This episode of The Misk Art Library Podcast reflects on the work of Filwa Nazer and Mona Saudi. Nazer reflects on her own textile-based practice, her early inspirations, and the process of documenting her first monograph, while Myrna Ayad speaks about Mona Saudi’s resilient career and her profound connection to stone as a living material. Together they consider themes of motherhood, politics, and community, as well as the importance of publications in documenting artistic legacies.

Their work is featured in the Misk Art Library volumes Filwa Nazer: Embodied Spaces and Mona Saudi: Formations, available in English and Arabic.

00:00 Introduction

 01:59 Filwa Nazer on Being Featured

 03:33 First Encounter with Mona Saudi

 07:33 Early Artistic Influences

 10:07 Reflections on Saudi’s Sculpture and Personality

 13:24 The Aliveness of Stone

 16:27 Themes of Motherhood and Politics

 22:05 Fashion Design and Art Practice

 29:00 Artistic Communities in Jeddah and Beirut

 36:26 Discussion of Specific Works

 44:13 Challenges of Archiving

 47:39 Book Recommendations

Born in Amman, Jordan, Mona Saudi (1945-2022) was one of the rare sculptors of her era. She worked exclusively with stone as her medium, and her sculptures often centred around basic shapes, such as squares, circles, cylinders, and rectangles. These dynamic compositions frequently circled back to themes of fertility and growth. Her works are included in the collections of renowned international institutions, such as Sharjah Art Foundation; the British Museum, London; Barjeel Art Foundation, Sharjah; the Institut du monde arabe, Paris; the Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts, Amman; the Khalid Shoman Foundation, Amman; the National Museum of Women in the Arts, Washington D.C.; Dar al-Athar al-Islamiyyah, Kuwait; the Museum of Modern Art, Kuwait; and the Ministry of Culture, Cairo.

The work of Filwa Nazer (b. 1972) revolves around exploring emotional and psychological identity within spatial and social contexts. The multidisciplinary visual artist employs digital prints, collages, textiles, and installations as mediums to delve into the ever-evolving boundaries between public and private spaces. Drawing on her experience in the fashion industry, she crafts textile sculptures and geometric embroideries that evoke deconstructed clothing patterns and traditional handicrafts. Her works are featured in prominent public collections, including the Saudi Ministry of Culture, Riyadh; the Al-Mansouria Foundation, Jeddah; the Jameel Arts Centre, Dubai; and the Greenbox Museum of Contemporary Art from Saudi Arabia, Amsterdam, as well as numerous private collections worldwide.

Connect with Filwa Nazer 👉 https://instagram.com/fillimore

Myrna Ayad is a Dubai-based cultural strategist and publisher, and founder of her namesake consultancy (2018), through which she works with leading luxury brands, government entities, private companies, and non-profits. She has authored and edited books and publications with Assouline, Skira, Rizzoli and Kaph Books, and frequently serves as a panelist, jurist, moderator, and workshop leader on art and culture from the region. From 2016-2018, she was Director of Art Dubai, overseeing its most globally diverse editions and non-profit programs. Before that, she wrote on Arab and Iranian art to outlets including as a contributor to major international newspapers and publications, and served as Editor of Canvas magazine (2007–2015).

Connect with Myrna Ayad  👉 https://instagram.com/myrnaayad

Mikey Muhanna 👉 

https://instagram.com/mikey_mu

FOLLOW & RATE THE MISK ART LIBRARY PODCAST: » Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/misk-art-library-podcast-powered-by-afikra/id1838991319 » Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0dQ5Mxt8ITcQfHHjl4dVLM » Anghami: https://play.anghami.com/podcast/1074425862 

THIS SERIES IS PART OF THE AFIKRA PODCAST NETWORK Explore all episodes in this series: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfYG40bwRKl4rdCQr8BWgdjEj6wTFZ3ZW

ABOUT AFIKRA
afikra | عفكرة is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region – past, present and future – through conversations driven by curiosity.
📍 Local events in 40+ locations worldwide explore.afikra.com
🎧 New podcasts + videos weekly https://explore.afikra.com/podcast-network
⚡ Become a member: https://explore.afikra.com/insiders
🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afikra_
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🔗 Twitter: https://twitter.com/afikra

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This episode of The Misk Art Library Podcast explores Saudi artist Manal AlDowayan and pioneering Emirati artist Hassan Sharif. The conversation highlights AlDowayan’s evolving practice, the challenges of documenting art histories, and the pioneering experimentation of Hassan Sharif. Together they reflect on how archives sustain artistic legacies and how intergenerational dialogue enriches the contemporary art landscape. 

