DUBAI: The Syrian director Feras Fayyad had his first encounter with the White Helmets just over four years ago. It was 2013, a barrel bomb had been dropped on the city of Aleppo and members of the search and rescue team were running in its direction with little regard for their own safety.
Shortly afterwards, in one of the worst explosions to hit the city, many of them lost their lives.
It was a moment that would shape Fayyad’s future. Amazed by their ability to turn such loss into the motivation to continue to search for life under the rubble, he began to contemplate the media’s portrayal of the civil war in Syria.
“At that time all the media were focusing on refugees, battles, wars and terrorism, but behind all of that there was a story of these men with their families who faced everything to stay,” Fayyad told Arab News. “They had a sense of responsibility toward their surroundings. They were running toward where they might lose their lives.
“In my mind, I wanted to catch how much this war destroyed the relationships inside families and how those families survived. What did they do, what made them keep saying and doing what they did, knowing that saving the lives of others might cause them to lose their own lives?”
The end result of that contemplation — “Last Men in Aleppo” — had its Middle East premiere at the Dubai International Film Festival, which wraps up on Dec. 16.
Shot in collaboration with Danish filmmaker Steen Johannessen, the documentary won the Sundance Grand Jury Prize in January and has been described by The Guardian as a “100-minute account of lives lived in hell.” Powerful, heartbreaking and immediate, it has won critical praise across the world.
Set in Aleppo after five years of war, it follows volunteers working for the White Helmets as they face a daily life-and-death struggle, scouring through rubble in search of bodies and signs of life.
Volunteers such as Khaled Omar Harrah, a father who will do anything to save his two daughters; Mahmoud, who feels guilty because his brother Ahmad already volunteers for the civil defense unit, so joins himself; and Abu Youssef and Nagieb, who will try everything to make sure their best friend Khaled survives.
“These kinds of relations between the characters drove me to another level, where I discovered how those people survive and what motivates them to keep doing what they do,” Fayyad said. “The cohesion of social relations was immeasurably strong, contrary to what I thought — that is, that society would disintegrate as a result of war and devastation. But I found that what made these people survive was to hold on to their relationships. It’s a story about fatherhood, brothers, friendship and love.”
Produced collaboratively by Larm Film in Copenhagen and the Aleppo Media Center (AMC), Last Men in Aleppo was shot between September 2015 and autumn 2016.
For years the AMC had filmed civilians being bombed — uploading the footage to CNN, Reuters and YouTube — and acted as reporters in front of the camera. It was a method that co-director Johannessen said they had grown tired of, mainly due to its ineffectiveness in raising international awareness. So they teamed up to try to tell their stories in a longer format.
Understandably, making a film in a city under aerial bombardment proved harrowing, while the co-directors also needed to assuage the fears of two of the main characters that the film was not about them seeking personal fame.
“It’s hard to explain how dangerous it was, but whoever watches the film will see the madness and irrationality that surrounded us,” said Fayyad, who was tortured and imprisoned by the Syrian regime during the early days of the war. “Where the city literally burned, the sounds of death (besieged) us at every moment. But what was impressive was the adherence of the citizens of Aleppo to life and resistance and survival.
“We were able to capture the most impressive moments of the meaning of love of life and strong adherence to human values, which was a compass for our characters and for the survival of the population.”
As the aerial bombardment intensified, filming was occasionally abandoned, while those filming would sometimes drop their cameras and become rescue workers themselves.
Filming was particularly difficult for Fayyad, who was born and raised in Syria, but was forced to flee the country in 2012, heading first to Jordan and then on to Turkey, before relocating to Copenhagen. He first started working on Last Men in Aleppo while in Turkey.
“Some ideas can cost you your life,” said Fayyad, who had to slip in and out of Aleppo during filming. “This is how difficult it was for my cinematographers and me to bring this idea to life. But during the shooting we would look at how our characters faced challenges bigger than their abilities as humans for the sake of one idea — to save the lives of people. The people of their homeland, the people who know them.
