Mentorship Traces in the Archive
Ala Younis traces Marwan Kassab-Bachi’s mentorship of Gazan artists through his archives and their lasting artistic connections.
Resources
Sawt al-Arshīf (صوت الأرشيف)
Sawt al-Arshīf is a series of articles produced by researchers, scholars, and practitioners in response to materials in al Mawrid’s Arab Art Archive. The commissioned essays highlight a particularly compelling document in the archive with a close analysis of the text in relation to broader historical contexts. The Center also produces visual essays that engage the Arab Art Archive through archival research and narrative storytelling.
Hidden Ways of Courting Memory
Cristiana de Marchi reflects on archives, memory, and belonging through fragmented encounters with language in archival documents.
Mahmoud Hammad's Italian Papers
Donata Levi analyzes Mahmoud Hammad’s early Italian student papers through the lens of the artist’s production.
Publications
Research efforts at al Mawrid include publishing books and articles related to modern Arab art and the Center’s archival holdings, as well as English translations of significant Arabic publications.
Story of Water and Fire
A captivating account of the joint life of two prominent figures in the Iraqi art scene, poet and art critic May Muzaffar and artist Rafa Nasiri.
Past of a Temporal Universe
Ala Younis discusses how interrogating narrativity can provoke fundamental questions about accepting societal or historical truths in today’s world.
Mahmoud Hammad, Arabic Writing no. 11
Anneka Lenssen examines the diverse interpretations of Mahmoud Hammad's abstract paintings within their historical context.
Recorded Events
al Mawrid partners with scholars and local institutions to organize conferences, symposia, talks, and workshops that bring together researchers, artists, educators, and students in conversation exploring themes of art and culture in the Arab world. Recordings of past programs are available for viewing on al Mawrid's website and YouTube channel.
The Preservation of Our Photographic Heritage and Family Treasures
Dr. Debra Norris offers essential, practical guidance on preserving both historic and contemporary photographic prints.
Imagining Baghdad Through the Eyes of Jewad Selim
Dr. Nada Shabout delves into a selection of Selim’s 1950s work that has become iconic of the city and its people.
The Generative Archive II | Panel 1: Archives and Public History
The first panel of al Mawrid's online symposium investigates how artists reinterpret archival materials and methodologies to present alternative historical narratives.
Library Resources
al Mawrid collects publications that aid in the interdisciplinary study of art and culture in the Arab world. The library resources are subdivided into three collections: the reference collection, the rare journal collection, and the rare book collection. All library resources are accessible in person at al Mawrid.
Reference Library
Includes secondary sources on subjects pertinent to the study of art and culture in the Arab world.
Rare Journals
Includes complete runs of rare periodicals published in the Arab world between 1900 and 1995.
Rare Books (Pre-1999)
Includes primary and secondary accounts of Arab art and criticism that are out of print or otherwise difficult to access.