Nahla Ink Online Journal

Solo Exhibition – Sudanese-Egyptian Artist Amado Alfadni – Curated by Najlaa El-Ageli

Amado AlFadni is an artist who was born in Cairo, Egypt in 1976 to Sudanese parents. His childhood environment was composed of both the Cairene street and the traditions of a Sudanese household. The relationship and the tension between these two different cultures strongly influenced his views, making him question the subject of identity with its related rhetoric, as well as the variables of nation and ethnicity in his work.

Fearlessly through his art Amado engages with forgotten historical chapters that are difficult to digest, as he then references them with the current state of things. Based on his dedicated and passionate study with documentation, he delves into sore and sensitive passages of time that have been ignored, to make a credible case for those who thus far have not been heard, nor given a platform to speak of their anguish, pain, hurt and trauma, to understand the dotted lines left behind.

The ‘Alternative Museum of The Sudan’ is Amado’s first solo exhibition in London, that traces the findings of his five-year journey and research into the buried histories of the people of the Sudan who were badly affected by colonialism and other interruptive external forces. His multimedia works revive the local stories and reflect upon the fate of his Sudanese ancestors, revealing an incomprehensible exploitation of the African people, from the earliest times up to the present.

The show also draws upon the artist’s interest in the notion of authenticity when an identity has come into contact with a colonial factor and or an aggressive power subjugation. He utilizes postcards, photographs, and oral archives to reveal some of the complex relationships that have ensued from the interplay between colonial dominance and how that has affected Black Africa as well as the intermingled histories of the people living in the unique geographical zone of where the Sudan meets Egypt and North Africa.

Viewing is by appointment only.

For more: https://www.sulger-buel-gallery.com/exhibitions/44-alternative-museum-of-the-sudan-a-solo-exhibition-of-amado-alfadni-curated-by/

Solo Exhibition – Sudanese-Egyptian Artist Amado Alfadni – Curated by Najlaa El-Ageli

Amado AlFadni is an artist who was born in Cairo, Egypt in 1976 to Sudanese parents. His childhood environment was composed of both the Cairene street and the traditions of a Sudanese household. The relationship and the tension between these two different cultures strongly influenced his views, making him question the subject of identity with its related rhetoric, as well as the variables of nation and ethnicity in his work.

Fearlessly through his art Amado engages with forgotten historical chapters that are difficult to digest, as he then references them with the current state of things. Based on his dedicated and passionate study with documentation, he delves into sore and sensitive passages of time that have been ignored, to make a credible case for those who thus far have not been heard, nor given a platform to speak of their anguish, pain, hurt and trauma, to understand the dotted lines left behind.

The ‘Alternative Museum of The Sudan’ is Amado’s first solo exhibition in London, that traces the findings of his five-year journey and research into the buried histories of the people of the Sudan who were badly affected by colonialism and other interruptive external forces. His multimedia works revive the local stories and reflect upon the fate of his Sudanese ancestors, revealing an incomprehensible exploitation of the African people, from the earliest times up to the present.

The show also draws upon the artist’s interest in the notion of authenticity when an identity has come into contact with a colonial factor and or an aggressive power subjugation. He utilizes postcards, photographs, and oral archives to reveal some of the complex relationships that have ensued from the interplay between colonial dominance and how that has affected Black Africa as well as the intermingled histories of the people living in the unique geographical zone of where the Sudan meets Egypt and North Africa.

Viewing is by appointment only.

For more: https://www.sulger-buel-gallery.com/exhibitions/44-alternative-museum-of-the-sudan-a-solo-exhibition-of-amado-alfadni-curated-by/

The Mosaic Rooms presents Fantasies on a Found Phone, Dedicated to the Man Who Lost it, the first UK solo exhibition by Mahmoud Khaled. Through a series of unfolding installations and interventions Khaled builds an immersive environment. He ambitiously transforms The Mosaic Rooms period, domestic architecture into the imagined dwellings of the owner of a lost phone. The work continues Khaled’s interest in historic house museums and the nostalgia and memorialising of individual perspectives found in them. In this new commission the artist repositions this museological form in a contemporary queer lens to explore male identity and intimacy.

The artist notes: “the exhibition is a spatial portrait of an absent person revealed through the (quite strange) contents of the phone he left behind in a public bathroom. A mysterious portrait of a man with a passion for ‘décor’ and beauty, a highly eroticised man, afflicted with anxiety, insomnia, and melancholy at the same time.”

Khaled looks at this tension between desire and anxiety, dream and reality. He focuses on sleeplessness as a metaphor for political states of being, of not belonging, of being displaced. This sense of disquiet is experienced in the installation as we are aware of both the intimacy and artifice of the spaces. The visitor, as a voyeur, simultaneously feels at home and unsettled, and this state of sleeplessness permeates the space.

