22:10 Closing Thoughts Hassan Sharif (1951-2016) is considered a pioneering conceptual artist and a leading figure in contemporary art in the Gulf region. Best known for his sculptural installations using everyday materials, his oeuvre also includes performance, painting, drawing, and weaving, covering themes such as the critique of mass consumption and industrialisation. Sharif was an influential educator, mentor, and critic who wrote prolifically and translated many critical texts to Arabic to make them accessible to people in the Emirates. He cofounded several platforms for artists to convene and to learn, encouraging innovation and experimentation in artmaking.   Catherine David is a French art historian, curator and museum director. From 1982 to 1990, she was Curator at the Musée National d’Art Moderne, Centre Georges Pompidou and from 1990 to 1994 Curator at the Galerie Nationale du Jeu de Paume, Paris. From 1994 to 1997, she served as Artistic Director for documenta X in Kassel, Germany (1997), and from 1998 she has been Director of the long-term project Contemporary Arab Representations which began at the Fundació Antoni Tàpies in Barcelona. Between 2002 and 2004, she was Director of the Witte de With Center of Contemporary Art in Rotterdam in the Netherlands. She currently works as Deputy Director of Musée National d’Art Moderne, Paris. Contemporary Saudi artist Manal AlDowayan (b. 1973, Dhahran) embraces themes of invisibility, active forgetting, archives, and collective memory with a focus on the condition of Saudi women and their representation. Through photography, sculpture, textiles, and participatory installations, she explores the spatial and social dynamics of public and private spheres. The artist thus expresses personal experiences and observations of time and space in order to resonate with a potentially broader audience. Connect with Manal AlDowayan 👉 https://instagram.com/manaldowayan [https://instagram.com/manaldowayan]   Hosted by Mikey Muhanna 👉 https://instagram.com/mikey_mu [https://instagram.com/mikey_mu] FOLLOW & RATE THE MISK ART LIBRARY PODCAST: » Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/misk-art-library-podcast-powered-by-afikra/id1838991319 » Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0dQ5Mxt8ITcQfHHjl4dVLM » Anghami: https://play.anghami.com/podcast/1074425862  THIS SERIES IS PART OF THE AFIKRA PODCAST NETWORK Explore all episodes in this series: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfYG40bwRKl4rdCQr8BWgdjEj6wTFZ3ZW ABOUT AFIKRA afikra | عفكرة is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region – past, present and future – through conversations driven by curiosity. 📍 Local events in 40+ locations worldwide explore.afikra.com [explore.afikra.com] 🎧 New podcasts + videos weekly https://explore.afikra.com/podcast-network [https://explore.afikra.com/podcast-network] ⚡ Become a member: https://explore.afikra.com/insiders [https://explore.afikra.com/insiders] 🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afikra_ [https://www.instagram.com/afikra_] 🔗 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/afikra.official [https://www.facebook.com/afikra.official] 🔗 Twitter: https://twitter.com/afikra [https://twitter.com/afikra] Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Salah Elmur | Discover Arab Artists – The Misk Art Library Podcast

This episode of The Misk Art Library Podcast brings Sudanese painter Salah Elmur who talks about memory, imagination, and artistic identity. Elmur reflects on his Sudanese upbringing, his dreamlike paintings, and his reluctance to label himself as an artist. He explores how memory, place, and biography shape artistic voice. His work is featured in the Misk Art Library volume Salah Elmur: Visual Chronicles available in English and Arabic.   0:00 Introduction 1:02 Elmur's Childhood in Sudan 2:50 Identifying As an Artist 3:32 Evolution of Artistic Themes and Styles 4:50 Connections With Other Artists Across the Arab World 6:11 Learning About African and Other International Art 7:15 Sudanese Culture and Visual Culture Studies 8:00 Discovering Other Great Artists 8:48 Elmur's Studio in Cairo 9:45 Elmur's Art Pieces 12:29 The Influence of Sudan on Elmur's Art 13:13 Expressing Personal Identity Through Art 16:48 Childhood Photos and Memories   Salah Elmur (born 1966, Al Jarif, Sudan) is an artist, graphic designer, filmmaker, and author whose artistic practice showcases a visual anthology and fabulist interpretation of real and fictive events. Elmur unites disparate, emblematic elements, creating strongly symbolic and colourful paintings that feature figures he extracts from his “cerebral boxes.” Having lived between Sudan, Kenya, and Egypt, Elmur’s creative output is informed by these multiple experiences – of the people, nature, and wildlife. His subjects transport viewers to a new reality in which relations shift and nostalgia prevails. His work carries a deep sense of sympathy for the human spirit, connecting the rich and diverse spectrum of tradition and culture. Connect with Salah Elmur 👉 https://instagram.com/salahelmur [https://instagram.com/salahelmur]   Hosted by Mikey Muhanna 👉 https://instagram.com/mikey_mu [https://instagram.com/mikey_mu] FOLLOW & RATE THE MISK ART LIBRARY PODCAST: » Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/misk-art-library-podcast-powered-by-afikra/id1838991319 » Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0dQ5Mxt8ITcQfHHjl4dVLM » Anghami: https://play.anghami.com/podcast/1074425862  THIS SERIES IS PART OF THE AFIKRA PODCAST NETWORK Explore all episodes in this series: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfYG40bwRKl4rdCQr8BWgdjEj6wTFZ3ZW ABOUT AFIKRA afikra | عفكرة is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region – past, present and future – through conversations driven by curiosity. 