Security through integration, not isolation

Posted on by
Reply
La Taverna du Liban Kabul

Afghan security in front of bombed restaurant in Kabul. Photo by Johannes Eisele for AFP/Getty Images

The news of the bombing of La Taverna du Liban, a Lebanese restaurant in Kabul, reached me while I was following a pre-deployment course for a EU mission in Libya. I think I knew Kamal, the owner of the restaurant, who died in the assault; if it was the same man who set up the restaurant somewhere in 2004-5 (and it seems so from this personal account), he was a hearty, generous man and I regret his death, especially for his children. Continue reading →

Searching for Ancient Arabia

Posted on by
11

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.Ancient Arabia 1

Continue reading →

Afghan Urban Housing Dilemma

Posted on by
Reply

Afghan 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.

Continue reading →

Kabul rising and getting high, 2013

Posted on by
Reply

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.

Wide road up the mountain

Continue reading →

What I would do if I became director of De Appel in Amsterdam

Posted on by
Reply

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.

logo De Appel

Continue reading →

My FCCS friends

Posted on by
3
A creation of master kite-maker Nur Agha, son of Bejo.

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

Posted on by
Reply

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.

Ibrahim contemplating his Qiblah kite shortly after it has been installed above the street in front of the gallery

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

Posted on by
1

An exhibition I’m curating in Paris: it will only remain open for 2 days (Sat 28 and Sunday 29 September). Don’t miss the opening party / vernissage !

Ibrahim invitation

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 →