While the phone or indeed its owner are never seen in the exhibition, the location of its loss is known, and photographs from it are presented in an accompanying publication, Fantasies on a Found Phone, Dedicated to the Man Who Lost it. Here, a compulsive mass of images references the cognitive dissonance and voyeurism experienced with constant scrolling through social media and swiping in dating apps. The publication celebrates an imaged event, giving the reader an insight into fleeting moments of intimacy, queer pleasure and anonymity.

Mahmoud Khaled was born in Alexandria, Egypt, and currently works in Berlin. His practice is both process oriented and multidisciplinary, can be regarded as formal and philosophical ruminations on art as a form of political activism, and a space for critical reflection. He has presented in international solo shows and group shows such as Bonner Kunstverein, Bonn (2019), Kunstinstituut Melly, Rotterdam (2018), Istanbul Biennale (2017), Sharjah Bienniale (2017), Whitechapel Gallery, London (2016). He was a guest artist at the DAAD Artists-in-Berlin programme in 2020.

For more: https://mosaicrooms.org/event/mahmoud-khaled-fantasies-on-a-found-phone-dedicated-to-the-man-who-lost-it/

Produced by Plosive Live for Edinburgh Fringe 2022

In her award-winning stand-up show, Esther Manito (Live at the Apollo, The Stand Up Sketch Show) looks back at the era of lad mags, landlines and cock-n-ball graffiti. A time where the media said her Middle Eastern heritage was filled with misogynistic men, whereas the West absolutely had (and still has) sexism sorted.

Has lad culture really improved? Does 90s Essex have the answers? Best Show winner, Leicester Comedy Festival 2021. ‘Manito skilfully weaves her own personal story with a wider look at gender issues in society’ **** (Evening Standard). ‘Incredible comedian’ **** (EdFestMag.com).

For tickets: https://tickets.gildedballoon.co.uk/event/14:3874/

P21 Gallery is proud to present Egypt x Beirut, a small selection of images taken across the mesmerising and ancient land of Egypt during the holy month of Ramadan in 2022, witnessing the humbling and beautiful practise of fasting in the Muslim world.

Ramadan in Egypt is unique, for she is dressed in jewels that are fairy lights, myriads of tiny flags and fringe garlands and kaleidoscopic fabrics everywhere – all coming together in a multi-sensory feast – for the eyes, with the divine smells of food against the buzzing backdrop of everyday symphony of cities – of course with Cairo, the queen of all.

There are two distinctive faces of Ramadan in Egypt, just like the Sun and Moon, they complement each other and merge in a seamless circle. During the day, the myriad of flags, fringes, and fabrics dance in divinity with the wind – perfectly mirroring the eternal motion of its people. During the night, the fairy lights come alive – highlighting public spaces for what they truly are: people’s palaces.

When the time of Iftar arrives, the whole country stops, prays, and comes together in unity to share food. It is beautiful, selfless, generous, humbling – we are one. We eat together – no matter where are you from, what is your religion – sharing food, smiles, kind words, and love.

In tandem, as the exhibition happens to open on August 4 – how can we not talk about the Beirut Blasts? We must never forget, and in solidarity the least the artist can do is talk about it.

On 4^th August 2020, the artist was sitting on a plane flying above Turkey having not the slightest idea of what is happening in the city she was about to descend to. Approaching over the sea, the artist saw black billowing clouds of smoke from up above, huge swirling fumes. Then she saw the endless sea of shattered glass carpeting the streets, riding on glass-water in the taxi amongst the ghosts of buildings, skeletons with no more windows, no more doors. Just rubble everywhere – rubble which meant a lifetime collection of items, HOMES of people, who were now left with little to/and nothing in many cases. Shattered hearts, they were left with shattered hearts – she keeps seeing their shattered hearts.

The artist Nikolett Puskas is an activist, who likes to do things, not only theorise on them. She believes in bottom-up, grassroots initiatives for social inclusion and real change, paving way to the right to the city and right for environmental justice. She has been working in the urban sphere since 2015.

This exhibition is curated and supported by: HUB Collective

For more: https://p21.gallery/current-exhibitions/egypt-x-beirut

The running theme amongst the films and documentaries being streamed on Aflamuna this August month is ‘Family Album’, introduced online by an essay written by Renée Awit, Project Manager of Aflamuna.

The films that will be free to view are: ‘104 Wrinkles’ by filmmaker Hady Zaccak, ‘All About My Father’ by Zeina Sfeir, ‘1958’ by Ghassan Salhab, ‘My Father Looks Like Abdel Nasser’ bu Farah Kassem, and ‘Diaries of a Flying Dog’ by Bassem Fayyad.

Aflamuna (“our films” in Arabic) is a nonprofit streaming platform, made by Beirut DC, to share Independent Arab Cinema with audiences across the world.

Each month, a new curator explores a social, political, or cultural theme through a hand-picked selection of cult, contemporary, classic, and independent Arab films. Every week, a new film is made available to subscribers.