📍 Local events in 40+ locations worldwide explore.afikra.com [explore.afikra.com] 🎧 New podcasts + videos weekly https://explore.afikra.com/podcast-network [https://explore.afikra.com/podcast-network] ⚡ Become a member: https://explore.afikra.com/insiders [https://explore.afikra.com/insiders] 🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afikra_ [https://www.instagram.com/afikra_] 🔗 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/afikra.official [https://www.facebook.com/afikra.official] 🔗 Twitter: https://twitter.com/afikra [https://twitter.com/afikra] Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Fahad Hajailan & Amina Agueznay | Discover Arab Artists – The Misk Art Library Podcast

This episode of The Misk Art Library Podcast highlights Moroccan artist Amina Agueznay and Saudi painter Fahad Hajailan. The discussion reflects on Agueznay’s journey from architecture to wearable art, the role of craft within contemporary practice, and Hajailan’s colorful and expressive portraits. Together, they consider the vibrant art communities of Morocco and Saudi Arabia, and the connections that bind artistic practices across regions. Their work is featured in the volumes Amina Agueznay: Unmuted Narratives and Fahad Hajailan: Poetry in Color within the bilingual Misk Art Library series.   00:00 Introduction 00:22 Amina Agueznay's First Monograph 00:57 Cecilia Ruggeri on Hajailan's Work 02:42 Artistic Upbringing in Casablanca 07:10 Hajailan's Community and Practice 08:29 From Architecture to Wearable Art 12:19 Blurring Craft and Art 17:31 Cultural Influences in Hajailan's Work 21:29 Portraits of Women in Hajailan's Practice 26:18 Deconstructing and Reconstructing Jewelry 35:36 Hajailan's Horse Series 41:55 Agueznay's Installations and Projects 47:19 Book Recommendations 48:30 Closing Reflections Fahad Hajailan (1957-2018, born in Bilbeis, Egypt) is a Saudi painter, poet and teacher, with a career spanning four decades in painting based between Bilbeis, Riyadh and Jeddah. Between 1979 and 1999, he was employed as an art teacher at the Saad bin Abi Waqqas School in Riyadh and subsequently worked as a designer at two of the Kingdom’s leading dailies, Al Jazirah and Al Riyadh, where he explored digital art. In 2000, he helped found the Riyadh Fine Arts Group and thereafter focused strictly on his art practice, exhibiting extensively until his death. A central figure of the Saudi art scene, he sits firmly among the Kingdom’s pioneering artists, not only for his artistic practice but also for his contributions within the nation’s cultural domain.   Cecilia Ruggeri is a curator at Misk Art Institute, Riyadh. Her practice bridges historic and contemporary art, exploring diverse subjects, themes, and display techniques. Informed by her experiences in classical art historical spheres and contemporary spaces, her research aims to redefine art promotion and consumption, while raising transnational dialogues and institutional critiques regarding museum developments. With a B.A. from Institut d’Etudes Superieurs des Arts (Paris) and an M.A. from the Courtauld Institute of Art (London), she is completing a PhD in Art History at the University of Lausanne, Switzerland. Connect with  Cecilia Ruggeri 👉 https://instagram.com/ceciliaaruggeri [https://instagram.com/ceciliaaruggeri] Amina Agueznay (born 1963, Casablanca) is an artist, jewellery designer and architect based in Casablanca. Her practice leads her to the borders of the diverse yet complementary fields of architecture, design and traditional weaving methods. An advocate for ancestral techniques and traditional craft, her ideas take shape via collaborations with artisans of exceptional skills. In 2010 she was a laureate of the prestigious Mediterranean Fashion Prize, and her work can be found in the Bank Al-Maghrib collection, Société Générale Maroc, Musée d’Art Contemporain Africain Al Maaden and CNAP France. Connect with Amina Agueznay 👉 https://instagram.com/aminaagueznay [https://instagram.com/aminaagueznay]   Hosted by Mikey Muhanna 👉  https://instagram.com/mikey_mu [https://instagram.com/mikey_mu] FOLLOW & RATE THE MISK ART LIBRARY PODCAST: » Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/misk-art-library-podcast-powered-by-afikra/id1838991319 » Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0dQ5Mxt8ITcQfHHjl4dVLM » Anghami: https://play.anghami.com/podcast/1074425862  THIS SERIES IS PART OF THE AFIKRA PODCAST NETWORK Explore all episodes in this series: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfYG40bwRKl4rdCQr8BWgdjEj6wTFZ3ZW ABOUT AFIKRA afikra | عفكرة is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region – past, present and future – through conversations driven by curiosity. 📍 Local events in 40+ locations worldwide explore.afikra.com [explore.afikra.com] 🎧 New podcasts + videos weekly https://explore.afikra.com/podcast-network [https://explore.afikra.com/podcast-network] ⚡ Become a member: https://explore.afikra.com/insiders [https://explore.afikra.com/insiders] 🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afikra_ [https://www.instagram.com/afikra_] 🔗 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/afikra.official [https://www.facebook.com/afikra.official] 🔗 Twitter: https://twitter.com/afikra [https://twitter.com/afikra] Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Lulwah Al Homoud & Rafa Nasiri | Discover Arab Artists – The Misk Art Library Podcast

