Our editors select TMR World Picks. We welcome your suggestions: editor@themarkaz.org
TMR
War Paint, Women at War Screening with Q&A
April 1, Frontline Club, London, UK — more info
Margy Kinmonth’s documentary highlights the pivotal role of women war artists worldwide, exploring their unique perspectives on conflict through art. Traditionally overlooked, these artists, including Dame Rachel Whiteread, Maggi Hambling, and Lee Miller, break boundaries and speak truths during turbulent times. War Paint – Women At War is the third part of Kinmonth’s trilogy on how artists depict war, following Eric Ravilious – Drawn To War and War Art with Eddie Redmayne.
Talk by Bedross Der Matossian, “The Armenians of Palestine”
April 3, Dickinson University, online Zoom meeting — more info
The Armenians of Palestine today are facing significant challenges that could jeopardize their future in the region. This talk will explore the historical development of the modern Armenian community in Palestine, with a particular focus on Jerusalem. It will examine how political and socio-economic transformations in this volatile region have impacted both the Armenian Patriarchate and the broader community. The discussion will highlight the key challenges currently confronting the community and propose a strategic roadmap for preserving the historical presence of Armenians in Jerusalem while safeguarding their rich cultural heritage, which spans over a millennium.
In Conversation, PalFest: Ta-Nehisi Coates with Zena Agha
April 3, Friends House, London, UK—more info
The Message is clear-eyed, honest reportage from one of the most influential American writers on race and politics. It is also a self-reckoning with regards to Palestine. Published in the US last October, the book was an instant best-seller and a media event, catalyzing mainstream conversation about Black-Palestinian solidarity as well as US complicity in apartheid and genocide in the lead-up to the presidential elections. The Palestine Festival of Literature (PalFest) is a cultural initiative committed to the creation of language and ideas for dismantling colonialism in the 21st century.
Theatre, Lina Majdalanie and Rabih Mroué: “Vier Wände und ein Dach” (Four Walls and a Roof)
April 3–5, Kampnagel, Hamburg, Germany — more info
In 1947, Bertolt Brecht, while in exile in the US, was summoned by the House of Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC). He drafted a statement that he was not allowed to read, which, along with trial transcripts, inspires Lina Majdalanie and Rabih Mroué’s latest performance-lecture. One can’t read Brecht’s testimony to the HUAC and not think of the pro-Palestinian university student demonstrators, from Columbia to Tufts, arrested or hounded by US Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE) authorities. Mroué and Majdalanie’s exploration of Brecht highlights current political and social issues, marked by ideological confusion and fierce clashes of opinion. They combine historical events with fantasy, using humor to critically question preconceived notions, reflecting on their own experiences of exile from Beirut to Berlin. In English with German sub/surtitles.
I Shall Carve the Sun’s Words Exhibition
April 5–Oct. 4, A.M. Qattan Foundation, Ramallah — more info
Curated by Reem Shadid and Bakriveh Saeb, this group exhibition takes its name from Tawfiq Zayyad’s 1966 poem “On the Olive Tree,” translated for TMR by Rana Asfour — “… Because I face arrest warrants every day / my home, a frequent target for police …/ Because I can’t find paper / I shall carve my experiences /on the olive tree in my backyard …” New and existing visual installations, photography, sound pieces and video by participating artists Rana Batrawi and Shareef Sarhan; Emily Jacir; Salim Abu Jabal; Shaimaa Esmat; Mahmoud Al-Shaer; Rehaf Al Batniji; Ahed Izhiman; Monther Jawabreh; Samar Ozrail and Rebal Dirieh; Izz Al-Jabari; Ruba Alfarawneh; Hanna Qubty; Ahmed Alaqra; Basma al-Sharif; Rula Halawani; Noor Abed; Ghassan Naddaf; and Ola Zaitoun go beyond abstract conceptions of “Free Palestine” towards active engagement with the political, cultural, and social conditions shaping today’s liberation struggle. Some of the artwork draws from archives of Palestinian civil society and cultural life and challenges the ways in which history is documented and weaponized as a tool of epistemic colonialism. Others focus on the present, viewing contemporary Palestine and its people as the archive of the future.
A Prophecy Continuous? Jewish and Muslim Views on Divine Revelation
April 7, NYUAD Institute, Abu Dhabi, UAE — more info
Jews believe prophecy ended with the Hebrew Bible, Christians see Jesus as its fulfillment, and Muslims recognize Muhammad as the last prophet. Despite this, prophecy continues in groups like Mormons and Baha’is. The speaker, Reuven Firestone, Regenstein Professor in Medieval Judaism and Islam, Hebrew Union College will explore different traditions’ understanding of prophecy, its historical evolution, and its continued relevance today.
Gaza Remains the Story Exhibition, The Palestine Museum
April 11 –November 11, Washington, DC — more info
Gaza Remains the Story presents the cause and context of the Palestinian experience, centering on the land, cultural heritage, and people of Gaza who have been devastated by war, colonialism, and ongoing ethnic cleansing. The exhibition bears witness to Gaza’s reality, while offering a glimpse into the arts, aspirations, and enduring spirit of its people amid one of the most harrowing periods in Palestinian history. Alongside art and artifacts, some reproductions from the collection of the Palestinian Museum in Ramallah, is new research and critical commentary from the exhibition’s curator, Wafa Ghnaim. Gaza Remains the Story seeks to reclaim some of the inaccessible and intangible aspects of Palestinian cultural heritage—fragments of identity that those in exile struggle to hold onto with each passing day.
