A new four-part, monthly series The Far Becomes Near archives the history of radio broadcasting in the United Arab Emirates, as radiophonic experiments punctuated by oral histories from local historians, academics, cultural commentators and the federation’s earliest broadcasters. Commissioned by Sharjah Art Foundation, the archive describes a Gulf at the turn of the 20th Century … Continue reading
Informal interviews with musicians from the Bahrain music scene that exist around Malja Studios on Amwaj Island. A collaboration with Maxeem Meraki a local bouzouki player, led to this conversation in which he explains how he, as “a heavy metal fan all the way”, came to love and learn the Greek bouzouki in the Middle … Continue reading
A flying visit from Sote to London from Iran, in the studio. Ata ‘Sote’ Ebtekar is a composer, sound artist, and recording engineer now based in Tehran, Iran. Sote has moved back to Iran and is engaging with young producers there whose music we sample in this broadcast. With aspects of hard techno and sometimes … Continue reading
Six Pillars from the Frieze Art fair, with support from Iranian artist Shirin Fathi, we speak to Gypsum Gallery, Cairo presenting a performance by Mahmoud Khaled, Proyectos Ultravioleta from Guatemala with mother daughter duo Elisabeth Wild and Vivian Suter, artist Robbi Walters of London wearing one of his own works, Jan Kaps Gallery, Cologne, Project … Continue reading
The sounds of South Iran, Bushehr on the south coast of Iran and the north of the Gulf basin, are well known in Iran. The bagpipe is normally the skin of a goat, uncut in that it keeps its essential shape, and the player will blow down the wooden pipe attached to the neck of … Continue reading
This week: art scenes in the UAE (3 of 4) exploring the role of curated shows at commercial galleries and the means of commissioning these shows from visiting curators, and the response of audiences outside of market forces to them. Speaking are Isabelle van den Eynde of IVDE and her gallerist Maria Mumtaz , co-director … Continue reading
Art scenes in the UAE (episode 2 of 4): how institutions housing galleries navigate public, private and education programming. With New York University, Abu Dhabi art gallery director and curator Maya Allison; and assistant curator Bana Kattan. The current show, pictured, is by sculptor Diana Al Hadid (Syria/America). Guest produced by Wael Hattar and … Continue reading
In the Gulf Region, the UAE is the leading arts centre. Guest Dr Ali MacGilp of Maraya Arts Centre and Art Vehicle, discusses not-for-profit arts bodies in the country developing local artists. The first of four guest produced slots by blogger and photographer Hind Mezaina – The Culturist – and entrepreneur and artist Wael Hattar. … Continue reading
From the mouths of babes…Radio Lajee is made by Palestinian youth refugees aged 11-22yrs, at the Aida refugee camp. Aida Refugee Camp, established in 1950, near the West Bank gives voice to the kids and youth of the refugee population. The Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics reports that the camp held a population of approximately … Continue reading
Today: Selected interviews with artists and the selection panel from the Magic of Persia Contemporary Art Prize event in London, October 2015. Interviews with Magic of Persia director Shirley Elghanian, 2015 judges Sussan Babaie (Courtauld), Dr Shiva Balaghi and snippets from the auction itself held by Sotheby’s Roxanne Zand. The Magic of Persia Contemporary Art … Continue reading
Six Pillars 