Thursday, October 16, 2008

It's funky to be from...the Kingdom!

Another manifestation of "Cool Arabia"?

"The issues addressed are as much personal or domestic as they are global. The artists have chosen not to focus on negative perceptions of the Middle East or artistic and intellectual clichés associated with the region and instead present a contemporary world view that is as unpredictable as it is beautiful."

4 comments:

Rabi Tawil (AKA Abu Kareem) said...

It is good to see that some are funky DESPITE the fact that are from the Kingdom. Not that the kingdom's citizens lack in potential for originality but because the Kingdom's rulers impose such a stultifying conformity.

Maysaloon said...

Abu Kareem,
I think you misunderstood my sarcasm there. Those who are "funky" are in fact a product of that very status quo and as far as could be imagined from any kind of challenge to it. They are fruit from the same tree and themselves the epitomy of conformity. Have a look at the previous post I linked to and you might better see what I mean by this.

Rabi Tawil (AKA Abu Kareem) said...

Wassim,

I did not misunderstand the sarcasm and I did read your previous post. But why assume the worst about these artists? Do you have any information to indicate that they are part of the KSA establishment or are you just assuming that? or is it that you just did not like their art? I, personally would give them the benefit of the doubt.

Maysaloon said...

I do wish I could be generous with my assumptions but what I do know about the power, money and influence of the KSA "establishment" makes me very pessimistic about the possibility of any genuine expression at all. What you have here is a superstructure reinforcing itself and growing stronger through its own growing means of production. We should not mistake the increased sophistication and improved presentation of the new environment, it is a product of the old and is in fact more clever in its repression and much more subtle. In essence, what these people really think is irrelevant, by partaking in this process they are part of it - the fact they think they are shattering taboos and challenging a status quo is quite sad.