logo
episode-header-image
Jun 23
50m 36s

The Woman behind the Wheel - Vera Tamari

Tarwida
About this episode

From her ceramic sculptures to her time teaching at Birzeit University, Vera Tamari’s work captures the deep ties between culture, resistance, and rootedness. A trailblazer in the Palestinian art scene, Vera was among the first women to exhibit contemporary art in Palestine and has spent decades mentoring new generations of artists. In this conversation, we reflect on the role of women in art and academia, and what it means to reinvent family archives. 

This episode is hosted by Afaf Shawwa Bibi. Tarwida’s lead producer is Tala Elissa. Our executive producer is Zina Jardaneh. Our associate producer is Zeena Shehadeh. Social media by Leen Karadsheh. Research and copywriting by Dima Sharif. Branding by Sara Sukhun. Theme music includes excerpts from Clarissa Bitar, The Popular Art Centre - مركز الفن الشعبي & Rim Banna. 

This episode was recorded on 26th of May, 2025.

Tarwida is a series of conversations that bring Palestinian arts, culture and heritage to the forefront. We hear from artists including writers, filmmakers, musicians, architects, culinary practitioners and more about their very own Palestine.  

In a nutshell, if you want to know more about (Creative) Palestine, this is the place to be. 

Follow us on @tarwidapodcast

--

Relevant links and Resources: 

Up next
Jul 7
Just Saying You're Palestinian is Powerful | Alana Hadid
Creative director, activist, and storyteller Alana Hadid joins us for an in-depth conversation, sharing her earliest memories of growing up in a Palestinian-American family, the influence of her family members, and how she navigates social media algorithms to educate and raise aw ... Show More
46m 15s
Jun 9
The Freedom Theater | Nabil Al Raee
Nabil Al Raee, a leader at The Freedom Theater in Jenin, talks about the theater's founding and its role in resisting oppression through storytelling. Despite challenges like funding and political pressure, Nabil highlights global support and hopes for the future of Palestinian a ... Show More
39m 30s
May 26
From the River to the Screen, Palestine will be Seen | Watermelon Pictures
Dive into the inspiring journey of Hamza and Badie Ali, the brothers who transformed their passion for film into a mission to reclaim the Palestinian narrative through their production and distribution company, Watermelon Pictures. They delve into their origins, from their grandf ... Show More
46m 55s
Recommended Episodes
Sep 2023
Samar Mogharbel on Dorothy Salhab Kazemi | On Women By Women in Art
 *CHAPTERS*0:00 - Introduction0:15 - Samar Mogharbel0:57 - The life and work of Dorothy Salhab Kazemi2:00 - Dorothy’s sources of inspiration & unique visual language2:46 - Samar on Dorothy3:46 - Dorothy’s Sculpture from 19745:04 - Lebanese Clay8:46 - Dorothy’s work as avant-garde ... Show More
12m 7s
Mar 2025
Camera Obscura and Photography's Roots in Tehran | Behzad Khosravi Noori at Quoz Arts Fest
Artist, archivist, and educator Behzad Khosravi Nouri, and Richard Lackey from Fujifilm Middle East delve into Behzad's unique exhibition at Gulf Photo Plus, titled "The Life of an Itinerant Through a Pinhole," which explores his grandfather's photographic work in Tehran during t ... Show More
20m 6s
Apr 23
#7 - Art, Culture & The Arab Narrative: Rima Nasser of Selections Magazine
In this episode of "Tak on the Pod", Andrea sits down with Rima Nasser, founder of Selections Magazine, a platform dedicated to showcasing the richness of Arab art, design, and culture. Through Selections and initiatives like Cultural Narratives, Rima has created a space for arti ... Show More
29m 51s
Mar 2025
Inside the Islamic Arts Biennale | HE Rakan Altouq & Dr Julian Raby
In this episode of the afikra podcast, host Mikey Muhanna speaks with His Excellency Rakan Altouq – Vice Chair of the Diriyah Biennale Arts Foundation and Assistant Minister for Culture of Saudi Arabia – and Dr Julian Raby, one of the artistic directors of the Islamic Arts Bienna ... Show More
56m 37s
Jul 2024
Sonja Mejcher-Atassi | An Impossible Friendship: Group Portrait, Jerusalem Before & After 1948
This episode was recorded on July 10th, 2024.Check out Sonja's reading recommendations for Palestinian literature from the 20th Century 👉https://www.afikra.com/daftarjournal/sonja-mejcher-atassi-book-recommendationsAnd dive deeper into the history of the King David Hotel 👉https ... Show More
1h 4m
Aug 2024
Tracy Chahwan | Beirut Bloody Beirut
Tracy Chahwan's bold and vibrant posters have become a common fixture of Beirut's walls, and her colorful illustrations are known and loved by people across the Arab world and beyond. For this episode of the afikra podcast, she joined us in our Beirut-studio to reminisce on the e ... Show More
58m 29s
Jul 2024
My Mother’s Extraordinary Life in Beirut of the Late 50s & Early 60s | Venetia Porter
Venetia Porter is an Honorary Research Fellow at the British Museum. Formerly Curator of Islamic and Contemporary Middle Eastern Art at the British Museum, her published titles include "Reflections: Contemporary Art of the Middle East and North Africa", "The Islamic World: A Hist ... Show More
54m 21s
Aug 2024
Khatt Chronicles in Conversation With Nisrine Sarkis
Yara Khoury Nammour interviews Beirut-based Lebanese designer Nisrine Sarkis. They discuss her journey into the world of branding and lettering. Focusing initially on illustration and graphic design, Nisrine gradually realized the importance of Arabic typography to her practice a ... Show More
25m 42s
Feb 2025
Exploring the Future of Art | Haytham Nawar on Diriyah Art Futures
In this episode of The afikra Podcast, host Mikey Muhanna talks to the director of Diriyah Art Futures, the MENA region’s first hub dedicated to New Media Arts, established by the Ministry of Culture of Saudi Arabia. Haytham Nawar discusses DAF’s focus on the intersection between ... Show More
43m 18s
Aug 2024
Personal Narratives in Collective History, Consumer Culture & Mass Production | Raed Yassin
What is the difference between being an artist and an entertainer? What are the nuances of conveying humour and comedy through art? In this conversation, multi-creative Raed Yassin gives us his take. From growing up in Beirut during the civil war and how this has impacted his wor ... Show More
1 h