Ramzi Mallat: Suspended Disbelief
Ongoing–April 12, Takeover Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon — more info
Ramzi Mallat, a multidisciplinary visual artist based in Beirut and London, unveils his thought-provoking installation, Suspended Disbelief. The work explores the delicate balance between belief and doubt, highlighting how ancient superstitions evolve and endure in contemporary settings. At the heart of this exhibition lies the motif of the evil eye—an ancient symbol traditionally believed to protect against harmful forces through its protective gaze. Deeply rooted in the folklore and collective consciousness of the Mediterranean region and beyond, this symbol is reinterpreted here as both a source of protection and a potential threat. Mallat states: “While people fear what they do not understand, nothing can exist in someone’s mind if they do not believe in it. This exhibition is about challenging those beliefs, facing them and incessantly picking at them.”
Abu Dhabi Festival 2025
April 8–29, NYUAD Arts Center, Abu Dhabi, UAE — more info
A diverse program of music, theatre, dance, film, poetry, family programs, and innovative interdisciplinary performances, organized by NYUAD. Festivities kick off on April 8 with KODO, a renowned Japanese troupe of skilled drummers presenting a theatrical experience that transcends both language and cultural divides. On April 11, the exceptionally talented pianist Yunchan Lim, who made history in 2022 as the youngest gold medalist at the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition at just 18 years old, will be taking to the stage in the Red Theatre. Other highlights include sister pianists Katia and Marielle Labeque, performing on April 16. Known for their collaborations with major orchestras and distinguished conductors, they will interpret works from 20th and 21st-century composers like Messiaen and Boulez. Their recital will feature a special connection to Philip Glass, framing the evening with his pieces. The program includes “First In La Belle et la Bête,” inspired by Cocteau’s film, along with Ravel’s “Ma Mère l’Oye,” weaving a storytelling theme through enchanting fairy-tale episodes. For the full line-up, see here.
AUC Tahrir Culture Fest 2025
April 10–12, AUC, Cairo, Egypt — more info
This year’s festival celebrates Cairo as a global city — a vibrant mix of cultures that bridges Africa, the Mediterranean, and the Arab world. A cultural hub of the global South, Cairo connects heritage, people, and history in a dynamic contemporary setting. The festival brings together AUC’s community with friends and neighbors and features book talks, discussions, performances, exhibitions, a bazaar, a children’s corner, and a food fair that captures the city’s multicultural flavor. Visit the program here.
The City and the Writer Synchrony: From New York to Nigeria
April 24, The Red Theatre, NYUAD, Abu Dhabi, UAE — more info
The second edition of The City and the Writer for Words Without Borders features a diverse line-up of multidisciplinary performances by award-winning writers, directors, actors, and musicians. The evening also features the film The Man Died (2024), inspired by Wole Soyinka’s memoir and directed by Awam Amkpa, Vice Provost for the Arts and Dean of Arts and Humanities at New York University Abu Dhabi. This gathering is curated by NYU Abu Dhabi’s global citizen and Arab poet Nathalie Handal.
Culture Summit Abu Dhabi 2025: Culture for Humanity and Beyond
April 27–29, Manarat Saadiyat, Abu Dhabi, UAE — more info
Culture Summit is the annual global forum that convenes international leaders from the cultural and creative industries, to identify how culture can transform societies and communities worldwide. Culture for Humanity and Beyond will explore the dynamic relationship between culture and humanity in this period of unparalleled transformation for Humanity. With curated panel discussions, keynotes, case studies, creative conversations, artist talks, and workshops, speakers and attendees have a unique opportunity to unlock the collective intelligence of the cultural and creative sectors at a global scale, explore critical matters, and connect beyond borders and creative fields’ silos. For those unable to attend, all sessions are available on Culture Summit’s YouTube channel.
47Soul Fundraising Event for Ghassan Abu Sittah children’s Fund
April 29, Scala, London — more info
47SOUL is a Palestinian musical collective that emerged in Jordan in 2013, pioneering the Shamstep genre by blending hip-hop, electronica, R&B, and traditional dabke music. With three studio albums and numerous world tours, they energize the movement with their captivating lyrics that address political and philosophical themes, promoting the shared humanity of all people. All the organizing parties, including 47Soul, Marsm, and TicketSouq, will be contributing their profits to the Ghassan Abu Sitta Children Fund (GASCF). This fund is committed to supporting the children of Gaza and Lebanon by providing crucial medical assistance to those in urgent need and helping to alleviate pressures within the medical sector. The Fund’s first initiative, guided by the expertise of Dr. Ghassan Abu Sittah, focuses on transporting critically injured children along with their caretakers from Palestine to Lebanon. This allows them to receive top-notch medical, psychological, and social care before returning home to Palestine to continue their recovery. Listen to 47Soul
