Italy: conference celebrates art and architecture of Arab world
Held in Venice in Italy on October 8th, the conference “Enhancing Arab Narratives: Pathways Between Biennale and Academia” was created in preparation for the the cultural festival, the Venice Biennale, The New Arab plus agencies reported.
Artists, journalists and educators came together with the aim of discussing the current state of Arab art and architecture.
Endorsed by The New Arab as well as its sister site Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, and organised by educator and journalist Alba Nabulsi, the conference explored relevant themes in Arab art today.
Keeping in mind the Venice Biennale set to take place in 2026 – one of the biggest events in the art world – the conference explored the presence of Arab artists in the event, and their growing worldwide recognition. Deena Hammam, Audience Engagement Co-Curator at Qatar Museums, showcased the concept for the country’s pavilion’s “Beyti Beytak (“My House is Your House”) exhibition, – which explores the impact of hospitality in the MENA region’s architecture.
The conference also held discussions on the impact of the genocide faced by Palestinians on artists in the MENA region. Professor Ruba Salih from the University of Bologna talked about the role of art and academia in contributing to justice as well as solidarity. Drawing on her social anthropology background, she urged the audience to reflect on the connections between space, power and displacement – especially during times of war.
Different artists shared their perspectives on memory, identity and culture. Visual artist Jasmine Barri discussed the influence of memory and identity among the Palestinian diaspora in her art, while Palestinian mezzo-soprano singer Dima Bakri spoke about the connective power of art.
As part of the discussion, the singer drew a parallel between composer Antonio Vivaldi’s masterpiece “Sorrowful Daughters of Jerusalem”, and the hardship faced by Palestinians living under occupation today, highlighting the way art can bring together people from different cultures and times.
The New Arab plus agencies, Maghrebi.org
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