“This in itself was for me a great motivation to think more about what can be done through art and what my mission as an artist was in front of all these challenges. My observations of the difficulties of the characters’ internal conflicts, where they have to decide between their personal and their families’ safety and their humanitarian duty toward those who believe in it, turned into questions in the film. Questions about the value of art in wartime and what it can do or change (also arose), as well as how it can be a testimony to history (and) space for them to express their desires and internal conflicts.”
In his absence, the cinematographers would continue to film, with the footage smuggled out of the country electronically. “For sure, one of our heroes on this film is the IT guy who worked hard and long to protect my footage,” said Fayyad, who has received several threats since the release of the film. As a result, he never lets it be known where he is living or where he is going.
At the Dubai International Film Festival, Last Men in Aleppo was among 18 films selected for this year’s Muhr Feature competition. Others include Lucien Bourjeily’s “Heaven without People,” Kurdish director Sahim Omar Kalifa’s “Zagros,” Iraqi filmmaker Mohamed Jabrah Al-Daradji’s “The Journey,” and Annemarie Jacir’s “Wajib.”
“This experience changed me a lot as a moviemaker and as a human being,” Fayyad said. “We made this film as a testimony to the history of our region. A testimony to war crimes that may someday be used as criminal documents to bring war criminals to justice.”
‘Last Men in Aleppo’ director sheds light on making a movie in a war zone
‘Last Men in Aleppo’ director sheds light on making a movie in a war zone
Singing workshop in Dammam teaches budding performers the art of solfege
- Session teaches vocal technique, sight reading, performance
- Event aimed to support up-and-coming artists in Eastern Province
DAMMAM: A unique solfege singing workshop was held recently at the Saudi Arabian Society for Culture and Arts in Dammam, led by the talented Egyptian singer, music teacher, and oud player Mohamed Magdy.
A teacher at Altahtheeb School, Magdy brought his wealth of experience and passion for music to a diverse group eager to enhance their vocal skills and understanding of music theory.
Solfege, a method that uses syllables — such as do, re, and mi — to represent pitches, is crucial in developing a solid foundation in music education, according to Magdy.
He told Arab News: “The importance of solfege lies in its ability to enhance the understanding of music and improve vocal performance and sight-reading.
“Many struggle with musical notation, seeing it as impossible to learn. I aimed to create a workshop that provides a practical learning environment to help individuals develop their musical ear and confidence in singing and reading music.”
The workshop, designed to be interactive and hands-on, allowed participants to fully immerse themselves in the learning process.
Audience members displayed their talents individually, showcasing their skills in singing and performance. They practiced with each other and the workshop proved to be a supportive and collaborative environment in which everyone felt encouraged to explore their musical abilities.
Magdy added: “Solfege is vital in music education, assisting musicians of all levels in developing their auditory, reading, and performing skills.”
He listed its key benefits, including strengthening rhythm sensitivity, improving vocal performances, supporting composition, and serving musicians, from beginners to professionals.
Magdy’s passion for music is deeply rooted in his upbringing. “My love for singing started with my parents, who recognized my talent early on,” he said.
Under the guidance of his father, a doctor at the Arabic Music Institute, he pursued music wholeheartedly, graduating from Cairo University in 2016 and later from the Higher Institute of Arabic Music in 2022, with honors.
Despite initial hesitation from his family, they ultimately supported his artistic ambitions.
Magdy’s achievements include performances at renowned events such as the Arabic Music Festival at the Egyptian Opera House, alongside his roles in teaching solfege, piano, oud, and Eastern singing.
He said: “My passion for music has driven me to share it with others, providing immense joy.
“I chose to become a singing teacher to help others discover their potential, improve their performance, and build self-confidence in singing, whether as a hobby or professionally.”
The enthusiasm of those participating was evident, and the experience resonated deeply.
Audience member Samar Khadra, a pharmacist, singer, songwriter, and poet, expressed her thoughts on the workshop, telling Arab News: “It was a good experience. I enjoyed the interaction between the presenter and the participants.
