DUBAI: The Ithra Art Prize announced its five jurors who will pick the best works to exhibit at 2020’s Art Dubai this week.
Nada Shabout, a professor of art history and coordinator of the Contemporary Arab and Muslim Culture Studies Initiative (CAMCSI) in Texas, has been announced as a jury member, while independent curator and architect Tarek Abou El-Fetouh will also take a seat.
Eiman Elgibreen, an artist and assistant professor of art history at the Princess Nourah University in Saudi Arabia, is the third name on the list.
Lebanese celebrities and entrepreneurs speak out for Lebanon
Updated 1 min 32 sec ago
Arab News
DUBAI: Amid the ongoing Israeli assault on Lebanon, Lebanese celebrities and entrepreneurs including Razane Jammal, Karen Wazen and Jessica Kahawaty have taken to social media to raise awareness and express their concerns.
British Lebanese actress Jammal, who played Lyta Hall in the 2022 Netflix adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s “The Sandman,” took to Instagram to share a piece of art that depicted a bleeding heart on a stamp of Lebanon, captioning the post, “No words. Just bleeding.”
She also posted a video from an earlier interview with Elle Arabia where she talks about the resilience of Lebanese people. She captioned the post with a quote from her interview, “I really have hope for us. I know it’s very dark, but I have hope for my people, and I have hope for my country. There is no other way… life is hope.”
Dubai-based Lebanese influencer and entrepreneur Karen Wazen also took to Instagram to share a lengthy statement.
“From the moment we were born, war has been a reality,” she wrote. “Being Lebanese means distinguishing the sounds of an explosion, from the roar of fighter jets, the crackle of fireworks, and the breaking of sound barriers.
“Do not normalize Lebanese’ suffering. Despite our strength, we are not okay, and should not be okay,” she continued. “Do not normalize forced displacement, war crimes and human rights violations.
“Today we are all Lebanese, we are all victims of injustice, dirty politics, terrorism, racism and impunity… until when?”
Australian Lebanese model and entrepreneur Kahawaty took to Instagram to address her more than 1.5 million followers.
“For my non-Lebanese friends, I want to tell you a little story about Lebanon. It is a small country, only 10,452 km squared which is roughly the size of New York or Tokyo. A whole country, the size of one of these popular cities. For as long as I can remember and for many years before my arrival to this world, Lebanon has been a pawn in a greater fight. My country hasn’t known peace… ever,” she began.
“I ask you all to pray for Lebanon. Our people are suffering immensely, and our hearts are broken,” she added, as she requested readers to listen to her all-time favourite excerpts of a speech by American political scientist, Michael Parenti, which she posted on social media. “This is relevant to not just Lebanon but so many countries in the world subject to the evils of… you know who.”
The speech slammed former colonial powers, saying “poor countries are not ‘under-developed,’ they are over-exploited.”
Amina Muaddi spotted at Paris Fashion Week as Amira Al-Zuhair hits the runway
Updated 25 September 2024
Arab News AP
DUBAI: Romanian Jordanian designer Amina Muaddi, founder of the eponymous luxury brand, turned heads at the Dior show at Paris Fashion Week, while part-Saudi model Amira Al-Zuhair graced the runway for Danish fashion label Ganni.
Muaddi opted for a classic white button-down shirt and a sleek black satin pencil skirt. (Getty Images)
Muaddi, who is a regular at Dior fashion shows, opted for a classic white button-down shirt and a sleek black satin pencil skirt. Her look was accessorized with a pair of dark, round sunglasses and a small, textured blue Dior handbag.
The Dior collection, by Maria Grazia Chiuri, took a sporty turn, blending athletic prowess with an urban menace. The designs evoked a 1960s sci-fi aesthetic, reminiscent of “Star Trek,” but with an edge — daring, asymmetrical shapes paired with knee-high boots that flirted with danger.
Chiuri’s intent was clear from the start: A nod to the power and autonomy of the female form. With a clear reference to Christian Dior’s iconic Amazone dress from the early 1950s, Chiuri reinterpreted the silhouette with sleek, athletic lines, the Associated Press reported.
It echoed the spirit of the recent Paris Olympics, as models walked in skin-tight black tops with geometric cut-outs, circular cutaway patterns, and lace-up boot sneakers. There was a dynamic tension between freedom of movement and structured control — a recurring theme in Chiuri’s work, which often explores the balance between comfort and couture.
Metallic accents, from shimmering embroidery to butterfly motifs, punctuated the otherwise severe palette, adding a touch of delicacy to the sharpness of the designs, according to AP.
Al-Zuhair walked the runway for Ganni in a dark grey, structured blazer styled over similarly colored tailored pants. (Getty Images)
Meanwhile, Al-Zuhair, whose mother is French, walked the runway for Ganni in a dark grey, structured blazer styled over similarly colored tailored pants. Adding an artistic touch, the model also wore a large, ruffled pale blue scarf around her neck, which contrasted with the dark tones of the outfit.
