TMR
We’re not sure an explanation is required for an issue entitled MEZZE, but we are pleased to present our 51st issue, with an exclusive excerpt of the latest novel by Algerian writer Samir Kacimi, translated from Arabic by Rana Asfour, along with our centerpiece, “Mama’s Kitchen” by Lina Mounzer, our featured artists from Iraq by Hadani Ditmars, and a special essay on returning home by first-time Markaz contributor Amelia Izmanki. We also welcome back writers Naima Morelli and Aomar Boum with stories on art in Turkey and tirailleurs bandes dessinés, and Elias Feroz who turns in an interview with graphic novelist/reporter Joe Sacco on Gaza. Another first-time contributor, Hannah Kaviani, gives us a strong review on the new book by Sepideh Gholian, The Evin Prison Bakers’ Club. And our third new contributor — because The Markaz Review is always looking to work with new voices — is Aidan Simardone, with a smart art essay on the avant-garde Lebanese-Canadian Joyce Joumaa.
We hope you enjoy this diverse selection of stories: bon appétit!
Mama’s Kitchen
A writer looks back on formative memories of her mother and grandmother in the kitchen and wonders about the value of women’s work — and whether love’s labor is ever truly lost.
Iraq’s Kurdish Genocide and Three Wars: Artists Osman Ahmed & Fakher Mohammed
A joint Arab/Kurdish exhibition at Baghdad’s The Gallery showcased how the nation’s two solitudes can unite through art.
Victorious Decolonization in the Work of Joyce Joumaa
Lebanese Canadian writer and visual artist Joyce Joumaa’s videos demonstrate that the colonized are not passive recipients of their condition.
Always Beware the Dogs by Samir Kacimi — An Excerpt
By creatively blending elements of fantasy, Kacimi’s new novel offers readers a fresh lens through which to view contemporary life in Algeria.
“Inside the Margins”: Centering Tirailleurs in Bandes Dessinées
The graphic novels or bandes dessinées out of Africa are a line in the sand of protest and rebellion against European colonialism.
Interview: Joe Sacco on Gaza
Joe Sacco uses his graphic storytelling in “War on Gaza” to reflect on the events in the Gaza Strip since October 7, 2023.
The Evin Prison Bakers’ Club — Review
Sepideh Gholian’s book demonstrates that freedom, even in confinement, is a state of mind, where choosing life is part of the struggle.
About to Erupt: A Snapshot of Contemporary Art in Istanbul
Naima Morelli explores Istanbul’s art scene, delving into its underground energies through a gallery show, art fair, and museum retrospective.
Imagining Ghanem—My Return to Lebanon
The writer explores Lebanon’s archives for traces of her family who left 150 years ago, contemplating our responsibilities to our ancestors.
