Art
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Art in IstanbulCurating on shifting ground
The art world came to Turkey in September for two high-profile events: Contemporary Istanbul and the 18th Istanbul Biennial. Against a backdrop of political crisis and growing censorship, organisers and artists found creative ways to stay relevant.
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Stefan Weidner on pre-Islamic poetry"Poetry in its true fullness"
Stefan Weidner has gathered pre-Islamic poems and translated them into German. His new book "The Arabic Divan" revisits these centuries-old works and explores how their verses serve as a vibrant predecessor to today's social media.
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Women in SyriaCrafting independence
In Syria, women are reclaiming their independence through creative initiatives, from traditional crafts to community workshops. Four stories of perseverance and hope.
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FairuzSongs for a Lebanon that never existed
Lebanese singer Fairuz, now a 90-year-old icon, began her career 70 years ago with mould-breaking musical theatre. Setting artistic milestones alongside the Rahbani brothers, she soundtracked the history of Lebanon through an era marked by suffering and war.
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Jewish composer Brigitte SchifferFleeing 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.
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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
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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
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The story of a young artist in GazaWhen 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
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Contemporary Art Biennale in RiyadhWhat 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
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Fikra culture magazineShowcasing 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
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Palestine's cultural heritageThe 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
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Middle Eastern and North African art in EuropeMENA 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