A discussion with Nora Razian (Head of Exhibitions at Art Jameel) about recent exhibition trends in museums and galleries, specifically how 'research based art' is presented and translated into a final piece of artwork. The discussion includes questions about the proposition of the work and what are curators and artists demanding from an audience, …

An interview with Ana Lily Amirpour about her latest film Mona Lisa and the Blood Moon, a fantasy adventure about a girl with unusual and dangerous powers who escapes from a mental asylum and tries to make it on her own in New Orleans. We discuss the film, how it relates to current politics, freedom, kindness, sleep, dreams, and dance music. This i…

Part two of a catch up conversation between Hind Mezaina and Wael Hattar, this one is about the state of cinema in the UAE and beyond.Topics include:- Changed habits of watching films since the pandemic- Cinema vs streaming debate- UAE cinemas and the inconsistent subtitling of non-English language films, lack of efforts by the multiplexes to attra…

Hind Mezaina and Wael Hattar sit together after a podcast hiatus, to catch up on the state of art and culture across the UAE and beyond. They talk about life during (and post?) pandemic, art fairs, the accessibility of art, grassroots collectives that are co-opted by art fairs/commercial galleries, how the art scene in the UAE has not matured enoug…

Architect and writer Todd Reisz joins Hind Mezaina for a discussion about his book Showpiece City: How Architecture Made Dubai and his exhibition Off Centre / On Stage that is accompanied by a book with the same title at Jameel Arts Centre in Dubai. You can find Showpiece City: How Architecture Made Dubai on https://www.sup.org/books/title/?id=2996…

Film critic A.S. Harmah joins Hind Mezaina for a conversation about his book The Earth Dies Streaming.A.S. Hamrah is a writer living in Brooklyn. He contributed a column on film to n+1 from 2008 to 2019, and his essays and reviews have appeared in Harper’s, Bookforum, Cineaste, and other publications. His first book, The Earth Dies Streaming: Film …

In this episode Wael Hattar interviews Alia Fattouh from Athr Gallery, one of the leading galleries in Saudi Arabia, where they discuss the 11 years since it's establishment, covering the beginnings of Athr gallery in parallel with the development of the art scene in the region.With the recent cultural expansion in the Gulf and Saudi Arabia, Athr h…

Hind Mezaina invited Maryam Wissam Dabbagh for a conversation about her project currently on exhibit at Jameel Arts Centre in Dubai, part of its ongoing Library Circles series. The commissioned project reflects on the conversations around belonging and revisiting relationships with our cities, topics many of us around the world have been thinking a…

This episode was recorded on 22nd March 2020, a few weeks into the significant changes felt all around the world caused by the Coronavirus. Tea with Culture's Hind Mezaina was invited by Warehouse 421, an arts and design centre based in Abu Dhabi that hosts exhibitions and public programmes, to moderate a discussion for their new podcast "Warehouse…

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A spoiler filled discussion about James Mangold's latest film Le Mans '66 (Ford v Ferrari) between Hind Mezaina and a returning guest, motoring journalist Imtishan Giado(www.instagram.com/imthishan). The discussion moves on to car culture in the United Arab Emirates, including the one time Dubai Grand Prix from 1981, Dubai Rally, Dubai Police car f…

In this episode Wael Hattar and Hind Mezaina sit with author and journalist Samya Ayish to discuss the state of Arab Cinema, specifically in the UAE and the Gulf region. The discussion includes film education; the role film festivals, especially the importance of Dubai International Film Festival (ended in 2018 after 14 years) for filmmakers, film …

This episode is a recording of a talk titled Art Critique in the UAE which took place in Dubai on September 10th at Tashkeel. Thanks to Tashkeel for letting us share the talk with our listeners.About the talk:Can a Culture of Critique Exist in the UAE? Why has the UAE seemingly resisted the culture of critique? Who is contributing to changing the d…

