I’m about to start a FIND fellowship at New York University Abu Dhabi called ‘Searching for Ancient Arabia’ and I’m looking for artists, curators, critics and scholars to participate in this research project.
Searching for Ancient Arabia
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Afghan Urban Housing Dilemma
When we visited the mayor’s office during my last trip to Kabul, the deputy mayor, a great fan of Persian poetry, lamented the fact that all the houses currently being built in Kabul are of the ‘international’ (Western) type: a standalone house on a plot of land, surrounded by a bit of garden or walkways, with all windows facing outwards.
Rich and Poor on the Outskirts of Kabul
Today we first went to visit the new city of Omid-e Sabz. It is located improbably far from the city center, about 10 minutes drive West of Darulaman Palace, and close to the southeastern rim of Dasht-e Barchi.
In a way it’s lucky Kabul is surrounded by mountains, otherwise the city would never stop expanding.
Kabul rising and getting high, 2013
Today I guided a Dutch architect researching urban developments in Kabul. After fixing the roaming internet connection on his Apple computer in a record time – praise be to the helpfulness and tech savviness of Afghan shopowners – we drove up TV mountain to take some pictures. He had the good camera, I my phone. The weather was heavily overcast with occasional sunbursts.
What I would do if I became director of De Appel in Amsterdam
De Appel is the intellectual powerhouse of Amsterdam’s art world – or maybe it isn’t anymore, but it still has that reputation. It’s a non-commercial art space that offers a high-level (and world-renown) curatorial program, as well as a study program for gallery staff, it is the place to present contemporary art prizes and projects, and it organizes about 4-5 exhibitions a year.
De Appel is now looking for a director. This is my open application.
A visit to Nur Agha the kitemaker
The signature of Ustad Nur Agha, son of Bejo, which name allegedly comes from the Urdu word ‘becchu’, scorpion
Today I took a few hours off work to visit the master kite maker, Nur Agha, son of Bejo, the famous Kabuli kite maker. Continue reading
My FCCS friends
A creation of master kite-maker Nur Agha, son of Bejo.
Kabul, 2 October 2013
Over the past few days I’ve seen many of my friends that I worked with during my years as founder and director of the Foundation for Culture and Civil Society (2003-2006); in many cases I gave them one of their first proper jobs. In the generous, effusive friendship they now offer me, each of them credits me for their current success as their ‘teacher’. Continue reading
Ibrahim Abumsmar at the Window in Paris
I curated this small exhibition (27-29 September 2013), whose only ambition was to document the two months residency of Ibrahim Abumsmar in Paris – whence the simple title, ‘A Saudi Artist in Paris’. It turned out quite nice.
Below are the wall texts (in French) interspersed with some photographs. More information including links to The Window, the artist and his gallery (Athr) can be found on the previous post ‘A Saudi Artist in Paris‘. Continue reading
A Saudi Artist in Paris
Ibrahim Abumsmar is an artist specializing in minimalist sculpture with a sociopolitical message. He hails from the Asir, the mountainous southwestern region of Saudi Arabia. After participating in exhibitions in Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Qatar, Italy and Istanbul, Ibrahim is now completing a two-month residency at the Cité des Arts in Paris. Continue reading
How the collection of the National Museum of Afghanistan survived the civil war and the looting, 1992-2001
Participants of the Roundtable in the Japanese Room of the Peace Palace
My contribution to the “Art Trafficking and Restitution” roundtable
organized by Walk of Truth at the Peace Palace in The Hague
16 September 2013
Ladies and Gentlemen,
In the late 1970s, when Kabul was still known as a stop on the hippy trail, the city’s museum boasted one of the richest collections of Asia. It spanned from the early Indus valley civilizations to the highlights of Islamic civilization, from Roman glass to Indian ivories; indeed Afghanistan had been the cradle of Zoroastrianism and highly syncretic cultures such as Hellenic Buddhism, producing highly developed art forms unique to this area.
I will describe the actions a few individuals undertook to preserve the most valuable parts of the collection of the National Museum of Afghanistan for posterity. This allowed us all to see the magnificent exhibition of the National Treasures of Afghanistan, in the Nieuwe Kerk in Amsterdam or elsewhere in the world. I have a few books here for those interested