Base | Naima Morelli

Published: interview with Maline Yim on CoBo

10-12-2019

Cambodia, English, Interview, Published, Reportage, Research

CoBo has just published my interview with Maline Yim, which I realized some time ago during my Cambodia reportage, adding some reflections based on “The Shadow of Change,” her solo exhibition earlier this year at Richard Koh Fine Art in Singapore.

“Yim lives in a house surrounded by a garden, which the artist personally tends to. The flower and plants are protected from the outside by a wall, representing a boundary that likewise allows safety for a life shaped by her gift for art-making. Here, Yim can be the nurturer—of her plants, her family and her art practice. “

Here is the link to the interview

Published: Interview with Nadiah Bamadhaj on Qantara

By: Naima Morelli

09-12-2019

Interview, Published, Research

One of the most relevant Malaysian artists of her generation, Yogyakarta-based Nadiah Bamadhaj uses sculpture, drawing, collage and video to challenge the restrictive societal norms in Southeast Asian countries and explore body politics.

I have interviewed her for the webmagazine Qantara

Here is the link to the interview

Published: Interview with Noraset Vaisayakul on Cobo

By: Naima Morelli

28-11-2019

English, Interview, Published, Reportage, Thailand

At the beginning of the year I have realized a reportage on Thai contemporary art. The webmagazine CoBo Social has just published my interview with artist Noraset Vaisayakul.

Here is the link to the interview

Published: Libya through Italian eyes on MEE

By: Naima Morelli

08-11-2019

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

My article on Italian colonialism in Libya has just been published by Middle East Eye. The piece explores how filmmakers and artists are exploring a largely neglected history of Italy’s presence in Libya in the 20th century.

It took me some three months to get all the voices together and get a clear picture of history. Thought I’m taking the art lens, this artist and country and type of research is a bit outside my comfort zone, so I was tempted to stop at what I had a few times.

It took a very determined editor to allow me to go all the way down with it. Like all the difficult things in life, this allowed me to bring my understanding and writing to a new level.

Here is the link to the piece

Published: Abdelkader Damani on the Rabat Biennale on Middle East Monitor

By: Naima Morelli

30-10-2019

Interview, North Africa, Published, Research

My research on Morocco and its contemporary art scene continues on the webmagazine Middle East Monitor. This time I take a look at an extraordinary Biennale in the Moroccan city of Rabat.

I have interview Rabat Biennal’s curator, the French-Algerian philosopher, art historian and museum director Abdelkader Damani, who has set his mind to change the old ways to rewrite the rules of the art game.

Here is the link to the interview

Published! Interview with Feby Indirani on Qantara

By: Naima Morelli

29-10-2019

English, Indonesia, Interview, Published

For my second collaboration with the magazine Qantara I have interviewed Indonesian writer Feby indirani. I loved her book “Not Virgin Mary”, which has been recently translated in Italian by Prof. Antonia Soriente and published by Add Editore. The book provided a light-hearted and almost zen perspective on Islam in Indonesia.

I met Feby in Rome during her European book tour. I have found out she is not only an excellent writer but also a lovely person; we had a wonderful conversation.

Here is the link to the interview

Published: review of theater play Libya Back Home

By: Naima Morelli

25-10-2019

Libya, North Africa, North Africa, Review

The webmagazine Middle East Monitor has just published my review of the excellent theater play “Libya. Back Home” by Paola Di Mitri, with texts by Miriam Selima Fieno, Giancarlo Fieno and Khalifa Abo Khraisse. It was presented last week at the Romaeuropa Festival.

I’m starting researching a bit Italian colonialism in North Africa, and in Libya in particular, so it was extremely interesting to see this artistic re-elaboration who tackles this subjects, among many important others.

Here is the link to the review

Published: interview with Leonardo Crudi on Art a Part of Culture

By: Naima Morelli

20-10-2019

Interview, Italiano, Italy, Published, Visit

Rome’s favourite contemporary art webmagazine, Art a Part of Culture has just published my interview with the emerging artist Leonardo Crudi. It’s written in Italian – a language I take much more fun and freedom in. So, if you can read, you’ll find it a bit gonzoish.