Wael Hattar met with Rami Zeidan, the VP of Anghami and talked about the digital audio landscape in the Middle East and Anghami’s role in the region with its changing consumption habits. They also discussed Anghami's new direction on working with Podcasts and their insight on the types of shows that work, how consumption happens and how they suppor…

In this episode, Hind Mezaina sits with Kourosh Nouri, founding director of Carbon 12 gallery. Launched in Dubai with his business partner and wife Nadine Knotzer in November 2008, the gallery represents regional and international artists with an active calendar of exhibitions and attendance in art fairs around the world. To discuss its milestone 1…

Wael Hattar sits with Maya Moumne and Hatem Imam, the Beirut based co-founders and co-directors of Journal Safar, an independent bilingual(Arabic and English)and biannual visual and design culture magazine launched in 2014. Journal Safar provides a window into cultural production in the Middle East, focusing on contemporary design, critical thinkin…

Hind Mezaina sits with Nada Raza, Artistic Director of Ishara Art Foundation which opened in March 2019. Established by Smita Prabhakar, an entrepreneur, art collector and long term Dubai resident, the foundation is focused on contemporary art from a South Asian context, supporting cultural exchange and building on the shared histories, continued p…

Hind Mezaina invited cinephile and motoring journalist Imtishan Giado (https://www.instagram.com/imthishan) to discuss the new Aladdin film, what they liked and didn't like about it, the representation of Arabs, how does it compare it to the original animated version Aladdin from 1992, and thoughts on whether we need remakes like this.…

Hind Mezaina sits with Antonia Carver (Director, Art Jameel) to talk about Jameel Arts Centre which opened in Dubai in November 2018. Jameel Arts Centre, located by the creek in Al Jaddaf Waterfront, is an independent and privately owned art institution which is both an exhibition and education space dedicated to contemporary art presented through …

In this episode, Hind Mezaina sits with Michelle Facey from Kennington Bioscope (http://www.kenningtonbioscope.com) who programmes regular screenings of silent films at The Cinema Museum in London (http://www.cinemamuseum.org.uk).Links to some of the references in the discussion: Kevin Brownlow - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevin_BrownlowNapoleon…

In this episode, Hind Mezaina sits with Faisal Salah (https://twitter.com/EyesWOutAFais) from The National to talk about a film screening organised by the NYU Abu Dhabi Institute, in conjunction with the Film and Visual Media in the Gulf conference (https://nyuad.nyu.edu/en/events/2018/october/film-and-visual-media-in-the-gulf.html).The film "Bas Y…

In this episode Wael Hattar interviews the artist Shaikha Al Mazrou. They discuss her art practice, how discomfort drives her, the directional change of her work and the effect of receiving an MFA. As a teacher at University of Sharjah, Al Mazrou also discusses art and higher Education in the UAE, and her role as an educator. We dive into the recen…

In this episode Wael Hattar interviews the artist Daniele Genadry. They talk about art, education and the evolution in her work. The discussion includes Daniele's techniques and thoughts behind her work and how she has been able to grow as an artist within the region in the past few years.Daniele Genadry also teaches at the American University of B…

In this episode, Wael Hattar interviews Wafa'a Celine Halawi the Director of the Lebanese Film Festival. This is the 13th edition since it launched 17 years ago. Wafa'a Celine Malawi discusses the idea behind the start of the festival, its current iteration, the festival's audience, the effect on the film industry, plus the theme of this year's fes…

In this episode, Wael Hattar sits with Nisrine Wehbe, Programmer at Metropolis Cinema and Nour Ouayda, Co-ordinator of it's new project, Cinematheque Beirut; to talk about how the two organisations promote Lebanese and Arab cinema heritage and documenting the Lebanese movie production.Both Nisrine and Nour discuss with Wael what each does and their…

Wael Hattar sits with Joy Mardini, director and owner of Joy Mardini Design Gallery, one of the few design galleries in the Arab world, and Jessy Bustros, director of House of Today, an NGO dedicated to the enrichment of Lebanon’s design culture. They discuss product design in Lebanon, covering the general understanding of the market, production, e…

