Art

Jewish composer Brigitte Schiffer

Fleeing the Nazis and thriving in Cairo

Many Jewish musicians fled Nazi Germany in the 1930s and 1940s. Composer Brigitte Schiffer was one of the few who put down roots in Egypt. In this interview, the German music professor Matthias Pasdzierny charts her unusual story.
Lebanon celebrates art amid crisis

Lebanon has suffered economic turmoil for years and its arts and culture sector hasn't been spared. The "We Design Beirut" expo aims to revive the scene and throw a lifeline to artisans
Desert X AlUla 2024

"The desert is demanding new ways of seeing"

Over the past three years, there has been a shift in perception around the Saudi Arabian art scene, and at this year's DesertX, artists benefitted from freer expression
German culture scene unites against far-right

"The Many" against the AfD

Germany's right-wing AfD continues to gain ground in the polls. Many involved in the country's cultural scene fear the party will restrict artistic freedoms following the next election and have therefore launched their own campaign
Feminist art from Pakistan

Thoughtful, provocative, chic: Shehzil Malik's fresh aesthetic seeks social transformation in a conservative, male-dominated society – sometimes by deliberately flaunting social conventions
The story of a young artist in Gaza

When the pain begins to draw

Drawing on the walls of buildings in the Gaza Strip is a way for 21-year-old artist Menna Hamouda to express the trauma inflicted by five months of pain and destruction
Contemporary Art Biennale in Riyadh

What comes after the rain

For the second time, a biennale for contemporary art is taking place in Riyadh. It stands for Saudi Arabia's new policy of opening up and focuses on the theme of nature and environment. A report from Riyadh
Fikra culture magazine

Showcasing Palestinian perspectives

Fikra culture magazine publishes literature and art by Palestinians from all over the world. The editors hope it will serve as a platform for the dispersed community to debate and dream – and defend itself against censorship from all sides
Palestine's cultural heritage

The first digital Palestinian embroidery database

Award-winning entrepreneur Zain Masri has so far digitised about 1,000 traditional Palestinian cross-stitch patterns, now available for download from her platform, Tirazain
Middle Eastern and North African art in Europe

MENA Art Gallery – haven for Arab art

The MENA Art Gallery in downtown Berlin is the brainchild of Italian researcher Enrico De Angelis and Syrian visual artist Zena El Abdalla. One transliteration of the colloquial Arabic for 'port' is 'mena', reflecting the intention to provide a haven for works by Arab artists, as Rama Jarmakani reports
Life in Iraq

No politics, no religion, no sex

Hella Mewis refuses to give in. The head of a cultural centre in Baghdad has already been kidnapped once, but Baghdad is her home, and she’s staying. Lena Bopp finds out why
Lebanon explosion 3 years on

Rebuilding Beirut's cultural life

Three years after a massive explosion devastated Beirut, cultural institutions in the city are still struggling to pick up the pieces. But restored and planned new museums offer hope. Stefan Dege reports