The Power of...

Mohamad Badr 'Bloody Streets; The Manifestation of Power, Nabatiyeh, Lebanon'
150 x 100 cm. Photography on Archival Paper Edition of 3 2011-2012

"The Power of...", an exhibition of photographs by the Lebanese artist Mohamad Badr, documents the observance of Ashura, the Shi'a Muslim day of mourning over the martyrdom of Husayn, the Prophet's grandson. Shi'ites mourn Husayn's death by holding processions which often feature self-flagellation. The artist depicts men having their scalps cut, beating themselves with chains, and weeping together, bloodied and bruised. The intensity and devotion we see in the faces and bodies of Badr's subjects is frightening yet, somehow, romantic. Each year on Ashura, Husayn's violent martyrdom is not merely remembered; for Shi'ites, it is as though it happened that day. This feeling comes through in Mohamad Badr's photographs, and can only be intensified by the interactive installation at Beirut's Ayyam Gallery, which features large projections of two photographs, and displays the tools (such as razor blades and chains) used by participants in the ritual. 

Middle Eastern Comic Books and Graphic Novels: A New (Occasional) Feature

Graphic novels and comic books occupy a niche place in cultural thought. Comic books are short - around 30 pages including advertisements, and each issue tends to move the overall story forward in an incremental fashion. Story arcs often begin, pause, and end without warning, which can make them difficult to follow without access to back issues. The graphic novel, cousin to the comic book, may appeal more to novel readers and fans of more traditional storytelling. Like many other parts of the world, there is a wealth of comic books and graphic novels related to the Middle East -  I’ve listed a few of the more well-known ones below. I’d love to regularly update this feature with new finds, so if you have any recommendations send them into the blog.

The 99

Authors:

Dr. Naif al-Mutawa

Stuart Moore

John McCrea

Fabian Nicezia

Published: 2006-Ongoing

Teshkeel Comics

www.the99.org

Sara Rahbar’s “Restless Violence”

"In God We Trust" mixed media
(Source: http://www.carbon12dubai.com/)

Dubai’s Carbon 12 gallery features Tehran-born artist Sara Rahbar’s solo exhibition titled “Restless Violence,” in which the artist presents pieces from two new series “War” and “Confessions of a Sinner.”

Rahbar’s work is characterized by her successful “reworking of traditional materials into proto-contemporary textiles and textures of national belonging,” as Shaheen Merali describes. 

Museum of Innocence Opens on April 28th in Istanbul

"It was the happiest moment of my life, though I did not know it." The novel's opening line
(Image: Duygu Atlas)

Turkish Nobel laureate Orhan Pamuk is finally launching his grand project, the Museum of Innocence, which is based on his best-selling 2008 book by the same title. The book tells the story of wealthy Kemal’s love for his distant cousin Füsun and his ensuing obsession over her once the love is lost, which is reflected in his assiduous collection of objects which remind him of her. The book became an instant hit not only as a result of Pamuk’s brilliant portrayal of the spirit of Istanbul at the time, but also because Kemal’s attachment to objects, a far too familiar condition for many, stroke a similar sentimental chord with many readers. The book has been translated into nearly 60 languages. 

Beyond the Hill Takes the Istanbul Film Festival’s National Film Award

(Source: http://film.iksv.org/tr/film/260)

Organized by the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (IKSV - İstanbul Kültür Sanat Vakfı), the Istanbul Film Festival celebrated its 31st anniversary this year. The festival’s prestigious Golden Tulip Awards crowned the winners in different categories with Emin Alper’s first feature film Beyond the Hill (Tepenin Ardı) receiving the best national film award. Earlier this year, the movie won the special mention award at the 62nd Berlinale (Internationale Filmfestspiele Berlin) and is also to be screened at the Tribeca Film Festival (April 18-29) later this month. 

Arab Idol won by the Egyptian Carmen Sulaiman

Winner of Arab Idol 2012: The 17-year old Egyptian Carmen Sulaiman. (Source: MBC.net)

Last week, millions in the region enjoyed watching the finale of ‘Arab Idol 2012’. The Egyptian singer Carmen Sulaiman was the great winner, leaving behind her the Moroccan Dounia Batma.

Arab Idol is a show similar to the American and European versions, and has gained an immense popularity in the Arab world over the past months. Arab Idol is more or less a revival of ‘Super Star’, an Arabic show which started airing in 2003 and went on for five seasons.