“I’ve seen many talents in the Eastern Province, and it would benefit the government to support these individuals in gaining the musical knowledge necessary to become professional singers and musicians.”
Participants left the workshop with new skills, inspiration, and a deeper appreciation of the art of music.
Iconic works on show ahead of Sotheby’s auction in Riyadh
RIYADH: On Feb. 8, Sotheby’s will host “Origins,” which it is billing as “the first international auction in Saudi Arabia’s history.” Key pieces from the auction are on display in the accompanying exhibition at Diriyah’s Bujairi Terrace that is free and open to the public.
Ashkan Baghestani — senior vice president and head of contemporary day sale, contemporary art, New York & Middle East — told Arab News of the importance of offering a diverse array of lots, from sculptures to paintings.
"In terms of fine art, I think it was important for us to show the wide breath of the fields we represent at Sotheby’s,” he said, adding “in the last three years, every time I have been coming I have been seeing more international artists and curators, events, integrated with Arab culture.”
While curating the auction and exhibit, Baghestani sought to bring the "greatest Arab and Saudi artists to an international audience … don’t forget, we don’t only cater toward the local audience and Saudi audience … a lot of our clients are looking at the sale."
Baghestani also broke down the different types of auctions to be held: Online, day and evening sales.
"The evening sale auction is probably the highest caliber in terms of quality, featuring the most expensive, museum-quality, and rarest works. However, in terms of volume, it is usually the smallest."
One of the pieces set to be auctioned is by Saudi artist Mohammed Al-Saleem (1939-1997), a key contributor to the evolution of the Kingdom’s art scene.
His painting, titled “O' God, Honour Them and Do Not Honor an Enemy Over Them” is inspired by the gradating skyline of Riyadh from the desert, with both the skyline and calligraphy blended into mosaic-like designs.
The auction will also include works from icons such as Rene Magritte and Andy Warhol, and regional art pioneers including Etel Adnan.
Multidisciplinary art residency captures spirit of Jeddah’s Al-Balad
- Bait Shouaib Residency brings together diverse creatives to reflect on ‘movement’ in historic district
JEDDAH: Athr Foundation’s Bait Shouaib Arts Residency in Al-Balad district brought together a filmmaker, curator and two artists, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration over an eight-week program.
The Moving Narratives cycle explored the theme of movement through diverse lenses and transformed the historic Bait Shouaib into an active participant in the creative process.
The exhibition, which was open last month as part of this year’s Islamic Arts Biennale, welcomed visitors to witness interpretations of Jeddah’s cultural and historical essence through contemporary art.
Residency director and senior program manager at Athr Foundation, Ibrahim Romman, highlighted the program’s impact and told Arab News: “Each resident’s exploration of ‘movement’ became an invitation to reflect on how stories, spaces and identities shift and intersect.
“Together, their work offered a richly layered response to the theme, presenting interdisciplinary perspectives that bridged the historical with the contemporary.”
Sudanese artist Rund Alarabi has created a poetic video installation bridging the cultural and architectural legacies of the port cities of Jeddah and Suakin, Sudan.
Her project delves into the undocumented and intangible aspects of collective memory. She told Arab News: “Living between Frankfurt, Khartoum and Jeddah has fed my practice with various materials and unraveled new ways of misunderstanding. This has led me to question what I consider to be given and rethink my understanding of global and local consensus.”
Featuring sensory elements such as soundscapes composed of everyday cooking utensils, her installation forges an intimate connection to cultural memory. “Sound and moving images act as vessels that challenge our understanding of reality. They highlight overlooked aspects of our existence by infiltrating beyond our preconceived assumptions,” she said.
Filmmaker Nada Al-Mojadedi drew inspiration from Hejazi folklore to craft an immersive narrative that seamlessly blends performance, textiles and moving images. Her dual-room installation transformed her studio into a theatrical set, inviting visitors to journey through time.
Al-Mojadedi explained: “I wanted to blur the lines between performer and observer, offering an intimate reflection on identity and memory.”
