Base | Naima Morelli

Interview with Rula Halawani for Al-Monitor

18-07-2022

Interview, Middle East, News, Published, Review

“I believe in destiny. And indeed the way I began with photography was a complete accident,” says Palestinian artist Rula Halawani: “It was just something that came to me.”

Born in Jerusalem in 1964, Halawani is influencing generations of young artists and photographers, both with her rich oeuvre, exhibited in shows, Biennales, and art fairs around the world, as well as her role as an art teacher and professor at Birzeit University in Palestine. I spoke to her for Al-Monitor.

Here is the link to the interview

Published! The Visual Arts Forum on Memo

By: Naima Morelli

26-05-2022

Interview, Middle East, News, Published

“The Visual Arts Forum started in the streets with the idea that art is an important tool for transformation,” explains Deema Ershaid, the Visual Art Forum’s Executive Director. “Palestinian artists felt a strong sense of responsibility during that phase, a feeling that they had to do something; they wanted a say in what was happening; they longed to be a part of people’s lives.”

I have interviewed Deema and artist Rafat Asad for Middle East Monitor, to talk about the development of the art school Visual Art Forum in Palestine.

Here is the link to the interview

Published! Interview with Mulyana and John Silvis on Plural Art Mag

By: Naima Morelli

10-05-2022

Indonesia, Interview, News, Published

There is a sincere enthusiasm when Mulyana speaks about his work and his intention of producing works on a larger scale, as I speak to him in Yogyakarta alongside Fragile Ecologies’ curator, New York-based John Silvis.

The playful and joyous elements of Muluyana’s practice have much deeper roots. At the beginning of his art practice, Mulyana knitted his works by himself and viewed it as a meditation; a way to unite with a greater force animating the universe.

Here is the link to the piece

Published! Palestine at the 2022 Venice Biennale

By: Naima Morelli

29-04-2022

Interview, Middle East, News, Published, Research, Review, Visit

Nameer Qassim, “Enough”, 2020, Acrylic on canvas, 100x100 cm [Courtesy of The Palestinian Museum US]

Curated by Nancy Nesvet, head curator at the Palestine Museum in the US, the exhibition “From Palestine With Art” features 19 Palestinian artists from Palestine and across the diaspora.

“This is the strongest Palestinian presentation ever,” said Faisal Saleh, director of the Palestine Museum US. “In terms of the size, and the boldness of its pieces, it is a very significant, strong presentation. I think this is going to have a very big impact and get the Palestinian name out in a big way.”

I have reviewed the show for Middle East Monitor.

Here is the link to the piece

Published! Interview with Robit Pen on Plural Art Mag

By: Naima Morelli

19-04-2022

Cambodia, English, Interview, Published

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

Published! Palestinians, their land and sea on MEE

By: Naima Morelli

18-04-2022

English, Middle East, News, Photostory, Published

Middle East Eye has just published my gallery piece on a new exhibition which sheds light on coastal landscapes in Palestine, how they’ve changed over time and the narratives that have emerged.

A People by the Sea at the Palestinian Museum in Birzeit, aims to change the standard depictions of Palestine and showcase stories that are often overlooked.

Here is the link to the piece

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

Naima Morelli

Interview with Rula Halawani for Al-Monitor

Published! The Visual Arts Forum on Memo

Published! Interview with Mulyana and John Silvis on Plural Art Mag

Published! Palestine at the 2022 Venice Biennale

Published! Interview with Robit Pen on Plural Art Mag

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

Published! Palestinians, their land and sea on MEE

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

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