I greatly enjoyed the works of this young street-artist-turned-Russian-avant-garde lover, and thanks to curator Tiziano Tancredi (who curated the show together with Giovanni Argan) I manage to keep in touch with the up-and-coming scene of the city I live in (most of the times)

Here’s the link to the piece

Published! 4 Emerging Artists from Battambang on CoBo

By: Naima Morelli

03-09-2019

Cambodia, Essay, Published, Reportage, Research, Visit

The contemporary art scene in Cambodia is still very young and in the making. Distinctive stylistic trends and artistic fervour are emerging in the three major cities, creating elements for a dialogue to come.

For those looking for true solace as well as engaging conversations with artists, Battambang is definitely the place to go. Here time slows down. Artistic practice largely takes a meditative slant, and are more often than not, based on considerably traditional mediums.

I have look at the four more interesting emerging artists hailing from this Cambodian city for CoBo.

Here is the link to the article

Reflections: Midsummer Daydream

By: Naima Morelli

21-08-2019

English, Essay, Italy, Thailand

These days I’m filled with love for the world.

Summer leaves are lighten up by the sun and look like emeralds. They have this love effect. Happy movement and endorphins have this love effect. So has making new friends. Rediscovering the old ones. By whatever means connection with what’s around me happens, that’s where the gold is. Noticing the beauty all around me.

These days, every time I go “off-track”, I “derail”, there is a sentence that pops always in my mind, sorting things out. The words are: “You think you have many different problems, but you only have one: your disconnection for Love (from Life, from God, from Source, from the Nature of Existence, whatever you want to call it.)

This happens to us when we are in pain, of course. But in pain — especially in pain — there is labour of love to do. We are called to action. And when I remember this words, I have a choice. Knowing that pain is inevitable but suffering is optional, I can either stay in the self-made hell, in the suffering — whether psychological or physical — or work towards mending the wounds.

Published: Interview with Carlos Spottorno and Guillermo Abril on Qantara

By: Naima Morelli

18-08-2019

English, France, Germany, Interview, Italy, Middle East, Published, UK

LaGrieta

In their wonderful graphic novel/field journal “The Crack” photographer Carlos Spottorno and journalist Guillermo Abril report the unfolding of Europeʹs migrant crisis from Africa to the Arctic over the course of three years. Their aim is to identify the causes and consequences of Europeʹs identity crisis.

I have interviewed the two reporters for Qantara, a webmagazine promoting cultural exchange, based in Germany. I’m super-excited because of this new collaboration, which allows me to bring back my explorations in foreign realities back to my homeland Europe.

Here is the link to the interview

Published! Interview with Jakkai Siributr on CoBo

By: Naima Morelli

17-08-2019

Interview, Published, Reportage, Research, Thailand

JakkaiSiributr
The webmagazine Cobo has just published my interview with Thai artist Jakkai Siributr. This particular conversation has really provided clarity to shed new light on the whole month-long reportage I did in Thailand at the beginning of the year.

I have found this happens every reportage. There is always one conversation that reveals a particular key to read the reality your are exploring, or throws in a few challenges and reflections that stay with me long after the field research is finished.

Often that key comes from a figure – like Jakkai in this case – who has extensive knowledge of both Eastern and Western contemporary art practices, and is able to bridge the two through the narrative of his life.

There are few others interview to go to conclude the material I have collected with this reportage in Thailand, and can’t wait to share it more with you. But for the time being…

Here is the link to the interview

Naima Morelli

Published: interview with Maline Yim on CoBo

Published: Interview with Nadiah Bamadhaj on Qantara

Published: Libya through Italian eyes on MEE

Published: Abdelkader Damani on the Rabat Biennale on Middle East Monitor

Published! Interview with Feby Indirani on Qantara

Published: review of theater play Libya Back Home

Published: interview with Leonardo Crudi on Art a Part of Culture

Reflections: Midsummer Daydream

Published: Interview with Carlos Spottorno and Guillermo Abril on Qantara

Published! Interview with Jakkai Siributr on CoBo

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