In this episode Wael Hattar interviews artist Lawrence Abu Hamdan. We discuss Hamdan's practice in general, and cover his young but powerfully growing career from his first interest in Sound Art and how his work has developed into multiple media. Along with the winning of many prizes regionally and globally, we talk about the way people perceive hi…

This episode is about Tashkeel, a Dubai based multi-disciplinary studio, work space and gallery. Established in Dubai in 2008 by Lateefa bint Maktoum, Tashkeel enables creative practice, experimentation and dialogue among practitioners and the wider community. Hind Mezaina interviews Lisa Ball-Lechgar (Deputy Director) and Jill Hoyle (Manager)to ta…

In this episode Wael Hattar speaks to Alexander Gray from Alexander Gray Associates, a New York based contemporary art gallery that represents Hassan Sharif (1951 - 2016).Alexander Gray shares with us how he was first introduced to Hassan Sharif's work in the United Arab Emirates and his thoughts about the artist and his work. http://www.alexanderg…

In this episode Hind Mezaina interviews Jannis Stürtz, co-founder of Jakarta Records and Habibi Funk record labels (based in Berlin). Habibi Funk focuses on re-releasing old music from the Arab world, with a particular focus on funk, jazz and obscure music from the 1970s and 80s. Music, photos, text and album covers from Habibi Funk are showcased a…

In this episode we have Nawar Al Qasimi, the Development Manager at Sharjah Art Foundation. She shares with us the history and role of the foundation, how it is funded and its different initiatives over the years.Located in Sharjah’s historic Art and Heritage Areas, Sharjah Art Foundation's activities and events take place throughout the year and i…

In this episode we discuss the cultural growth and development in Sharjah through its consistently growing and developing Sharjah Museums Authority. Wael Hattar interviews Manal Ataya the Director General of Sharjah Museums Authority and Alya Al Mulla the Curator for Sharjah Art Museum and they discuss the over all idea of managing the museums and …

Overnight Film Festival is a communal cinema experience at the legendary Queens Hotel in the seaside town of Eastbourne in the UK. The festival includes guest curators, a programme of unique screenings (many on 35mm prints), communal eating, immersive discussions and fabulous parties. The festival started in 2016 and for its second edition in Febru…

In this episode our guest Ala Younis has a conversation with Hind Mezaina about her latest exhibition "Plan for Feminist Greater Baghdad" at the Art Jameel Project Space in Dubai, which is on until 14th March 2018. Plan for Feminist Greater Baghdad builds on Younis’s 2015 work, Plan for Greater Baghdad, which looked at monuments, (by) architects, (…

An interview about Ana Contemporary Arab Cinema, the annual film series at the Jacob Burns Film Center in Pleasantville in Westchester County, New York since 2012.We interviewed Lina Matta who is the Curator of Ana contemporary Arab cinema and discussed it’s history and current interaction as well as the state of festivals, series and other film vi…

Serge Attukwei Clottey talked with Wael Hattar about his art practise, focusing on his more recent works in performance and social interaction, as well as his interest in working on topics of migration and gender. They also discussed the art scene in Ghana with it's community and politics.The show "The Displaced" at LawrieShabibi is on from 20 Janu…

In this episode we talk to Dana Sadek, one of the co-founders of Reel Palestine Film Festival, launched in 2015 and takes place across the UAE.Reel Palestine aims to "allow viewers to cinematically travel to Palestine, sans restrictions" by screening films sharing Palestinian culture and the tenacity of its people, and to learn about stories that s…

We speak to Fadi Baki aka The Fdz about his film Last Days of the Man of Tomorrow which recently screened at Dubai International Film Festival 2017. We discuss what inspired him, the making of the film and sci-fi in the Arab world.Fadi (The Fdz) Baki is a filmmaker, comicbook writer and animator. He is the co-founder of Samandal (http://www.samanda…

