Art, in all its forms, has always been reflective of social issues. Over the last few years we’ve witnessed the environment become a major cause for concern following an alarming UN report published late last year, eco-friendly living has never been more pertinent, especially in the Middle East and Africa.
Founded in 2007 in a bid to promote environmentally-friendly living through art, Kuwait’s Re-use initiative has been gaining momentum by bringing artists to the Gulf nation to raise awareness on climate change. But this year’s edition is taking a different turn, albeit an equally conscious.
Rather than putting the focus solely on the environment, the event has expanded to explore a myriad of social issues. This year Re-use is heading to London for the first time, bringing together Middle Eastern and South Asian artists for a five-day-long residency to explore the diasporic experience.
The move comes as part of the Albany for the arts centre’s on-going season aptly titled Rebels. After the residency, artists will present their works in a group show, Haramacy, where visitors will explore the challenges and internal workings of the diaspora through art, talks, live music, and audio-visual performances.
Some of the artists that will be part of the show include Harnaam Kaur, the British model and body-positivity activist known for her embrace of her facial hair, Afghan-German illustrator Moshtari Hilal, American-Indian drummer Sarathy Korwar, London-based Saudi Arabian artist Nouf Alhimiary, alongside artists Suhaiymah Mazoor-Khan, Moza Almatrooshi, Noor Palette, Reeta Loi, Zia Ahmed Deema Al Hugail, Alaa Kassim, and Jannat Hussain.
Haramacy, April 27 at the Albany, London
