Country | Naima Morelli

Published! Women in the Oman’s contemporary art scene

14-10-2022

Interview, Middle East, News, Published, Research

Women artists are gaining more and more relevance and traction in the contemporary art scene in Oman. Although the history of Omani women in art is fairly recent, their work conveys their singular experience and perspective within a continuously evolving culture.

Their artworks are also truly innovative in terms of the use of new technologies and their aesthetics; they’re aligned with the latest trends in contemporary art, yet steeped in historical research. I wrote the story for Middle East Monitor

Here is the link to the article

Published! Interview with Alia Zaal on Middle East Monitor

By: Naima Morelli

26-09-2022

English, Interview, Middle East, News, Published

Responding to Impressionism, UAE artist Alia Zaal studied the natural landscapes of Vétheuil, Abu Dhabi and Dubai, both in their natural and artificial ecosystems, finding connections between her own UAE landscape and the impressionist one. The artist reimagines familiar scenes of the sea, the desert and the city lit by the sun, the moon and street lights.

I have interviewed Alia Zaal for Middle East Monitor.

Here is the link to the piece

Published! SEA at 2022 Venice Biennale on PluralArtMag

By: Naima Morelli

14-09-2022

Essay, Indonesia, Italy, Malaysia, News, Philippines, Published, Reportage, Singapore, Vietnam, Visit

Finally my piece on the Venice Biennale 2022 has been published by Plural Art Mag. While the piece was written in the aftermath of the opening, it came out just now, given the webmagazine’s editorial schedule.

The article is a report, as well as an overview, and it is focused on the Southeast Asian presence, which this year was much smaller compared to previous years.

Here is the link to the piece

Published! Writers retelling Libya’s history on Al-Jazeera

By: Naima Morelli

01-09-2022

Libya, News, North Africa, Published, Research

Two Libyan women walk past graffiti depicting Muammar Gaddafi

My first article for Al Jazeera has just been published. It’s called “The writers retelling Libya’s history through a feminist lens” and tells how Libya’s women novelists (but not exclusively them) are reframing the country’s stories in a post-Gaddafi era.

I worked on it for a long time, and it was very satisfying to get to write a longform piece with a bit more of a narrative style. Also, I got to know this county a little deeper, not just through its visual art but also through literature. For the piece I have interviewed, among others, writers Kawther Eljehmi, Maryem Salama, Manuela Piemonte Mahbuba Khalifa, and Mariza d’Anna, and publisher Ghassan Fergiani.

Here is the link to the piece

Published! Curating Eddy Susanto in Venice on Plural Art Mag

By: Naima Morelli

30-08-2022

English, Essay, Indonesia, Italy, News, Published

There is but one truth spoken in many different languages. This belief lies at the core of Indonesian artist Eddy Susanto’s practice. With his artworks that examine the cultures of Europe and Java, he signals to us that while the forms, protagonists and settings of each culture’s mythologies differ, they ultimately convey similar fundamental truths about humanity.

Over the years, Eddy Susanto has reframed how the East and West meet. The Jakarta-born, Yogyakarta-based artist is on a mission to uncover the culture and seminal texts which are the patrimony of the Javanese. However, some of these have been forgotten over time, due to reasons such as the limits of oral transmission, the impact of colonialism and, later on, mass culture.

I have written about Eddy Susanto’s show I have curated in Venice for Plural Art Mag.

Here is the link to the piece

Curated! Eddy Susanto solo show at GAD, Venice

By: Naima Morelli

06-08-2022

Indonesia, Italy

One of my favourite Southeast Asian artist, Eddy Susanto, is currently having his first solo show in Europe, and it’s in Italy, Venice, in parallel with the 59th edition of the Venice Biennale. Called “Allegory of Hell, from Borobudur to Dante ”, the show is taking place in Venice from July 28th to September 4^th.

This is particularly relevant, considering that this year Indonesia doesn’t have its own national pavilion, so we thought of Eddy as a representative for the country. The show was sponsored by Artsociates, and I’m glad to say that I co-curated it with Valentina Levy at GAD, Giudecca Art District.

Published! Interview with Patrick Flores on ArtAsiaPacific

By: Naima Morelli

03-08-2022

Interview, Philippines, Published, Research, Taiwan

I’m really happy to share this incredibly interesting interview with curator Patrick Flores, whose curatorial work and research I greatly admire, and never fails to expands my imagination and understanding of the role of contemporary art.

Also, it’s my first collaboration with ArtAsiaPacific. Being one of the most authoritative magazines about contemporary art in Asia, it’s a pleasure and an honour to have contributed with my writing!

Here is the link to the interview

Published: Mongolian Artist Munkhtsetseg Jalkhaajav’s Visceral Art At The Venice Biennale

By: Naima Morelli

23-07-2022

Interview, Italy, News, Published

One of the most recognised contemporary Mongolian artists, Mugi has presented at the Venice Biennale a show titled “A Journey Through Vulnerability” exploring the concept of samsara, compassion, and healing.

I have interviewed the artist at the Mongolian Pavilion in Venice for CoBo Social.

Here is the link to the piece

Published: Taiwan Pavilion at 2022 Venice Biennale

By: Naima Morelli

18-07-2022

Essay, Interview, News, Published, Taiwan

Filipino curator Patrick Flores really likes the word “complicated.”

He actually uses it a lot as a verb: “complicating.” I find this lexical choice so compelling that sitting across him at a Formica table in a bare room in Palazzo delle Prigioni, Venice, I can’t help but ask, “You use the word ‘complicating’ a lot. Is it for you a good thing, a bad thing, or a neutral thing? Tell me about it!”

For a little bit of context, we are speaking at the Venice Biennale, during its opening days. Taiwan’s National Pavilion – which is actually not a national pavilion at all, but instead an ‘official collateral show,’ since Taiwan is, of course, not considered a nation – is being presented at the Palazzo delle Prigioni.

I wrote about the Taiwanese Pavilion for Plural Art Mag.

Here is the link to the piece

Interview with Rula Halawani for Al-Monitor

By: Naima Morelli

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

Naima Morelli

Published! Women in the Oman’s contemporary art scene

Published! Interview with Alia Zaal on Middle East Monitor

Published! SEA at 2022 Venice Biennale on PluralArtMag

Published! Writers retelling Libya’s history on Al-Jazeera

Published! Curating Eddy Susanto in Venice on Plural Art Mag

Curated! Eddy Susanto solo show at GAD, Venice

Published! Interview with Patrick Flores on ArtAsiaPacific

Published: Mongolian Artist Munkhtsetseg Jalkhaajav’s Visceral Art At The Venice Biennale

Published: Taiwan Pavilion at 2022 Venice Biennale

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

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