In this episode of The Misk Art Library Podcast Series, we sit down with two experts on art in the Arab world: Lulwah Al Homoud, an artist featured in the Misk Art Library series, and Dr. Nada Shabout, who speaks about the work of Iraqi artist Rafa Nasiri. We discuss Nasiri's legacy as a pioneer of Iraqi art ( delving into printmaking), the evolution of contemporary Arab art, and the role of spirituality and identity in the artists’ work. Lulwah Al Homoud shares her personal journey as an artist and her admiration for Nasiri's generous spirit. Dr. Shabout provides insight into the "New Vision" collective and the historical context of terms like "hurufiyya" ( حروفية ) and "textual abstraction."    00:00 Introduction 03:44 Discovering Rafa Nasiri's Work  05:12 How Lulwah Al Homoud's Career Path Began 07:31 Finding Common Paths in Art  09:00 The Spirituality of Art  11:05 Humility and Generosity in Art  11:43 The Evolution of Lulwah's Work  13:18 The Universal Language of Geometry  14:16 Art as a Tool for Growth  15:10 Contesting the Term "Hurufiyya"  19:08 The New Vision Collective Manifesto  21:18 A Dotted Line Between Generations of Artists 22:18 Core Experiments in Art  24:31 A Look Through the Book  27:19 A Complicated Process  28:58 Looking at Rafa Nasiri's Work  34:39 The Importance of Printmaking  38:09 Biography and Early Photos  40:12 Art Reflecting Spirituality  41:26 The Legacy of the New Vision Collective  44:19 Cities That Inspire  47:07 Book Recommendations  49:43 Artist Recommendations  51:27 Upcoming Projects Iraqi artist Rafa Nasiri (1940–2013) is considered one of the most influential artists within the sphere of fine arts in the Arab world, largely due to his artistry and his role in establishing some of the most notable art groups. A painter, printmaker, graphic designer, and art teacher, Nasiri also authored several art books, including one on his early experience in China. He is known for his unique abstract works inspired by nature, open spaces, and cosmic scenes in which he incorporated Arabic letters, poetry, and calligraphy. This book documents Nasiri’s career, focusing on the distinction of his experience and artistic visions that reflect the diversity of his creativity and the depth of his awareness, as well as his legacy within the canon of modern art.   Lulwah Al Homoud (born in 1967) is a pioneer of the Saudi contemporary art movement, whose works fuse spirituality, the written word and mathematical calculations in a novel artistic vocabulary, or what she describes as “spiritual art.” Drawing inspiration from the spirit of Islamic art, as well as the oeuvres of poets and philosophers such as Abu al-Atahiya and Jalal al-Din Rumi, Al Homoud constructs dialogues between language and letters, developing a relationship between form, concept, dimension and spirituality. This book is an anthology of her works, and explores the intersections between spirituality and calligraphy. Connect with Lulwah Al Homoud 👉 https://instagram.com/lulwah_al_homoud [https://instagram.com/lulwah_al_homoud] Dr. Nada Shabout's research and teaching address modern and contemporary visual practices and problems of representation from a global perspective, with emphasis on questions of methodology and in relation to the cultural politics of the Middle East. She teaches courses on Modern Arab art, global modern art, contemporary Middle Eastern art and Islamic art. Connect with Nada Shabout 👉 https://instagram.com/shabout_nada [https://instagram.com/shabout_nada]   Hosted by Mikey Muhanna 👉  https://instagram.com/mikey_mu [https://instagram.com/mikey_mu] FOLLOW & RATE THE MISK ART LIBRARY PODCAST: » Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/misk-art-library-podcast-powered-by-afikra/id1838991319 » Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0dQ5Mxt8ITcQfHHjl4dVLM » Anghami: https://play.anghami.com/podcast/1074425862  THIS SERIES IS PART OF THE AFIKRA PODCAST NETWORK Explore all episodes in this series: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfYG40bwRKl4rdCQr8BWgdjEj6wTFZ3ZW ABOUT AFIKRA afikra | عفكرة is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region – past, present and future – through conversations driven by curiosity. 📍 Local events in 40+ locations worldwide explore.afikra.com [explore.afikra.com] 🎧 New podcasts + videos weekly https://explore.afikra.com/podcast-network [https://explore.afikra.com/podcast-network] ⚡ Become a member: https://explore.afikra.com/insiders [https://explore.afikra.com/insiders] 🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afikra_ [https://www.instagram.com/afikra_] 🔗 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/afikra.official [https://www.facebook.com/afikra.official] 🔗 Twitter: https://twitter.com/afikra [https://twitter.com/afikra] Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.