Why Mezze?
The June issue offers a diverse selection of essays, reviews and fiction, with a centerpiece by Lina Mounzer and art story by Hadani Ditmars.
TMR 51 • MEZZE
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 of 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.
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.
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.
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.