MASSIMILIANO GIONI / GARY CARRION-MURAYARI / NATALIE BELL / NEGAR AZIMI / KAELEN WILSON-GOLDIE
This catalogue, accompanying the New Museum exhibition u003ciu003eHere and Elsewhereu003c/iu003e, presents the work of over 45 artists who share roots in the Arab world and a critical sensibility with regard to images and image-making. The title of the exhibition is borrowed from a 1976 film-essay by Jean-Luc Godard, Jean-Pierre Gorin and Anne-Marie Miéville. Their film, u003ciu003eIci et ailleursu003c/iu003e, was conceived as a pro-Palestinian documentary, but evolved into a complex reflection on the ethics of representation. Taking inspiration from this film--which has had a strong impact on Arab artists--u003ciu003eHere and Elsewhereu003c/iu003e examines the role of the artist in the face of historical events. An anthology of critical texts edited by u003ciu003eBidounu003c/iu003e magazine highlights the critical discussions that have animated contemporary art in the Arab world. Among the artists included are Fouad Elkoury, Hrair Sarkissian, Hassan Sharif, Anna Boghiguian, Simone Fattal, Ziad Antar and Etel Adnan.