In our second part about Dubai International Film Festival 2017, we are joined by Faisal Al Jadir, film journalist from Empire Arabia. We discuss the following films (and included at which we minute we start each discussion): Arab films - Wajib - 1:36- Cactus Flower - 4:33- Kiss me Not - 6:50 - Beauty and the Dogs - 8:53- Until the End of Time - 10…

Dubai International Film Festival 2017 took place between 6-13 December. In our first report, we share our overall impressions, highlights of the festival, favourite films and discuss things that could be improved. We are joined by Christopher Alario, a special collections librarian/archivist and cinephile who lives and works in the region and atte…

An interview with Jowe Harfouche, Executive Director of NAAS (Network of Arab Alternative Screens), a network that champions innovation in cinema exhibition in the Arabic-speaking region, aiming to broaden the scope of films available to the Arab public and encourage dialogue around cinema and its history. It is the only initiative of its kind in t…

An interview about Maskoon Fantastic Film Festival in Beirut, the only festival in the Arab world focusing exclusively on modern genre film, bringing the best horror, thriller, fantasy and action films from around the globe . Wael Hattar meets Maskoon's co-founders Antoine Waked (Creative Director) and Myriam Sassine(Executive Director) to talk abo…

An interview with film critic/programmer Joseph Fahim about film criticism in the Arab world, the role of film festivals in the Arab region, Arab films and filmmakers to look out for. We also discuss the challenges of film funding, film censorship and film education.You can follow Joseph Fahim on Twitter https://twitter.com/joseph_fahim where he sh…

Interview with Azim Al Ghussein who describes himself as a cartoonist, illustrator and soapmaker. We talk about his start as an illustrator, inspiration from Fairuz, language, Middle Eastern folklore, Nabulsi soap and maps. You can see and follow Azim's work by clicking on one of the following links:http://www.azimgh.comhttps://twitter.com/azimghht…

We had a fun chat with artist Sara Al Haddad who creates sculptures and text pieces with fabric, thread, yarn and textile. We discuss how she started, her process, the development and the meaning of her work. Al Haddad has participated in several exhibitions in the UAE and is currently one of the artists in Rock, Paper, Scissors: Positions in Play …

We are joined by Faisal Al Zaabi (https://twitter.com/cinestrong) to discuss the 31st edition of Il Cinema Ritrovato which took place between 24 June and 2 July 2017 in Bologna. A festival organised by the Cineteca di Bologna that is dedicated to the rediscovery of old, rare and little-known films with a particular focus on cinema origins and the s…

Our top picks of things to see and do this summer in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah. Exhibitions:Dubai: Art Print III - Meem Gallery http://meemartgallery.com/exhibitions_details.php?id=72 Abu Dhabi: But We Cannot See Them: Tracing a UAE Art Community, 1988-2008 - NYU Abu Dhabi Art Gallery http://www.nyuad-artgallery.org/en_US/exhibitions/but-we-cann…

In this episode we talk to Laura Metzler, curator at Maraya Art Centre about the exhibition Collectivity: Objects and Associations in the UAE Art World. The exhibition brings together artworks and objects lent from personal collections across the United Arab Emirates. Rather than being acquired from collectors, institutions, or artists, the traditi…

Hind Mezaina meets Maya Allison, Bana Kattan and Alaa Edris from NYU Abu Dhabi Art Gallery to talk about the exhibition But We Cannot See Them: Tracing a UAE Art Community, 1988-2008. The exhibition looks at the role of one of the most important artistic communities in the history of the UAE that played a key role in developing and influencing arti…

In this episode, Hind Mezaina interviews Yasmin Atassi from Green Art Gallery in Dubai about the exhibition Modernist Women of Egypt. The exhibition focuses on the period between the 1950s and early 1970s, it reflects on the role of women artists from that period and addresses issues of nationalism, womanhood, activism, traditions and multicultural…