The first episode of The Misk Art Library Podcast explores the life and work of two of the foremost figures of Arab art: Abdulrahman Alsoliman and Adam Henein. We are proud to feature esteemed Saudi artist Abdulrahman Alsoliman reflecting on his own practice, alongside curator Mona Khazandar speaking about the work of the late Egyptian sculptor Adam Henein. In this conversation we trace the evolution of Alsoliman’s abstract visual language, the legacy of Henein’s modernist sculpture and charcoal drawings, and the importance of publications in preserving artistic memory. The dialogue also considers the role of mentors, institutions, and communities in shaping artistic identity across generations. Both artists’ work is documented in beautifully designed volumes of the Misk Art Library series: Abdulrahman Alsoliman: Signs and Symbols and Adam Henein: Charcoal Drawings, offering richly illustrated, bilingual introductions to their careers.
00:00 Introduction
02:01 School Days and Early Artistic Development
09:17 The Influence of Adam Henein
11:12 The Importance of Publications
16:22 Artistic Techniques and Evolution
25:14 Memories and Personal Stories
47:53 Reflections on Art and Legacy
51:23 Book Recommendations and Closing Remarks
Abdulrahman Alsoliman (born 1954) is one of Saudi Arabia's most acclaimed artists, currently based in Dammam During his prolific career, his work has stood out for his deep appreciation for Saudi Arabia's heritage and culture. Through texts, photos. an interview with the artist, and a magnificent set of works, this volume is an intense exploration of the signs and the colours he uses in his abstract paintings, giving rise to an intricate ornamental style influenced by local tradition and literature.
Mona Khazindar is a leading curator and historian who has organized major international exhibitions for over three decades. From 2011 to 2014, she was the first woman and first Saudi to direct the Arab World Institute in Paris. She has held influential roles on the board of MUCEM, as cultural advisor to the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities, and as a member of both the Saudi Cultural Authority and the Ithra advisory council. In 2017, she founded Palette, a collective dedicated to cultural initiatives and art publishing. A widely published author, Khazindar wrote "Visions from Abroad: Historical and Contemporary Representations of Saudi Arabia."
Adam Henein (1929-2020) is one of the most renowned and accomplished Arab artists, and a prominent figure in Egypt's Modernist movement, sculpting bronze, wood, clay, and granite into pure, twisted forms. The artworks collected in this book reveal an intimate aspect of his production through a previously unpublished selection of charcoal drawings he produced over the last two decades. A beautiful and moving immersion into his work.
Hosted by Mikey Muhanna 👉 https://instagram.com/mikey_mu
Co-hosted by Basma 👉 https://sa.linkedin.com/in/basma-alshathry-2a96a491
Basma Alshathry has a BA in Art History from the American University in Paris and an MA in History of Decorative Arts and Curatorial Studies from Parsons Paris, the New School. She spearheads various curatorial projects, including the prestigious Misk Art Grant and The Art Library series of publications, which focus on significant Arab artists.
FOLLOW & RATE THE MISK ART LIBRARY PODCAST: » Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/misk-art-library-podcast-powered-by-afikra/id1838991319 » Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0dQ5Mxt8ITcQfHHjl4dVLM » Anghami: https://play.anghami.com/podcast/1074425862
THIS SERIES IS PART OF THE AFIKRA PODCAST NETWORK Explore all episodes in this series: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfYG40bwRKl4rdCQr8BWgdjEj6wTFZ3ZW
ABOUT AFIKRA
afikra | عفكرة is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region – past, present and future – through conversations driven by curiosity.
📍 Local events in 40+ locations worldwide explore.afikra.com
🎧 New podcasts + videos weekly https://explore.afikra.com/podcast-network
⚡ Become a member: https://explore.afikra.com/insiders
🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afikra_
🔗 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/afikra.official
🔗 Twitter: https://twitter.com/afikra
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.