Their work is celebrated in the Misk Art Library volumes Manal AlDowayan: Participatory Acts and Hassan Sharif: Woven.

00:00 Introduction

00:33 The Importance of Preserving Archives

01:55 AlDowayan's Early Journey

03:22 Catherine David on Hassan Sharif

05:43 Sharif’s Studies and Experiments

12:53 Themes in AlDowayan’s Work

14:00 Through Lines in Sharif’s Practice

18:23 Re-educating Audiences on Arab Art

22:10 Closing Thoughts

Hassan Sharif (1951-2016) is considered a pioneering conceptual artist and a leading figure in contemporary art in the Gulf region. Best known for his sculptural installations using everyday materials, his oeuvre also includes performance, painting, drawing, and weaving, covering themes such as the critique of mass consumption and industrialisation. Sharif was an influential educator, mentor, and critic who wrote prolifically and translated many critical texts to Arabic to make them accessible to people in the Emirates. He cofounded several platforms for artists to convene and to learn, encouraging innovation and experimentation in artmaking.

Catherine David is a French art historian, curator and museum director. From 1982 to 1990, she was Curator at the Musée National d’Art Moderne, Centre Georges Pompidou and from 1990 to 1994 Curator at the Galerie Nationale du Jeu de Paume, Paris. From 1994 to 1997, she served as Artistic Director for documenta X in Kassel, Germany (1997), and from 1998 she has been Director of the long-term project Contemporary Arab Representations which began at the Fundació Antoni Tàpies in Barcelona. Between 2002 and 2004, she was Director of the Witte de With Center of Contemporary Art in Rotterdam in the Netherlands. She currently works as Deputy Director of Musée National d’Art Moderne, Paris.

Contemporary Saudi artist Manal AlDowayan (b. 1973, Dhahran) embraces themes of invisibility, active forgetting, archives, and collective memory with a focus on the condition of Saudi women and their representation. Through photography, sculpture, textiles, and participatory installations, she explores the spatial and social dynamics of public and private spheres. The artist thus expresses personal experiences and observations of time and space in order to resonate with a potentially broader audience.

Connect with Manal AlDowayan 👉 https://instagram.com/manaldowayan
 

Hosted by Mikey Muhanna 👉 https://instagram.com/mikey_mu

FOLLOW & RATE THE MISK ART LIBRARY PODCAST: » Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/misk-art-library-podcast-powered-by-afikra/id1838991319 » Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0dQ5Mxt8ITcQfHHjl4dVLM » Anghami: https://play.anghami.com/podcast/1074425862 

THIS SERIES IS PART OF THE AFIKRA PODCAST NETWORK Explore all episodes in this series: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfYG40bwRKl4rdCQr8BWgdjEj6wTFZ3ZW

ABOUT AFIKRA
afikra | عفكرة is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region – past, present and future – through conversations driven by curiosity.
📍 Local events in 40+ locations worldwide explore.afikra.com
🎧 New podcasts + videos weekly https://explore.afikra.com/podcast-network
⚡ Become a member: https://explore.afikra.com/insiders
🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afikra_
🔗 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/afikra.official
🔗 Twitter: https://twitter.com/afikra

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This episode of The Misk Art Library Podcast brings Sudanese painter Salah Elmur who talks about memory, imagination, and artistic identity. Elmur reflects on his Sudanese upbringing, his dreamlike paintings, and his reluctance to label himself as an artist. He explores how memory, place, and biography shape artistic voice.

His work is featured in the Misk Art Library volume Salah Elmur: Visual Chronicles available in English and Arabic.

0:00 Introduction

1:02 Elmur's Childhood in Sudan

2:50 Identifying As an Artist

3:32 Evolution of Artistic Themes and Styles

4:50 Connections With Other Artists Across the Arab World

6:11 Learning About African and Other International Art

7:15 Sudanese Culture and Visual Culture Studies

8:00 Discovering Other Great Artists

8:48 Elmur's Studio in Cairo

9:45 Elmur's Art Pieces

12:29 The Influence of Sudan on Elmur's Art

13:13 Expressing Personal Identity Through Art

16:48 Childhood Photos and Memories

Salah Elmur (born 1966, Al Jarif, Sudan) is an artist, graphic designer, filmmaker, and author whose artistic practice showcases a visual anthology and fabulist interpretation of real and fictive events. Elmur unites disparate, emblematic elements, creating strongly symbolic and colourful paintings that feature figures he extracts from his “cerebral boxes.” Having lived between Sudan, Kenya, and Egypt, Elmur’s creative output is informed by these multiple experiences – of the people, nature, and wildlife. His subjects transport viewers to a new reality in which relations shift and nostalgia prevails. His work carries a deep sense of sympathy for the human spirit, connecting the rich and diverse spectrum of tradition and culture.

