Interview | Naima Morelli

Published! Interview with Robit Pen on Plural Art Mag

19-04-2022

Cambodian artist Pen Robit’s work constantly bounces between figuration and abstraction. In the unpredictability of his style and subjects, he shows a willingness to explore and expand his understanding of reality through his artistic practice.

“I paint to discover the world, history, and reality through colour,” he tells me from his home studio in Phnom Penh. “I don’t care if what I’m doing is seen as contemporary art or not – my approach to painting is very classical, and I constantly look for a way to connect with the history of art.”

I have interviewed the artist for Plural Art Mag

Here is the link to the interview

Published! Interview with Lebanese photographer Dia Mrad on Al-Monitor

By: Naima Morelli

18-04-2022

English, Interview, Middle East, News, Photostory, Published

“The Road to Reframe” by Dia Mrad is a photo series capturing local architecture after the explosion at the Beirut port on Aug. 4, 2020, and one of the most interesting works that has been presented at Art Dubai.

I have interviewed the artist for Al-Monitor

Here is the link to the interview

Interview for Insight of an Eco-Artist podcast

By: Naima Morelli

04-04-2022

English, Indonesia, Interview, Italy, Middle East, Published, Singapore

Podcasts have been my constant companions since their inception, so I was thrilled when artist and journalist. Joana Alarcão interviewed for her “Insight of an Eco Artist” podcast.

In the interview I spoke a ton about researching Southeastasian contemporary art, my writing about art in the MENA region and even a little about my graphic novels, so the interview was divided in two parts.

Here is part 1 of the podcast

Published! Interview with Dinh Q. Le on CoBo

By: Naima Morelli

22-03-2022

Interview, Published, Review, Vietnam

“Dinh Q. Lê: Photographing the thread of memory” at the musée du quai Branly – Jacques Chirac in Paris marks the first comprehensive introduction of Lê’s weaving work to a European audience.

The show comprises three different bodies of work from the 1990s to present day. The first section, “Light and Belief”, is focused on Vietnam, with reference to the Vietnam War and the experience of the Vietnamese diaspora. “Splendor and Darkness” looks at the genocide carried out by he Khmer Rouge in Cambodia. Lastly, “Adrift in Darkness” utilises images of migrants to reflect on the tragedies of crossing the Mediterranean by boat.

I down with the artist for CoBo Social, to talk about the themes of his new show and his weaving process.

Here is the link to the piece

Published: Interview with Farah Saleh on MEMO

By: Naima Morelli

18-03-2022

English, Interview, Middle East, Published

Farah Saleh in What My Body Can/t Remember (2019) © Chris Scott , courtesy of the artist

Where does a refugee find her homeland? Perhaps in unexpected places; a memory of the country might emerge through the most mundane gestures, or even from a simple interaction with certain objects.

I spoke about this subject with Palestinian dancer Farah Saleh for Middle East Monitor. Farah is preparing a new interactive live performance installation called PAST-inuous for the upcoming Dance International Glasgow.

Here is the link to the piece

Published: Beirut artists and nonconformance for Al-Monitor

By: Naima Morelli

14-03-2022

English, Interview, Middle East, Published, Research

For my new piece for Al-Monitor I speak with a comic book artist and a photographer/editor about the queer community in Lebanon – and in Beirut specifically – and how it has changed over time.

Here is the link to the piece

Published! Artist Giacomo Zaganelli at the Thailand Biennale on Plural Art Mag

By: Naima Morelli

25-02-2022

English, Interview, Published, Thailand

Plural Art Mag has just published my interview with Italian artist Giacomo Zaganelli, who has created a project called Somset Art Centre for the second edition of the Thai Biennale, held in Korat.

Here is the link to the piece

Published! Gerald Leow’s Perpetual Motion on Plural Art Mag

By: Naima Morelli

31-01-2022

English, Interview, Published, Singapore, Singapore Series

Can machines create value? And do objects have meaning if there are no humans around to experience them?

These are the questions that Singapore artist Gerald Leow has been grappling with in the past few months. If you’re based in Singapore, you might have seen his latest work while walking by Marina Bay Sands. Called Perpetual Motion, it’s a series of column-like sculptures with reflective surfaces that appear to be in constant dialogue with the skyscrapers on the bay.

I have to say that Gerald is one of my favourite Singaporean artists, and I have been following his work since 2015. Plural Art Mag has just published my article on his new exhibit:

Here is the link to the piece

Published! Interview with Hani Zurob on MEMO

By: Naima Morelli

26-01-2022

English, Interview, Middle East, Published

My latest piece for Middle East Monitor explores the work of Paris-based Gaza-born artist Hani Zurob.

In his latest series, “ZeftTime” the artist uses tar and broken glass to harrowing effect, as a metaphor for a shattered society. The works seems to suggest that amid tragedy there is no time to think and make up a narrative around what is happening; there is only the absolute presence of the emergency.

“This is the law of time,” Zurob points out. “Every passing moment is a new opportunity for a complete change.”

Here is the link to the piece

Published! Interview with Richie Nath on Plural Art Mag

By: Naima Morelli

18-12-2021

Burma, Interview, Published

Singapore-based webmagazine Plural has just published my interview with Burmese painter Richie Nath, also known as Richie Htet.

In the colourfully alluring world of the artist presents us with archetypes fit for our times. His acrylics show us powerful women exuding that hard, action-focused yang energy and male characters not afraid of melting into a softer, more compassionate yin expression.

Here is the link to the interview

Published! Zawyeh Gallery in Dubai on Al-Monitor

By: Naima Morelli

01-12-2021

Interview, Middle East, News, Published, Research

The webmagazine Al-Monitor has just published my piece on Palestinian gallery Zawyeh founded in 2013 in Ramallah, which recently relocated to Dubai.

Here is the link to the piece

Published! Interview with Libyan artist Shefa Salem on MEMO

By: Naima Morelli

24-11-2021

English, Interview, Libya, News, Published, Research

In the show “I am Libya”, painter Shefa Salem presents outstanding canvases, demonstrating that the public is eager to learn about the ancient history of Libya

What does it mean to be Libyan? How to reconstruct a sense of belonging for the country and its people, starting from the deepest roots of Libyan culture, while preserving diversity?

These are the questions that artist, Shefa Salem, is grappling with for her first solo show I am Libya, which took place a few weeks ago in the Barah Arts and Culture Centre in Benghazi and will travel to Tripoli’s old city at the beginning of December.

I have interviewed the artist for Middle East Monitor.

Here is the link to the interview

Naima Morelli

Published! Interview with Robit Pen on Plural Art Mag

Published! Interview with Lebanese photographer Dia Mrad on Al-Monitor

Interview for Insight of an Eco-Artist podcast

Published! Interview with Dinh Q. Le on CoBo

Published: Interview with Farah Saleh on MEMO

Published: Beirut artists and nonconformance for Al-Monitor

Published! Artist Giacomo Zaganelli at the Thailand Biennale on Plural Art Mag

Published! Gerald Leow’s Perpetual Motion on Plural Art Mag

Published! Interview with Hani Zurob on MEMO

Published! Interview with Richie Nath on Plural Art Mag

Published! Zawyeh Gallery in Dubai on Al-Monitor

Published! Interview with Libyan artist Shefa Salem on MEMO

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