Published | 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! 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! Simurgh Self-Help by Slavs and Tatars’ on Times of Central Asia

By: Naima Morelli

21-02-2025

Central Asia, English, Interview, Published

The mythological figure of the Simurgh is the focus of Slavs and Tatars’ latest show at the gallery The Third Line in Dubai called “Simurgh Self-Help”.

The show speaks of the importance of reclaiming and reframing cultural memories in a fractured world, and an invitation to think beyond the artificial, top-down confines of nationalism, to find cultural unity.

I have interview Payam, one half of Slav and Tatars, for The Times of Central Asia.

Here is the link to te piece

Published! The Marrakech Art Scene on The New Arab

By: Naima Morelli

14-02-2025

News, North Africa, Published, Reportage, Research

From art fairs to vibrant galleries, Marrakech is becoming a top spot for contemporary African art, bringing together local talent and global influences. I wrote this article on the local art scene for The New Arab.

Here is the link to the article

Published! The contemporary art fair 1/54 Marrakech on MEMO

By: Naima Morelli

06-02-2025

Interview, North Africa, Published, Reportage, Research, Visit

1-54 Marrakech 2025. [Courtesy Mohamed Lakhdar]

Small but well-curated, the 1/54 art fair in Marrakech aims to be the gateway for African art, while fostering the local Moroccan art scene. I have reported on the event for Middle East Monitor.

Here is the link to the article

Published!Nadia Saikali and Beirut as the centre of abstract art on MEMO

By: Naima Morelli

03-02-2025

Interview, Middle East, News, Published

Nadia Saikali and Her Contemporaries show at Maraya Art Centre in Sharjah

The show “Nadia Saikali and Her Contemporaries” at Maraya Art Centre in Sharjah until 2 August is dedicated to pioneering abstract artist Saikali, and the influence that she had on modernism in the Arab world and beyond.

This is the first of two pieces which I have written of the show, and has been just published by Middle East Monitor.

Here is the link to the piece

Published! Central Asian artists in Doha

By: Naima Morelli

24-01-2025

Essay, Interview, News, Published

The show “I Swear I Saw That” interrogates Jean-Leon Gerome’s way of seeing, which Sara Raza recognizes as a “fantastical and highly mythologized vision of the East,” and looks at how artists from both the Middle East, the Arab world and Central Asia fought back.

A Central Asia and Caucasus expert who works extensively in the Middle East, Raza has examined the process of the exoticization of Eastern populations for a long time. She coined the term “Punk Orientalism,” which also became the name of her book and curatorial studio.

I wrote the article for Times of Central Asia.

Here is the link to the article

Published: The Rise of the Indonesian Contemporary Art Market for The Observer

By: Naima Morelli

11-01-2025

English, Indonesia, Interview, News, Published, Research

There is no doubt that the Indonesian art market is one of the strongest in Southeast Asia. At art fairs all over Asia and Europe, we see an increasing number of big-name artists and collectors hailing from the art capitals of Jakarta, Yogyakarta, and Bandung. Private museums, galleries and studios are cropping up across the vast archipelago.

I have interviewed Indonesian art collectors Andonowati and Wiyu Wahono, as well as Tom Tandio, director of Art Jakarta, to take the pulse of the market for The Observer.

Here is the link to the article

Published! Gerome in Doha for Middle East Monitor

By: Naima Morelli

23-12-2024

English, Middle East, Published

Installation view of Seeing is Believing The Art and Influence of Gérôme Courtesy of MATHAF Arab Museum of Modern Art and Lusail Museum Doha

Middle East Monitor has published by review of the exhibition Seeing is Believing: The Art and Influence of Gérôme at Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art.

The French artist, who lived and worked in the 1800s, was extremely influential in his depictions of the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia, shaping Western perceptions of these regions during the very century when colonialism and so-called “Oriental Studies” were entrenching global power dynamics.

Here is the link to the article

Published! Interview with Massinissa Selmani on FLAUNT

By: Naima Morelli

11-12-2024

English, Interview, News, North Africa, Published, Reportage, Research, United States, Visit

We really don’t want to hear yet another mouth uttering the old and weary truism: “In order to know where we are going, we need to know where we come from.”

But can we even look at Massinissa Selmani’s videos, drawings, and photos in his exhibition 1000 VILLAGES—dedicated to the story of his own country Algeria and currently on exhibition at Index Foundation in Stockholm—without having this truism resounding in our ears like blaring evidence? We might as well cover our mouths.

I have spoken with the artist for FLAUNT Magazine.

Here is the link to the interview

Published! Central Asia in Paris for Times of Central Asia

By: Naima Morelli

14-11-2024

Central Asia, Europe, News, Published, Research, Visit

For the historically underrepresented Central Asian art market, smaller fairs represent today an important alley, more than the big fairs such as Art Basel – which just had its second Paris iteration this October. “Boutique fairs,” as they are called, often present curated programming which allow a wide public – not just collectors and buyers – to enjoy the art as it was an exhibition. A selling one, of course.

In Paris, the most relevant fair which has historically presented Central Asian artists to the European public is called Asia Now, and it took place in Paris from October 17 to 20. Entirely dedicated to Asian art, the fair has historically tried to fill the gap for Central Asian art in the European market in the past ten years of its existence.

I wrote the piece for Times of Central Asia.

Here is the link to the article

Published! Rethinking Animals in Contemporary Art for The Markaz Review

By: Naima Morelli

04-11-2024

Essay, Middle East, North Africa, Published

While, as human beings, we are bound to never fully transcend our human-centered perspective, art offers a means to glimpse beyond our own biases and limitations, imagining a world where animals and humans interact on equal terms.

I have written an essay on the presence of animals in art for The Markaz Review.

Here is the link to the article

Naima Morelli

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

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

Published! Simurgh Self-Help by Slavs and Tatars’ on Times of Central Asia

Published! The Marrakech Art Scene on The New Arab

Published! The contemporary art fair 1/54 Marrakech on MEMO

Published!Nadia Saikali and Beirut as the centre of abstract art on MEMO

Published! Central Asian artists in Doha

Published: The Rise of the Indonesian Contemporary Art Market for The Observer

Published! Gerome in Doha for Middle East Monitor

Published! Interview with Massinissa Selmani on FLAUNT

Published! Central Asia in Paris for Times of Central Asia

Published! Rethinking Animals in Contemporary Art for The Markaz Review

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