Connect with Salah Elmur 👉 https://instagram.com/salahelmur

Hosted by Mikey Muhanna 👉 https://instagram.com/mikey_mu

FOLLOW & RATE THE MISK ART LIBRARY PODCAST: » Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/misk-art-library-podcast-powered-by-afikra/id1838991319 » Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0dQ5Mxt8ITcQfHHjl4dVLM » Anghami: https://play.anghami.com/podcast/1074425862 

THIS SERIES IS PART OF THE AFIKRA PODCAST NETWORK Explore all episodes in this series: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfYG40bwRKl4rdCQr8BWgdjEj6wTFZ3ZW

ABOUT AFIKRA
afikra | عفكرة is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region – past, present and future – through conversations driven by curiosity.
📍 Local events in 40+ locations worldwide explore.afikra.com
🎧 New podcasts + videos weekly https://explore.afikra.com/podcast-network
⚡ Become a member: https://explore.afikra.com/insiders
🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afikra_
🔗 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/afikra.official
🔗 Twitter: https://twitter.com/afikra

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This episode of The Misk Art Library Podcast highlights Moroccan artist Amina Agueznay and Saudi painter Fahad Hajailan. The discussion reflects on Agueznay’s journey from architecture to wearable art, the role of craft within contemporary practice, and Hajailan’s colorful and expressive portraits. Together, they consider the vibrant art communities of Morocco and Saudi Arabia, and the connections that bind artistic practices across regions.

Their work is featured in the volumes Amina Agueznay: Unmuted Narratives and Fahad Hajailan: Poetry in Color within the bilingual Misk Art Library series.

00:00 Introduction

00:22 Amina Agueznay's First Monograph

00:57 Cecilia Ruggeri on Hajailan's Work

02:42 Artistic Upbringing in Casablanca

07:10 Hajailan's Community and Practice

08:29 From Architecture to Wearable Art

12:19 Blurring Craft and Art

17:31 Cultural Influences in Hajailan's Work

21:29 Portraits of Women in Hajailan's Practice

26:18 Deconstructing and Reconstructing Jewelry

35:36 Hajailan's Horse Series

41:55 Agueznay's Installations and Projects

47:19 Book Recommendations

48:30 Closing Reflections

Fahad Hajailan (1957-2018, born in Bilbeis, Egypt) is a Saudi painter, poet and teacher, with a career spanning four decades in painting based between Bilbeis, Riyadh and Jeddah. Between 1979 and 1999, he was employed as an art teacher at the Saad bin Abi Waqqas School in Riyadh and subsequently worked as a designer at two of the Kingdom’s leading dailies, Al Jazirah and Al Riyadh, where he explored digital art. In 2000, he helped found the Riyadh Fine Arts Group and thereafter focused strictly on his art practice, exhibiting extensively until his death. A central figure of the Saudi art scene, he sits firmly among the Kingdom’s pioneering artists, not only for his artistic practice but also for his contributions within the nation’s cultural domain.

Cecilia Ruggeri is a curator at Misk Art Institute, Riyadh. Her practice bridges historic and contemporary art, exploring diverse subjects, themes, and display techniques. Informed by her experiences in classical art historical spheres and contemporary spaces, her research aims to redefine art promotion and consumption, while raising transnational dialogues and institutional critiques regarding museum developments. With a B.A. from Institut d’Etudes Superieurs des Arts (Paris) and an M.A. from the Courtauld Institute of Art (London), she is completing a PhD in Art History at the University of Lausanne, Switzerland.

Connect with  Cecilia Ruggeri 👉 https://instagram.com/ceciliaaruggeri

Amina Agueznay (born 1963, Casablanca) is an artist, jewellery designer and architect based in Casablanca. Her practice leads her to the borders of the diverse yet complementary fields of architecture, design and traditional weaving methods. An advocate for ancestral techniques and traditional craft, her ideas take shape via collaborations with artisans of exceptional skills. In 2010 she was a laureate of the prestigious Mediterranean Fashion Prize, and her work can be found in the Bank Al-Maghrib collection, Société Générale Maroc, Musée d’Art Contemporain Africain Al Maaden and CNAP France.

