Venetia Porter Books

This collection showcases an extraordinary array of contemporary art from the Middle East and North Africa, sourced from the British Museum for the first time. The vibrant works reflect the experiences of artists both in their homelands and in diaspora, engaging with their histories, cultures, and the significant changes their regions have undergone. Since the 1980s, the British Museum has amassed one of the most extensive collections of Middle Eastern and North African art in the public domain, primarily focusing on works on paper. These pieces provide valuable insights into civil societies, regional politics, and cultural traditions, bridging connections to Islamic art and literature. The introduction by curator Venetia Porter delves into the collection's history and the featured works. Charles Tripp’s essay offers a critical framework for understanding the political and contextual landscape in which these artists operate. The artworks are organized into seven thematic chapters, each prefaced by a brief introduction, exploring themes such as faith, abstraction, and the female gaze. This anthology not only highlights the artistic contributions of the region but also emphasizes the broader cultural narratives at play.

In the hands of artists and poets, books have been taking a radically different form since the advent of the artist's book in Paris in the early 20th century. Appearing in a variety of shapes and sizes, as one-offs or small print editions, books offer artists and poets a novel form of expression. In the words of Indian artist Nalini Malani (b. 1946), the book is 'a carrier of experience', in which whole worlds are encapsulated. In this beautifully produced book, works made by artists from New York to Damascus and beyond highlight the relationship between artists and writers and the influences that inform their work, from family to politics and everything in between. Lebanese artist Abed Al Kadiri (b. 1984) conceived his book during the first month of the pandemic to explore his family history, while through the eyes of Iraqi artist Kareem Risan (b. 1960) we see the shocking aftermath of a deadly explosion on the streets of Baghdad in 2005. These artists also find inspiration in classical poetry and literature. Here you will see works that respond to and that are informed by the medieval Persian poetry of Jalal al-Din Rumi and Hafez, as well as the tales of The Arabian Nights.