Aflamuna is also a space for socio-political and critical thought around independent Arab cinema. Original essays unravel the context, power and impact of each program, and explore their relevance to the present moment.

The Aflamuna team works hard on expanding aflamuna even further. Anyone can sign up for free today to access the weekly films and join the unique cinematic journey!

This program has been made possible with the support of the Centre national du cinéma et de l’image animée, the Ford Foundation and the Arab Fund for Arts and Culture – AFAC.

For more about Beirut DC: https://www.beirutdc.org/

To watch the August film programme: https://www.aflamuna.online/en/

Sezar Alkassab is a Glaswegian comedian, whose family are from Iraq. He brings his conversational comedy style to the 2022 Camden Fringe with a new show which explores turning 30, dating and relationships, social awkwardness and more with silly stories, informed observations, and provocative punchlines.

“Made me laugh my ass off!” – The Scotsman
“Absolutely brilliant! Such a friendly guy, and the show was hilarious!” – The Vaults UK
“An exceptionally talented comedian with a no doubt bright future in comedy.” – The Camden Fringe Voyeur

Alkassab will be performing his show on four nights 18, 19, 25 and 26 August, 2022 at Aces and Eights venue in Tufnell Park.

For tickets: https://camden.ssboxoffice.com/events/laughable/

The Mosaic Rooms presents Fantasies on a Found Phone, Dedicated to the Man Who Lost it, the first UK solo exhibition by Mahmoud Khaled. Through a series of unfolding installations and interventions Khaled builds an immersive environment. He ambitiously transforms The Mosaic Rooms period, domestic architecture into the imagined dwellings of the owner of a lost phone. The work continues Khaled’s interest in historic house museums and the nostalgia and memorialising of individual perspectives found in them. In this new commission the artist repositions this museological form in a contemporary queer lens to explore male identity and intimacy.

The artist notes: “the exhibition is a spatial portrait of an absent person revealed through the (quite strange) contents of the phone he left behind in a public bathroom. A mysterious portrait of a man with a passion for ‘décor’ and beauty, a highly eroticised man, afflicted with anxiety, insomnia, and melancholy at the same time.”

Khaled looks at this tension between desire and anxiety, dream and reality. He focuses on sleeplessness as a metaphor for political states of being, of not belonging, of being displaced. This sense of disquiet is experienced in the installation as we are aware of both the intimacy and artifice of the spaces. The visitor, as a voyeur, simultaneously feels at home and unsettled, and this state of sleeplessness permeates the space.

While the phone or indeed its owner are never seen in the exhibition, the location of its loss is known, and photographs from it are presented in an accompanying publication, Fantasies on a Found Phone, Dedicated to the Man Who Lost it. Here, a compulsive mass of images references the cognitive dissonance and voyeurism experienced with constant scrolling through social media and swiping in dating apps. The publication celebrates an imaged event, giving the reader an insight into fleeting moments of intimacy, queer pleasure and anonymity.

Mahmoud Khaled was born in Alexandria, Egypt, and currently works in Berlin. His practice is both process oriented and multidisciplinary, can be regarded as formal and philosophical ruminations on art as a form of political activism, and a space for critical reflection. He has presented in international solo shows and group shows such as Bonner Kunstverein, Bonn (2019), Kunstinstituut Melly, Rotterdam (2018), Istanbul Biennale (2017), Sharjah Bienniale (2017), Whitechapel Gallery, London (2016). He was a guest artist at the DAAD Artists-in-Berlin programme in 2020.

For more: https://mosaicrooms.org/event/mahmoud-khaled-fantasies-on-a-found-phone-dedicated-to-the-man-who-lost-it/

Ahead of the Postcard Imaginarium Exhibition, join artist curator Salma Ahmad Caller and artists Afsoon and Hamida Zourgui for a friendly evening of discussions and sharing, talking about heritage, identity and belonging.

Bring your old photographs, family photographs, heritage items, dress, jewellery, memories, and help piece together stories of being Arab/North African and British, unpick imagery and stereotypes on colonial postcards of women from the Middle East and North Africa. Open to all, whether you want to bring something or just enjoy the conversation.

The Postcard Imaginarium Project was created and set up by artist and art historian Salma Ahmad Caller in 2018 to investigate the archive of colonial 19th century images of women on postcards from the Middle East and North Africa whilst also exploring her mixed Egyptian and British identity.

The project has grown into a collective of artists and researchers working together to decolonise the colonial lens who are researching their own personal family histories across ‘east’ and ‘west’ and making connections and relationships to the Postcard Women from these regions.

The Postcard Imaginarium Exhibition and surrounding events are supported by Arts Council England and are in partnership with The Mixed Museum, The Arab British Centre and the Zay Initiative.

Thursday 15 September 2022 6.30pm – 8.30pm at The Arab British Centre.

Free but please RSVP in advance via the ABC online form : https://www.arabbritishcentre.org.uk/whatson/the-imaginarium-postcard-project-things-that-matter-bring-and-tell-event/