Female Artists Middle East shines a spotlight on the women artists of the buzzing art scene in the Middle East and is a captivating survey, spanning from the early 20th century to contemporary developments.
One focus is on the pioneering women, such as lnji Efflatoun, Monir Shahroudy Farmanfarmaian, Etel Adnan, Huguette Caland, Fahrelnissa Zeid, and Füsun Onur, who played a key role in the development of modern art by developing their style through a dialogue between the traditional artistic language of the Islamic world and the new currents of Western art. Many of them shared experiences of major socio-political changes, political conflict, war and exile. Experiences that are also reflected in the works of the artists born after World War II, including Mona Hatoum, Shirin Neshat, Anna Boghughian, through an exploration of themes such as identity, oppression, diaspora and the loss of home. The young, contemporary generation, on the other hand, confidently questions the role of women in Muslim-influenced societies as well as the Western stereotypes.
Texts by experts as well as interviews with female artists and actors from the wider region provide a cross-generational insight into this exciting, internationally well-connected and art scene.