Connect with Amina Agueznay 👉 https://instagram.com/aminaagueznay

Hosted by Mikey Muhanna 👉 

https://instagram.com/mikey_mu

FOLLOW & RATE THE MISK ART LIBRARY PODCAST: » Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/misk-art-library-podcast-powered-by-afikra/id1838991319 » Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0dQ5Mxt8ITcQfHHjl4dVLM » Anghami: https://play.anghami.com/podcast/1074425862 

THIS SERIES IS PART OF THE AFIKRA PODCAST NETWORK Explore all episodes in this series: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfYG40bwRKl4rdCQr8BWgdjEj6wTFZ3ZW

ABOUT AFIKRA
afikra | عفكرة is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region – past, present and future – through conversations driven by curiosity.
📍 Local events in 40+ locations worldwide explore.afikra.com
🎧 New podcasts + videos weekly https://explore.afikra.com/podcast-network
⚡ Become a member: https://explore.afikra.com/insiders
🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afikra_
🔗 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/afikra.official
🔗 Twitter: https://twitter.com/afikra

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In this episode of The Misk Art Library Podcast Series, we sit down with two experts on art in the Arab world: Lulwah Al Homoud, an artist featured in the Misk Art Library series, and Dr. Nada Shabout, who speaks about the work of Iraqi artist Rafa Nasiri. We discuss Nasiri's legacy as a pioneer of Iraqi art ( delving into printmaking), the evolution of contemporary Arab art, and the role of spirituality and identity in the artists’ work. Lulwah Al Homoud shares her personal journey as an artist and her admiration for Nasiri's generous spirit. Dr. Shabout provides insight into the "New Vision" collective and the historical context of terms like "hurufiyya" ( حروفية ) and "textual abstraction." 

00:00 Introduction

03:44 Discovering Rafa Nasiri's Work 

05:12 How Lulwah Al Homoud's Career Path Began 07:31 Finding Common Paths in Art 

09:00 The Spirituality of Art 

11:05 Humility and Generosity in Art 

11:43 The Evolution of Lulwah's Work 

13:18 The Universal Language of Geometry 

14:16 Art as a Tool for Growth 

15:10 Contesting the Term "Hurufiyya" 

19:08 The New Vision Collective Manifesto 

21:18 A Dotted Line Between Generations of Artists

22:18 Core Experiments in Art 

24:31 A Look Through the Book 

27:19 A Complicated Process 

28:58 Looking at Rafa Nasiri's Work 

34:39 The Importance of Printmaking 

38:09 Biography and Early Photos 

40:12 Art Reflecting Spirituality 

41:26 The Legacy of the New Vision Collective 

44:19 Cities That Inspire 

47:07 Book Recommendations 

49:43 Artist Recommendations 

51:27 Upcoming Projects

Iraqi artist Rafa Nasiri (1940–2013) is considered one of the most influential artists within the sphere of fine arts in the Arab world, largely due to his artistry and his role in establishing some of the most notable art groups. A painter, printmaker, graphic designer, and art teacher, Nasiri also authored several art books, including one on his early experience in China. He is known for his unique abstract works inspired by nature, open spaces, and cosmic scenes in which he incorporated Arabic letters, poetry, and calligraphy. This book documents Nasiri’s career, focusing on the distinction of his experience and artistic visions that reflect the diversity of his creativity and the depth of his awareness, as well as his legacy within the canon of modern art.

Lulwah Al Homoud (born in 1967) is a pioneer of the Saudi contemporary art movement, whose works fuse spirituality, the written word and mathematical calculations in a novel artistic vocabulary, or what she describes as “spiritual art.” Drawing inspiration from the spirit of Islamic art, as well as the oeuvres of poets and philosophers such as Abu al-Atahiya and Jalal al-Din Rumi, Al Homoud constructs dialogues between language and letters, developing a relationship between form, concept, dimension and spirituality. This book is an anthology of her works, and explores the intersections between spirituality and calligraphy.

Connect with Lulwah Al Homoud 👉 https://instagram.com/lulwah_al_homoud

Dr. Nada Shabout's research and teaching address modern and contemporary visual practices and problems of representation from a global perspective, with emphasis on questions of methodology and in relation to the cultural politics of the Middle East. She teaches courses on Modern Arab art, global modern art, contemporary Middle Eastern art and Islamic art.