Speaking about her approach to the theme, she added: “For me, movement transcends the physical; it embodies the unseen — a constant, evolving force of imagination, a ‘quantum dance’ through time and space. This concept guided my exploration of Hejazi folklore, where I intertwined heritage with newly crafted urban legends.
“Immersing myself in Al-Balad’s vibrant life and stories, and inspired by my connection to Bait Shouaib and a visiting butterfly, I created Haleema, a Hejazi urban legend inspired by the untold stories of women who once lived in these spaces.”
Reflecting on her creative process, Al-Mojadedi said: “My work layers the personal with the performative, reimagining space as both a site of storytelling and an active participant in the narrative. Being part of this residency was an enriching experience that allowed us to delve into the dynamic cultural tapestry of Al-Balad and contribute our individual narratives to its enduring story.”
Similarly, another artist, Nhat Q. Vo, a Vietnamese curator and cultural worker, explored the transient histories of Jeddah’s migrant worker communities, centering his project around Al-Shafi’i Mosque, a hub of cultural exchange.
“When I arrived in Al-Balad, I was drawn to its physical environment and the untold stories of the laborers who sustain Historic Jeddah. At first, the language barrier made it difficult to connect, but my discovery of Al-Shafi’i Mosque changed everything.
“The sight of people gathering for iftar, united by faith despite their differences, inspired me to represent their stories through their shared rituals rather than words.”
Speaking about how architecture informed his creative approach, he said: “Architecture became a vessel for these narratives, a place where diverse communities converge. Using over 70 meters of fabric to replace the plastic sufra at the mosque, I allowed the material to absorb the traces of shared meals and human connection.
“The fabric, marked by food crumbs, oil stains and creases, became a tangible record of collective memory. For me, the real inspiration comes from the people whose lives and routines shape the rich tapestry of these spaces.”
Riyadh-based artist and architect, Hayfa Algwaiz, has created a site-specific mobile installation in Bait Shouaib’s stairwell, or minwar, exploring the interplay between movement, space and architectural elements.
Activating the stairwell as a dynamic participant in her narrative, she said: “The subtle movement of the mobile mirrored the ephemeral qualities of light, air and transition experienced in Al-Balad. By focusing on a single element, I was able to honor the historic significance of the space while introducing contemporary artistic interpretations.”
Elaborating on her approach, she said: “As an artist and architect, I strive to bridge the past and the present by focusing on elements that connect them, such as the framed openings in historic structures like Bait Shouaib. These openings, adorned with intricate ornamentation, are constants that I deconstruct and reconstruct to reflect our contemporary times.
“In Saudi Arabia’s rapidly changing urban landscape, I aim to spark a dialogue around what should be preserved and what can evolve. By reinterpreting traditional materials, spatial layouts and ornamentation into modern expressions, I hope to honor our cultural identity while embracing the future.”
Animated by natural airflow, her installation reflects the residency’s ethos of bridging tradition with innovation.
“Architecture has the potential to transform into a living, breathing entity, and I sought to capture that essence,” she said.
1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair returns to Marrakech for sixth edition
- 30 exhibitors include galleries from Africa, Europe, India and for the first time, the Gulf
MARRAKECH: The sixth edition of the 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair has returned to the opulent La Mamounia Hotel bringing together collectors and art aficionados from across Africa, the Middle East and Europe.
The smallest of the 1-54 fairs — which are also held in London and New York — the Marrakech edition, which opened on Jan. 30, presents a more intimate, upscale experience.
There is a great focus on establishing connections between the Marrakech art scene and greater Africa and its diaspora, the Middle East and Europe.
Running until Feb. 2, the event is being held at both the La Mamounia Hotel and multidisciplinary art space DaDa, located within the famous bustling Jemaa El-Fnaa square and marketplace in the city’s Medina quarter.
The latter highlights predominantly art concepts from across Morocco whereas within the lavish halls of La Mamounia, both international and Moroccan galleries present works by local African and international artists.
