This new season on Resonance104.4FM, Six Pillars provides an antidote to mainstream media outside these regions, with their damagingly limited Orientalist and alarmist lenses. Focusing on choice contemporary West Asian (Middle Eastern), North African and South Asian sound, art and culture, tune in for experimental music, arts and culture. Broadcasts (UK time) Wednesday 9-9.30pm Repeats … Continue reading
As the quinquennial Documenta 14 opens in its second city, Kassel in Germany, we hear from participating artist Joar Nango. One of the endangered Sámi tribes in Norway, Nango is an architect who creates installations and collaborative works with the environment and social context in mind. His open air piece at Athens Conservatoire is called … 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
The Turner Prize (est. 1984) is awarded annually to an artist born, living or working in Britain, for an outstanding exhibition presentation of their work anywhere in the world the previous year. However the jury is specifically composed of national and international curators, writers and even musicians. What does this self-consciously British show look like … Continue reading
In the 12+ years we’ve been making Six pillars we’ve hardly taken a break. This past 6 weeks have been a time of travel (Bahrain, Sharjah UAE and Beirut), amassing sounds and ideas, while our sister show Free Lab Radio has continued offering up leftfield dance music for the discerning listener on Resonance104.4FM and Resonance … 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
“Art communication and critique, is there any arts journalism here?” This week it’s all about art critique (NB not necessarily criticism) and street art made for exhibition within the gallery setting. We hear from guest writer Kevin Jones, an independent arts critic and writer based 10 years in the Middle East, on the challenges … Continue reading
Art Scenes in the UAE, Guest episode 3/4 – The role of curated shows at commercial galleries. How audiences outside the market forces respond. With guest directors from galleries Isabelle van den Eynde, Lawrie Shabibi, Ayyam and Grey Noise. Catch the first of the 4 episodes here. Guest produced by Wael Hattar and Hind Mezaina, … Continue reading
This week: the first of 4 guest-produced episodes from Dubai, United Arab Emirates. By Wael Hattar and Hind Mezaina. Episode 1: “Foundations/ Private Organisations Developing Local Artists“ Featuring guest Dr Ali MacGilp of the Maraya Arts Centre in Sharjah, UAE. Both Hind Mezaina and Wael Hattar art artists amongst other things. Mezaina is a blogger … Continue reading
Six Pillars 