Connect with Nada Shabout 👉 https://instagram.com/shabout_nada

Hosted by Mikey Muhanna 👉 

https://instagram.com/mikey_mu

FOLLOW & RATE THE MISK ART LIBRARY PODCAST: » Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/misk-art-library-podcast-powered-by-afikra/id1838991319 » Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0dQ5Mxt8ITcQfHHjl4dVLM » Anghami: https://play.anghami.com/podcast/1074425862 

THIS SERIES IS PART OF THE AFIKRA PODCAST NETWORK Explore all episodes in this series: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfYG40bwRKl4rdCQr8BWgdjEj6wTFZ3ZW

ABOUT AFIKRA
afikra | عفكرة is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region – past, present and future – through conversations driven by curiosity.
📍 Local events in 40+ locations worldwide explore.afikra.com
🎧 New podcasts + videos weekly https://explore.afikra.com/podcast-network
⚡ Become a member: https://explore.afikra.com/insiders
🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afikra_
🔗 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/afikra.official
🔗 Twitter: https://twitter.com/afikra

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The first episode of The Misk Art Library Podcast explores the life and work of two of the foremost figures of Arab art: Abdulrahman Alsoliman and Adam Henein. We are proud to feature esteemed Saudi artist Abdulrahman Alsoliman reflecting on his own practice, alongside curator Mona Khazandar speaking about the work of the late Egyptian sculptor Adam Henein. In this conversation we trace the evolution of Alsoliman’s abstract visual language, the legacy of Henein’s modernist sculpture and charcoal drawings, and the importance of publications in preserving artistic memory. The dialogue also considers the role of mentors, institutions, and communities in shaping artistic identity across generations. Both artists’ work is documented in beautifully designed volumes of the Misk Art Library series: Abdulrahman Alsoliman: Signs and Symbols and Adam Henein: Charcoal Drawings, offering richly illustrated, bilingual introductions to their careers. 

00:00 Introduction 

02:01 School Days and Early Artistic Development

09:17 The Influence of Adam Henein

11:12 The Importance of Publications

16:22 Artistic Techniques and Evolution

25:14 Memories and Personal Stories

47:53 Reflections on Art and Legacy

51:23 Book Recommendations and Closing Remarks

Abdulrahman Alsoliman (born 1954) is one of Saudi Arabia's most acclaimed artists, currently based in Dammam During his prolific career, his work has stood out for his deep appreciation for Saudi Arabia's heritage and culture. Through texts, photos. an interview with the artist, and a magnificent set of works, this volume is an intense exploration of the signs and the colours he uses in his abstract paintings, giving rise to an intricate ornamental style influenced by local tradition and literature.

Mona Khazindar is a leading curator and historian who has organized major international exhibitions for over three decades. From 2011 to 2014, she was the first woman and first Saudi to direct the Arab World Institute in Paris. She has held influential roles on the board of MUCEM, as cultural advisor to the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities, and as a member of both the Saudi Cultural Authority and the Ithra advisory council. In 2017, she founded Palette, a collective dedicated to cultural initiatives and art publishing. A widely published author, Khazindar wrote "Visions from Abroad: Historical and Contemporary Representations of Saudi Arabia."

Adam Henein (1929-2020) is one of the most renowned and accomplished Arab artists, and a prominent figure in Egypt's Modernist movement, sculpting bronze, wood, clay, and granite into pure, twisted forms. The artworks collected in this book reveal an intimate aspect of his production through a previously unpublished selection of charcoal drawings he produced over the last two decades. A beautiful and moving immersion into his work.
 

Hosted by Mikey Muhanna 👉 https://instagram.com/mikey_mu 

Co-hosted by Basma 👉 https://sa.linkedin.com/in/basma-alshathry-2a96a491 

Basma Alshathry has a BA in Art History from the American University in Paris and an MA in History of Decorative Arts and Curatorial Studies from Parsons Paris, the New School. She spearheads various curatorial projects, including the prestigious Misk Art Grant and The Art Library series of publications, which focus on significant Arab artists.

FOLLOW & RATE THE MISK ART LIBRARY PODCAST: » Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/misk-art-library-podcast-powered-by-afikra/id1838991319 » Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0dQ5Mxt8ITcQfHHjl4dVLM » Anghami: https://play.anghami.com/podcast/1074425862 

THIS SERIES IS PART OF THE AFIKRA PODCAST NETWORK Explore all episodes in this series: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfYG40bwRKl4rdCQr8BWgdjEj6wTFZ3ZW

ABOUT AFIKRA
afikra | عفكرة is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region – past, present and future – through conversations driven by curiosity.
📍 Local events in 40+ locations worldwide explore.afikra.com
🎧 New podcasts + videos weekly https://explore.afikra.com/podcast-network
⚡ Become a member: https://explore.afikra.com/insiders
🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afikra_
🔗 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/afikra.official
🔗 Twitter: https://twitter.com/afikra

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.