This episode of The Misk Art Library Podcast reflects on the work of Filwa Nazer and Mona Saudi. Nazer reflects on her own textile-based practice, her early inspirations, and the process of documenting her first monograph, while Myrna Ayad speaks about Mona Saudi’s resilient career and her profound connection to stone as a living material. Together they consider themes of motherhood, politics, and community, as well as the importance of publications in documenting artistic legacies.
Their work is featured in the Misk Art Library volumes Filwa Nazer: Embodied Spaces and Mona Saudi: Formations, available in English and Arabic.
00:00 Introduction
01:59 Filwa Nazer on Being Featured
03:33 First Encounter with Mona Saudi
07:33 Early Artistic Influences
10:07 Reflections on Saudi’s Sculpture and Personality
13:24 The Aliveness of Stone
16:27 Themes of Motherhood and Politics
22:05 Fashion Design and Art Practice
29:00 Artistic Communities in Jeddah and Beirut
36:26 Discussion of Specific Works
44:13 Challenges of Archiving
47:39 Book Recommendations
Born in Amman, Jordan, Mona Saudi (1945-2022) was one of the rare sculptors of her era. She worked exclusively with stone as her medium, and her sculptures often centred around basic shapes, such as squares, circles, cylinders, and rectangles. These dynamic compositions frequently circled back to themes of fertility and growth. Her works are included in the collections of renowned international institutions, such as Sharjah Art Foundation; the British Museum, London; Barjeel Art Foundation, Sharjah; the Institut du monde arabe, Paris; the Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts, Amman; the Khalid Shoman Foundation, Amman; the National Museum of Women in the Arts, Washington D.C.; Dar al-Athar al-Islamiyyah, Kuwait; the Museum of Modern Art, Kuwait; and the Ministry of Culture, Cairo.
The work of Filwa Nazer (b. 1972) revolves around exploring emotional and psychological identity within spatial and social contexts. The multidisciplinary visual artist employs digital prints, collages, textiles, and installations as mediums to delve into the ever-evolving boundaries between public and private spaces. Drawing on her experience in the fashion industry, she crafts textile sculptures and geometric embroideries that evoke deconstructed clothing patterns and traditional handicrafts. Her works are featured in prominent public collections, including the Saudi Ministry of Culture, Riyadh; the Al-Mansouria Foundation, Jeddah; the Jameel Arts Centre, Dubai; and the Greenbox Museum of Contemporary Art from Saudi Arabia, Amsterdam, as well as numerous private collections worldwide.
Connect with Filwa Nazer 👉 https://instagram.com/fillimore
Myrna Ayad is a Dubai-based cultural strategist and publisher, and founder of her namesake consultancy (2018), through which she works with leading luxury brands, government entities, private companies, and non-profits. She has authored and edited books and publications with Assouline, Skira, Rizzoli and Kaph Books, and frequently serves as a panelist, jurist, moderator, and workshop leader on art and culture from the region. From 2016-2018, she was Director of Art Dubai, overseeing its most globally diverse editions and non-profit programs. Before that, she wrote on Arab and Iranian art to outlets including as a contributor to major international newspapers and publications, and served as Editor of Canvas magazine (2007–2015).
Connect with Myrna Ayad 👉 https://instagram.com/myrnaayad
Mikey Muhanna 👉
https://instagram.com/mikey_mu
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