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Reflections: Contemporary Art of the Middle East and North Africa
Contemporary Art of the Middle East and North Africa brings together an extraordinary collection of work from the British Museum for the first time. The contemporary art of the Middle East and North Africa is rich and vibrant. Whether living in their countries of birth or in diaspora, the featured artists are part of the globalised world of art. Here we see artists responding to and making work about their present, histories, traditions and cultures, reflecting on a part of the world that has experienced extraordinary change in living memory.
The British Museum has been acquiring the work of Middle Eastern and North African artists since the 1980s, and the collection – principally works on paper – is one of the most extensive in the public sphere. Collected within the context of a museum of history, the works offer insights into the nature of civil societies, the complex politics of the region, and cultural traditions in their broadest sense, from the relationship with Islamic art, to the deep engagement with literature.
The introduction to the book by curator Venetia Porter explores the history of the collection and the works included. The essential framework for understanding the politics and context within which the artists are working is provided by Charles Tripp’s essay. The works are grouped into seven chapters, each beginning with a short introduction. The authors explore the selection within themes such as faith, abstraction and the female gaze.
Table of Contents
Forewords
Introduction – Venetia Porter
Art and resistance, myth and memory – Charles Tripp
Catalogue – Venetia Porter with Natasha Morris
1. The figure and figuration
2. Geometry, abstraction and script
3. The past is present
4. Faith
5. A female gaze
6. Political struggle, revolution and war
7. Where is home?
Further reading
Credits
Index
The British Museum has been acquiring the work of Middle Eastern and North African artists since the 1980s, and the collection – principally works on paper – is one of the most extensive in the public sphere. Collected within the context of a museum of history, the works offer insights into the nature of civil societies, the complex politics of the region, and cultural traditions in their broadest sense, from the relationship with Islamic art, to the deep engagement with literature.
The introduction to the book by curator Venetia Porter explores the history of the collection and the works included. The essential framework for understanding the politics and context within which the artists are working is provided by Charles Tripp’s essay. The works are grouped into seven chapters, each beginning with a short introduction. The authors explore the selection within themes such as faith, abstraction and the female gaze.
Table of Contents
Forewords
Introduction – Venetia Porter
Art and resistance, myth and memory – Charles Tripp
Catalogue – Venetia Porter with Natasha Morris
1. The figure and figuration
2. Geometry, abstraction and script
3. The past is present
4. Faith
5. A female gaze
6. Political struggle, revolution and war
7. Where is home?
Further reading
Credits
Index
256 pages, Paperback
Published December 11, 2020
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
February 24, 2021
It's rare for me to get an exhibition catalogue before the exhibition itself opens - normally I get if after I visit. In this case that's because the pandemic has delayed this particular exhibition, just as it has to exhibitions the world over.
As with any British Museum catalogue it's filled with beautiful illustrations and plenty of detail on all the artworks featured in this exhibition.
It sets out the detail of why and how the museum has been collecting art from this part of the world - often referred to as the Islamic world but as the catalogue sets out that's not the only religion inspiring artists. It's great to see the museum increasing the diversity of its collection and it's very much an evolving feast with works as recent as those referencing the Arab spring.
I look forward to visiting the exhibition once it can open. It may not be the most visually striking of shows the museum has hosted but it is going to be an important one.
As with any British Museum catalogue it's filled with beautiful illustrations and plenty of detail on all the artworks featured in this exhibition.
It sets out the detail of why and how the museum has been collecting art from this part of the world - often referred to as the Islamic world but as the catalogue sets out that's not the only religion inspiring artists. It's great to see the museum increasing the diversity of its collection and it's very much an evolving feast with works as recent as those referencing the Arab spring.
I look forward to visiting the exhibition once it can open. It may not be the most visually striking of shows the museum has hosted but it is going to be an important one.
Displaying 1 of 1 review