Archives for March 2025 | Naima Morelli

Published! Uzbekistan at the 2025 Venice Biennale at Times of Central Asia

25-03-2025

Central Asia, Interview, Italy, Published

Is it possible to preserve architectural heritage while working towards sustainability? And what to make of the architectural relics of the past century? Can they somehow take on new meaning rather than remaining a representation of dystopias and utopias of the past?

All these questions and more are addressed by the Uzbekistan Pavilion at the 2025 Venice Architecture Biennale. Running alternate years with the Art Biennale, this is undoubtedly one of the most important architectural events in the international arena.

I have interviewed Ekaterina Golovatyuk of Studio GRACE, the architectural film that curated the Uzebek Pavillion. The piece is for Times of Central Asia.

Here is the link to the interview

Published! Marseille ‘Revenir’ exhibition on MEMO

By: Naima Morelli

11-03-2025

France, News, Review, Visit

Affiche de l'exposition "Revenir" © passeport - photo David Giancatarina, Sfeir-Semler Gallery Hamburg/Beirut, Adagp, Paris, 2024 et © archives famille Ghoussoub Feghali, Collections du Muse national de l'histoire de l'immigration - Établissement public du Palais de la Porte Dorée

As I walked to the museum in the southern French city, some graffiti on a restaurant shutter caught my eye: “If a place attracts you, it’s because there is something waiting for you, and your story there has already been written.”

These words stuck with me as I turned the corner and the incredible MUCEM building stood before me, epic in shape and location, silhouetted against the cloudy sky, seemingly suspended on the sea.

“Revenir” focuses on the idea of home, travel and returning. This is not only the scope of the show, but the wider project of the museum, which is dedicated to Mediterranean cultures, especially to that very specific blend for which this city port is renowned.

Running until 16 March at the Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilisations (MUCEM) in Marseille, the exhibition “Revenir” (“Return”) invites visitors to explore the experiences of returning to one’s homeland.

I wrote about the show for Middle East Monitor.

Here is the link to the review

Published! Q&A with Sara Raza director of CCA Tashkent

By: Naima Morelli

10-03-2025

Central Asia, Interview, News, Published

Sara Raza is a litmus test for the spirit of the times in the shape of an art curator. In simple terms, art crowds can count on her direction for the Tashkent Centre for Contemporary Art (CCA) to bring the most pressing issues in contemporary art to the foreground.

Indeed, the author of the book Punk Orientalism – and the namesake curatorial studio – has been just appointed as Artistic Director and Chief Curatorial Director of the CCA Tashkent, set to open in September 2025.

It’s a strategic move for the Centre, which has aspirations of becoming a global arts and culture hub and is aiming at international artistic and creative exchanges, which include residencies, exhibitions, workshops, and educational programmes, and contributing to Uzbekistan’s cultural ecosystem.

Here is the link to the interview

Published! Mous Lamrabat on Markaz Review

By: Naima Morelli

10-03-2025

Review

I have written about the new show of Mous Lamrabat “Homesick”, now at Loft Art Gallery in Marrakech through the 15th of March, for The Markaz Review.

The series is a striking meditation on identity, nostalgia, and cultural fusion. Through twenty powerful new works, the Moroccan-Belgian photographer reimagines heritage with contemporary aesthetics, bridging past and present in an emotional exploration of belonging.

Here is the link to the review

Published! Vietnamese Art in Paris for Plural Art Mag

By: Naima Morelli

01-03-2025

Uncategorized

Across Paris, contemporary Vietnamese artists have also been making their presence felt, represented by galleries such as Galerie BAO and A2Z Art Gallery and showing at art fairs like Asia Now (Europe’s only fair focused on Asian artists). Taken together, these various presentations point towards a cultural conversation between the two countries that stretches back to colonial times.

I have written a piece on Vietnamese art during the Paris Art Week for Plural Art Mag.

Here is the link to the article

Naima Morelli

Published! Uzbekistan at the 2025 Venice Biennale at Times of Central Asia

Published! Marseille ‘Revenir’ exhibition on MEMO

Published! Q&A with Sara Raza director of CCA Tashkent

Published! Mous Lamrabat on Markaz Review

Published! Vietnamese Art in Paris for Plural Art Mag

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