Research | Naima Morelli

Published: Libya through Italian eyes on MEE

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 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

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

Published! Interview with Yasmine Laraqui on MEMO

By: Naima Morelli

25-07-2019

Interview, Middle East, Published, Research

YasmineLaraqui
I have a growing interest for Marocco and the way contemporary art is developing in this country. This time I discussed the emerging art scene with curator, artist and gallerist Yasmine Laraqui founder of Dasthe Art Space and Agency in Casablanca for Middle East Monitor.

Here is the link to the interview

Published! Interview with Ruangsak Anuwatwimon

By: Naima Morelli

12-07-2019

English, Interview, Published, Reportage, Research, Thailand

Ruangsak

CoBo has just published one of my favourite interview from my reportage in Thailand, the one to Bangkok-based artist Ruangsak Anuwatwimon.

Ruangsak feels compelled to fight for environmental awareness. His poetic installations take on this cause, revealing the brutality of humans towards the Earth, buried under a beautiful surface.

Here is the link to the interview

Published! Interview with Pattana Chuenmana on CoBo

By: Naima Morelli

05-07-2019

English, Interview, Published, Reportage, Research, Thailand

Pattana

Another article from my reportage in Thailand. This is an interview with artist and photographer Pattana Chuenmana, and has been just published by CoBo.

Here is the link to the interview

Published! Interview with Pal Museum director Adila Laïdi Hanieh

By: Naima Morelli

27-06-2019

English, Interview, Middle East, Published, Research

PalestinianMuseum
I might be repeating myself, but even a short piece of writing – meant to announce the publication of a new piece – is an opportunity to speak about the true wonder of this job. The knowledge, hope and excitement that it brings. Every conversation is a gift, every piece published a way to let all this interestingness out, to feel part of those bringing light and understanding to our human society.

Anyway, this interview with Palestinian Museum director Dr Adila Laïdi Hanieh, adds up to my research on art and culture in Palestine, I have been started researching since I wrote my first few articles for the excellent web magazine Middle East Monitor. The conversation with such an elegant personality, whose direction is bringing harmony and rationalisation to the Palestinian Museum, was truly inspiring.

Here is the link to the interview

Published! Interview with Thanom Chapakdee

By: Naima Morelli

19-06-2019

English, Interview, News, Published, Reportage, Research, Thailand

Thanom

Culture360, the webmagazine of the Asia-Europe Foundation, has just published my interview with one of the most forward-thinking and controversial art critic, arts writer and artist in the Thai art scene, Thanom Chapakdee.

This article is part of the reportage Roberto D’Onorio and I conducted in Thailand at the beginning of 2019. We interviewed cultural practitioners in the Thai art scene and learned about the different practices and power structures of the Thai art system. Here is to you an authoritative voice telling his side of the story.

Here is the link to the interview

The Singapore Series – Chapter 33

By: Naima Morelli

17-06-2019

Interview, Photostory, Reportage, Research, Singapore, Singapore Series, Visit

Robert Zhao Renhui

A definition of ‘artist’ according to my arts writer friend Donato is a person that is obsessed with something. However, as soon as artists become famous, you see this obsession wearing out or being somehow forced into a structure. Whereas over the years Robert Zhao has developed a team of people collaborating with him, I’d say his obsession is always there. He’s a total nature nerd, and you can feel his genuine obsession with it, paired with a strong conceptual background, which makes him in my opinion and in that of many other art critics, an incredibly powerful artist. Where you’d expect a snobbish, intellectual figure, you meet a very nice and considerate man who is really interested in sharing his passion and his work.

Published: Interview with Torlarp Larpjaroensook

By: Naima Morelli

12-06-2019

English, Published, Reportage, Research, Thailand, Visit

Torlarp
More from my reportage on Thai contemporary. This piece, just published by CoBo, is an interview to Chiang Mai artist Torlarp Larpjaroensook, owner of Seescape Gallery. I have really great admiration for this self-made-man, and of course self-made-artist, who is all about the community.

And as a side note, I started doing this job, arts writing, more than 10 years ago now. And yet, every time an article of mine is published, I’m still so thrilled and grateful. The interviews, the chance to ask questions, the artworks, the artists, the magazines I write for and my incredible editors, the people I met, the people I traveled with, the chance to explore the world, to learn about it through its artists, the impressions, the learning, the struggles and still being here to tell tale.

I feel incredible blessed to live this life, doing this job. Hopefully some glimmer of the bliss, both mine and the one of Torlarp’s, will transpire through the lines.

Here is the link of the interview

Naima Morelli

Published: Libya through Italian eyes on MEE

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

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

Published! Interview with Jakkai Siributr on CoBo

Published! Interview with Yasmine Laraqui on MEMO

Published! Interview with Ruangsak Anuwatwimon

Published! Interview with Pattana Chuenmana on CoBo

Published! Interview with Pal Museum director Adila Laïdi Hanieh

Published! Interview with Thanom Chapakdee

The Singapore Series – Chapter 33

Published: Interview with Torlarp Larpjaroensook

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