Base | Naima Morelli

Published! Etel Adnan on Middle East Monitor

08-12-2021

Lebanese artist Etel Adnan in her home and studio, Paris. Photo: Stefan Ruiz

Sometimes you get the chance to delve deeper into the work of great artists only when they pass away and images of their art starts popping up here and there. This was the case for me with the ouvre of Lebanese artist Etel Adnan. I encountered her work upon her passing, and was mesmerized by it.

I quickly learned she had a life like no others, and at this point I couldn’t help myself writing about it. And I did, for Middle East Monitor. It goes without saying, when you write about art which deeply resonates with you, it’s really a blessing. The pen is aligned with the heart.

Here is the link to the piece

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

Published! The Balinese art scene on Plural Art Mag

By: Naima Morelli

16-11-2021

English, Indonesia, Interview, Published, Research

The Singaporean art magazine Plural has just published my latest piece called “Is there a silver lining to the lack of tourism for the Balinese art scene?”

Here I’m interviewing the directors of three different art spaces, Cush Cush Gallery, Kayu, Ketemu and V-Room, to garner their experience with the pandemic shifts in the art scene, and how this is affecting artists and art spaces alike.

Here is the link to the article

Published! Lebanese Feminist comic book on Middle East Eye

By: Naima Morelli

04-11-2021

English, Interview, Middle East, News, Published, Research

My fifth piece for Middle East Eye is about a Lebanese comic book which tells forgotten stories of country’s feminist struggle. Called ‘Where to, Marie?’, this comic book distils a century of overlooked feminist battles through the stories of five fictional characters. I have interviewed the authors.

Here is the link to the piece

Published! Interview with Palestinian artist Hazem Harb on MEMO

By: Naima Morelli

11-10-2021

Interview, Italy, Middle East, News, Published

Palestinian artist Hazem Harb [Hazem Harb]

“Palestinian artist Hazem Harb doesn’t try to define the idea of Palestine in his work. “For me, Palestine just is,” he tells me. “I’m interested in its history and nationalism, but I don’t dwell on them by making straightforward political art. In my work, I’m trying to represent the hidden narratives of Palestine and leave room for individual memories and personal stories to come through.” “

The webmagazine Middle east Monitor has just published my interview with Palestinian artist Hazem Harb.

Here is the link to the interview

Published! Interview with Haffendi Anuar on Plural

By: Naima Morelli

21-09-2021

English, Interview, Malaysia, Published

The show Rintagan (Resistance) at Richard Koh Fine Art presents works that don’t come from the mind, but rather from a physical involvement with painting materials. They were first inspired by the virtual realm: “I took pictures from Instagram, and then cropped some details,” explains Haffendi. “So it’s going from the virtual, to the IRL, then – being this an online show – to the virtual again.”

My interview with Malaysian artist Haffendi Anuar has been published on Plural Art Mag.

Here is the link to the interview

Published! Interview with collector Christoph Bendick

By: Naima Morelli

30-08-2021

Cambodia, Collection, English, Interview, Published

A collection can represent many different things; it can be a statement, contribution, research, even a love story. In the case of retired German doctor, Christoph Bendick, who has worked in Phnom Penh for 25 years, it’s the story of an encounter with a country whose painful recent history is interlaced with the resilience and strength of its people.

I have interviewed the collector for the Singapore-based magazine Plural.

Here is the link to the interview

Interview with Océane Sailly founder of Hunna/ هُنَّ on MEMO

By: Naima Morelli

27-08-2021

Interview, Middle East, News, Published, Research

Océane Sailly, Founder and Director of HUNNA / هُنَّ in front of Alia's Zaal painting

Many of us have misconceptions and preconceived ideas about the art scene in the Gulf countries. Hence, when we see the work of a gallery like Hunna/ هُنَّ — founded this year and representing eight women artists from the Gulf — we open our eyes in disbelief.

How can these artists possibly talk about such thorny issues, like questions of power or the female body, and get away with it? We speak about it on Middle East Monitor with the founder of Hunna, gallerist Océane Sailly

Here is the link to the interview

Published! Interview with Luciano Benetton on Larry’s List

By: Naima Morelli

26-08-2021

Collection, Interview, Italy, Published

Installation view of the Imago Mundi Collection.

My second article for the collector’s webmagazine Larry’s List is an interview to Italian fashion mogul and collector Luciano Benetton.

Dubbed “Imago Mundi”, his collection and world-wide project spans from New Zealand to Burkina Faso, covering 80 countries for a total of over 10,000 artworks.

Here is the link to the interview

Published! Grassroot art spaces in Libya on MEE

By: Naima Morelli

26-07-2021

Interview, Libya, North Africa, Published, Research

Despite a lack of cultural spaces, as well as ongoing political and economic instability, Libyan artists are determined to nurture their diverse arts scene.

I have spoken to a few of these important figures, working from Tripoli, Benghazi or from abroad, for Middle East Eye.

Here is the link to the piece

Published! Anna Salmoni’s catalog is out!

By: Naima Morelli

17-07-2021

Italy, Published

I’m so proud to announce the publication of the new catalog of late painter Anna Salmoni (Naples 1938 – Florence 2019) called “Intimi Estranei”, which features my critical text. The catalog presents for the first time a comprehensive perspective on the haunting and evocative work that this incredible artist realized over a lifetime.

This book is not only to share these paintings with a wider audience but is also an important step in enhancing the complex artistic production and reading it in a new key, given the contemporary context. Laura Albano – photographer and daughter of the artist – did a huge work of cataloging, sorting, archiving, and tracking down the different works owned by Salmoni’s collectors.

Potrebbe essere un'immagine raffigurante il seguente testo "INTIMI MI ESTRANEI n Salmoni Salmoni Anna la pittura di"

Naima Morelli

Published! Etel Adnan on Middle East Monitor

Published! Zawyeh Gallery in Dubai on Al-Monitor

Published! Interview with Libyan artist Shefa Salem on MEMO

Published! The Balinese art scene on Plural Art Mag

Published! Lebanese Feminist comic book on Middle East Eye

Published! Interview with Palestinian artist Hazem Harb on MEMO

Published! Interview with Haffendi Anuar on Plural

Published! Interview with collector Christoph Bendick

Interview with Océane Sailly founder of Hunna/ هُنَّ on MEMO

Published! Interview with Luciano Benetton on Larry’s List

Published! Grassroot art spaces in Libya on MEE

Published! Anna Salmoni’s catalog is out!

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