Interview | Naima Morelli

Published! Interview with Samia Halaby on The New Arab

24-01-2024

English, Interview, Middle East, Published

Palestinian artist Samia Halaby discusses her latest exhibition, 'Flurrying' | Arab News

“I see the beauty in many places, many times, and I have always wanted to interrupt conversations to point out what I see,” says Palestinian artist Samia Halaby. “I learned not to do so, and share beauty through painting.”

Today in her eighties, Samia Halaby is a pioneer of abstract painting and a central figure in Palestinian art, with an artistic career that started in the late 1950s and was also accompanied by a strong commitment to the liberation of her country.

I have interviewed the artist for The New Arab.

Here is the link to the interview

Published! Su Hui-Yu at Singapore Art Week for The Financial Times

By: Naima Morelli

24-01-2024

Interview, Published, Research, Singapore, Taiwan

My latest piece for The Financial Times. I have interviewed the Taiwanese artist Su-Hui Yui about his work on collective memories, transgression and technological change in Asian societies that he presented during the Singapore Art Week.

Here is the link to the piece

Published! Interview with Marwa Benhalim

By: Naima Morelli

21-12-2023

Collection, Interview, Libya, Published

The Italian Magazine Arabpop has just published my interview with Libyan artist Marwa Benhalim in Italian, with the title “The history of the world in a fist of couscous.”

This issue magazine themed “feast” is now out in the press.

Here is the link to the pdf of the article Download

Published! Interview with Libyan writer Mahbuba Khalifa for The Markaz Review

By: Naima Morelli

13-11-2023

Interview, Libya, Published

The Markaz Review has published my latest article called “My Love for Derna: Interview with Libyan Writer Mahbuba Khalifa”

Mahbuba Khalifa, a Libyan philosophy graduate, is an author and poet from flood-devastated Derna, often called Libya’s “city of poets.” She has devoted her most recent book to the city of her childhood and adolescence.

Here is the link to the interview

Central Asia in the spotlight at Asia Now fair on The Financial Times

By: Naima Morelli

14-10-2023

Central Asia, Interview, News, Published

I have a new piece out on the weekend edition of the Financial Times, called “Central Asia in the spotlight at Asia Now fair.”

The article looks at how craft, nomadism and spirituality feature prominently in the region’s artistic practices, and are the focus on the art fair Asia Now, happening next week in Paris.

Here is the link to the piece

Published! Art Curators as Public Intellectuals on The Markaz Review

By: Naima Morelli

09-10-2023

Central Asia, Interview, Middle East, News, Published

I wrote a piece for The Markaz Review, wondering whether curators who organize international exhibitions and develop books aren’t in fact public intellectuals. With interviews to @roseissaprojects @punkorientalism @farah.abushullaih

“Contrary to popular belief, it remains true that the specter of the intellectual still haunts the art world. The only thing that has changed is the mask they now hide behind — that of ‘curator.’ The current dislike of the word intellectual runs just as deep as our love for the word “curator.” ‘

Here is the link to the piece

Published! Libyan art scene on Hadara

By: Naima Morelli

13-09-2023

Interview, Libya, News, North Africa, Published, Reportage, Research

My latest story: “Contemporary Libyan art is looking back at its recent and ancient history”, has just been published on the beautiful Hadara Magazine.

I spoke with curator Najlaa Elageli, artists Tewa Barnosa, Shefa Salem and many others.

Here is the link to the piece

Published: Food and the Palestinian diaspora for The New Arab

By: Naima Morelli

31-08-2023

Interview, Middle East, News, Published

Fruits weave together ancestral longing, anchoring us to home. ‘Double Blessings’ is an exhibition in Chicago that explore this concept through the work four artists who are connected to Palestine. Their art tells stories of consumption and lineage, with food as a common but diverse language.

I have interviewed Noel Maghathe, the curator of the show, for The New Arab.

Here is the link to the article

Published: Wonder Cabinet in Bethlehem for MEMO

By: Naima Morelli

29-08-2023

Essay, Interview, Middle East, News, Published

With the new art space Wonder Cabinet in Bethlehem, Palestinian architects Elias and Yousef Anastas,are recovering, treasuring and expanding the genius loci of the West Bank.

The kind of impact that the art space is hoping to have is twofold: encouraging the Palestinian art scene to grow beyond Ramallah, while also attracting creatives from around the world to Bethlehem.

I have interview them for Middle East Monitor.

Here is the link to the piece

Published! Interview with The Palestinian Museum director for MEMO

By: Naima Morelli

07-08-2023

Essay, Interview, Middle East, News, Published

Duty and care are the words that would best describe the approach of Dr Adila Laidi-Hanieh towards the Palestinian Museum in Birzeit.

She is stepping down as director of the museum at the end of this month, and she reflected on her years in charge, changing the institution from the inside out. I have interviewed her for Middle East Monitor

Here is the link to the piece

Published! Interview with Marwa Benhalim on The New Arab

By: Naima Morelli

03-08-2023

Interview, Libya, News, Published

Artist Marwa Benhalim told me there is an invisible line dividing Libya. I tried to guess what it was. But of the many divisions splitting Libya in two, I wouldn’t have ever thought about this one: couscous and rice.

She explains to me that on the western side of Libya, there are semolina fields, and all the main dishes are based on couscous.

On the eastern side, it’s all rice crops, and you can find rice-based recipes: “The couscous side of Libya was influenced by commerce with Morocco and Tunisia, the other side had rice comes from Asia through Egypt. Trade stopped in the middle because there is a very large desert,” she says. “Through the food people eat, you can really understand the history of a country.”

I have interviewed the artist for The New Arab.

Here is the link to the piece

Published! Palestine underworld with artist Adam HajYahia on Al-Monitor

By: Naima Morelli

04-07-2023

English, Interview, Middle East, News, Published

I have interviewed independent researcher, curator and artist Adam HajYahia for Al-Monitor.

Adam’s exploration of structural and hierarchical violence and its intersections with capitalist, colonial, sexual and social dynamics took material shape recently in an exhibition called “Carnal Politics: Sex, Desire and Anti-Colonial Deviance in Mandate Palestine.”

Here is the link to the article

Naima Morelli

Published! Interview with Samia Halaby on The New Arab

Published! Su Hui-Yu at Singapore Art Week for The Financial Times

Published! Interview with Marwa Benhalim

Published! Interview with Libyan writer Mahbuba Khalifa for The Markaz Review

Central Asia in the spotlight at Asia Now fair on The Financial Times

Published! Art Curators as Public Intellectuals on The Markaz Review

Published! Libyan art scene on Hadara

Published: Food and the Palestinian diaspora for The New Arab

Published: Wonder Cabinet in Bethlehem for MEMO

Published! Interview with The Palestinian Museum director for MEMO

Published! Interview with Marwa Benhalim on The New Arab

Published! Palestine underworld with artist Adam HajYahia on Al-Monitor

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