“In this edition, there is a very good balance between African, international and local Moroccan galleries,” fair director and founder Touria El Glaoui, the daughter of the late celebrated Moroccan modernist painter Hassan El Glaoui, told Arab News.
“This year presents 14 galleries from Africa … in addition to a gallery from Kuwait City, Tokyo, two galleries from Milan, and the Kalhath Foundation from Mumbai, India, presenting Moroccan artist Amina Benbouchta.”
Newcomers this year include Milan-based C+N Gallery CANEPANERI; space Un from Tokyo, Japan; and GALERIE FARAH FAKHRI from Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire.
Also represented for the first time will be Galerie Medina from Bamako, Mali; Hunna Art from Kuwait City, Kuwait; Le Violon Bleu Gallery from Sidi Bou Said in Tunis, Tunisia; and Rabat-based Abla Ababou Galerie.
On view at Le Violon Bleu from Tunisia are also paintings by Hassan El Glaoui. The display marks the first time the artist’s works are exhibited at the fair.
The Gulf is represented this year through the debuting Hunna Art from Kuwait City.
In addition, a talk, titled “AlUla a New Laboratory for Contemporary Art,” will be delivered by French curator Arnaud Morand who has staged exhibitions and residencies for several years in the ancient Saudi Arabia desert region.
Also from the Gulf will be a special performance titled “Le Miroir (Acte I)” by renowned artist Miles Greenberg, to be staged at the historic El-Badi Palace, commissioned by ICD Brookfield Place Arts Program in Dubai.
Since its launch in Morocco in 2018, 1-54 has grown into a global event bringing collectors, major art institutions and artists from across the world to Morocco.
The fair, as El Glaoui noted, is also building on Marrakech’s rich cultural and art scene which has been expanding over the years. Of note this year is the reopening of the Museum of African Contemporary Art Al-Maaden alongside numerous exhibitions and museum shows and performances.
“Marrakech has a strategic geographic location serving as a meeting point for audiences from the Middle East, Africa and the rest of the world,” said El Glaoui.
“Morocco has a vibrant art scene that has significantly grown over the years. I think between its auction houses, museums, private foundations and the various galleries we have in each city, it has become an important international contender for modern and contemporary art.”
Saudi artist Muhannad Shono to take part in California’s 2025 Desert X
DUBAI: Saudi artist Muhannad Shono has been selected to take part in the fifth edition of Desert X, the international site-specific art exhibition which will take place across California’s Coachella Valley from March 8 to May 11.
Produced by non-profit organization The Desert Biennial, the event will feature artistic talent from across Asia, Europe, the Americas and the Middle East.
Curated by artistic director Neville Wakefield and co-curator Kaitlin Garcia-Maestas, the 2025 iteration will feature themes of temporality and nonlinear narratives of desert time.
Shono’s work, “What Remains,” explores the ever-changing nature of identity and land. The piece features long strips of fabric infused with native sand, allowing them to move freely with the wind. As the wind shifts, the fabric twists and reshapes while the sand forms dunes.
“The land of Desert X is no longer the mythical and endless expanses of the American West but has come to include the effects of our ever-growing human presence,” said Wakefield.
“Artists continue to be inspired by the idea of unadulterated nature but … they have also come to recognize that this is an idea and that the realities of the world we live in now are both more complex and contested. Time, light and space permeate every aspect of this work but so too does an urgency to find new sustainable approaches to living in an increasingly imperiled world.”
The full list of participating artists is as follows: Sanford Biggers, Los Angeles, California; Jose Davila, Guadalajara, Mexico; Agnes Denes, Budapest, Hungary; Cannupa Hanska Luger, Mandan, Hidatsa, Arikara and Lakota, b. Standing Rock Reservation, North Dakota, based in Glorieta, New Mexico; Raphael Hefti, Neuchatel, Switzerland; Kimsooja, Daegu, Korea; Kapwani Kiwanga, Hamilton, Canada; Sarah Meyohas, New York; Ronald Rael, Conejos Country, US; Alison Saar, Los Angeles, California; Muhannad Shono, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
