Our latest podcast is now out; ‘Reflections on Institutions and Critique: The Case of Mina Zayed’ delves into the Mina Zayed: Reflections on Past Futures exhibition’s institutional critique through engaging and mindful conversations.
Moderated by Maryam Wissam Al Dabbagh Iraqi writer and cultural communications consultant, the podcast features Saira Ansari, Kevin Jones and Mohamed Somji, along with artists Fatema Al Fardan and Lena Kassicieh. The five guests will also discuss the role of cultural sectors in communal spaces and the diverse communities of Mina Zayed.
Moderator:
Born and raised in the UAE, Maryam Wissam Al Dabbagh is an Iraqi writer, researcher, and cultural communications consultant. She received a BA in Journalism, from the American University of Sharjah, and an MA in Global Media and Postnational Communications from SOAS, London. Her research is focused on the Arab Diaspora in the Gulf, and exile, especially through the lens of belonging and return.
Speakers:
Saira Ansari is a researcher/writer with an interest in South Asian art history, global modernity, publishing practices and science fiction.
Kevin Jones is an independent arts writer based in Dubai. New York-born and Paris-bred, he is currently the UAE Desk Editor for ArtAsiaPacific. In 2019, he founded the niche consultancy Juniper Mind, which helps brands be more like artists, and artists more like brands.
Mohamed Somji is a Tanzanian national with Indian roots and has been living in Dubai for the last 40 years. Mohamed is a curator, photographer, and director of Gulf Photo Plus, a Dubai-based photography gallery and community organization. In addition to offering a wide range of photography educational and art programs, the organization hosts a week-long annual event that draws the world's preeminent talent in photography and hosts events and activities with a view to nurturing and developing photography talent in the region.
In addition to artists in the exhibition:
Fatema Al Fardan is a multidisciplinary artist interested in complexifying Emirati narratives. She examines her national monolithic identity through photography and performance, questioning both cultural and social homogeneity attached to Emiratis.
Lena Kassicieh is a ceramicist, photographer, and mixed-media artist. Lena's work combines a multitude of emotions and experiences, and is generated through a sense of thoughtful nostalgia and melancholy, exploring visuals, moments and shapes that tell a story. Her work is multidisciplinary and experimental in its nature, including illustrations, ceramics, collages, sketchbooks, acrylic paintings and photographs.