On Wednesday, Al-Zuhair also shared images of the Missoni show she participated in during Milan Fashion Week on Instagram.
She wore a dynamic, eye-catching ensemble featuring bold, wavy stripes in black, white and yellow. The outfit included an asymmetrical top adorned with exaggerated ruffled detailing that cascaded down one side, paired with a high-waisted bikini bottom. Completing the look were matching high-heeled sandals in vibrant yellow, adding an extra pop of color.
Saudi-backed Johnny Depp film gets standing ovation at San Sebastian
Updated 25 September 2024
Arab News
DUBAI: The cast of Johnny Depp-helmed “Modi – Three Days on the Wing of Madness” took to the San Sebastian Film Festival red carpet in Spain on Tuesday night to usher in the star’s second directorial feature.
The film was supported by Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea Film Foundation through its Red Sea International Film Financing initiative.
Red Sea Film Foundation Managing Director Shivani Pandya, Saudi film producer Mohammed Al-Turki — who was previously the CEO of the Red Sea Film Festival — Depp, and stars Riccardo Scamarcio, Antonia Desplat, Bruno Gouery, Ryan McParland and Luisa Ranieri attended the premiere.
The period flick debuted out of competition in San Sebastian where it earned a long standing ovation, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
“Modi” is Depp’s second directorial effort and comes 27 years after “The Brave,” his debut film as a director. Described as a “seventy-two-hour whirlwind in the life of bohemian artist Amedeo Modigliani,” the film follows the artist through a chaotic series of events through the streets of war-time Paris in 1916.
At the press conference ahead of the screening, Depp revealed that co-star Al Pacino advised him to helm the movie. “I got a very strange phone call from Al Pacino who said ‘Do remember this Modigliani project?’ and he said I should direct it,” Depp said, according to Deadline.
“For some reason, Al saw me driving this strange machine. And when Pacino speaks, you listen, so I ran with it. But I had no idea what it would be until the pieces of the puzzle came together.”
Jeddah’s Islamic Arts Biennale to return under theme ‘And All That Is In-Between’
Updated 25 September 2024
Jasmine Bager
RIYADH: The Hajj Terminal in Jeddah will play host to the second edition of the Islamic Arts Biennale from Jan. 25 to May 25.
Organized by the Diriyah Biennale Foundation, this edition explores how faith is experienced, expressed and celebrated through emotions, thoughts and creation.
Following the success of the first Islamic Arts Biennale in 2023 — which ran under the theme “Awwal Bait” or “First House” — this time it is titled “And All That Is In-Between.”
There will be over 30 global institutions participating from countries including Saudi Arabia, France, Egypt, Indonesia, the UK and US.
The showcase will include more than 500 historical artifacts and contemporary artworks including pieces from Makkah and Madinah. They have been loaned by museums including the Louvre in Paris and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.
In addition, more than 20 artists and collectives from Saudi Arabia and beyond will present new commissions, including Libyan artist Nour Jaouda.
Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan, who serves as chairman of the board of trustees of the Diriyah Biennale Foundation, highlighted the transformative power of the arts in a statement to Arab News.
“Building on the remarkable success of the inaugural edition, the second edition of the Islamic Arts Biennale comes with greater ambition, expanded partnerships and a diverse selection of artistic and cultural institutions, patrons, as well as artists from Saudi Arabia and countries that have rich Islamic culture and traditions,” Prince Badr said.
Aya Al-Bakree, CEO of the Diriyah Biennale Foundation, said the event was growing “through its expert curatorial leadership, and in the participation of world-leading institutions and artists.”
Al-Bakree added that the program would “cement the biennale as a global platform for cultural exchange and a reference point for new research into the field.”
The biennale’s curatorial team is led by Julian Raby, Amin Jaffer and Abdul Rahman Azzam, with Saudi Arabia artist Muhannad Shono as the curator of contemporary art.
Highlights include celestial navigation, Islamic gardens and a competition for the design of a new prayer space, with the winning entry being constructed on-site.
Aseel Omran, Mona Zaki take part in star-studded L’Oreal Paris show
Updated 24 September 2024
Arab News
DUBAI: Saudi actress and presenter Aseel Omran and Egyptian actress Mona Zaki were among the celebrities that walked the seventh edition of L’Oréal Paris’ star-studded Le Défilé Walk Your Worth event during Paris Fashion Week on Monday.
Aseel Omran. (Instagram)
Omran wore a form-fitting velvet black dress with a contrasting white detail at the bust. Meanwhile, Zaki donned a glitzy gold gown with large sequins that create a reflective surface. The dress had a fitted silhouette and a V-neckline.
Mona Zaki. (Instagram)
Omran and Zaki, who are ambassadors for the brand, were joined by other A-list stars including Kendall Jenner, Cara Delevingne, Jane Fonda, and Eva Longoria.
The theme for this year’s event was “Walk Your Worth,” which celebrated “women’s empowerment, inclusion and sisterhood.”
