Islamic art
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Suspended Territories exhibition
Beyond the veil
Superheroes, mythical female figures in the desert: the Suspended Territories exhibition at Germany′s Marta Herford gallery showcases contemporary women's art from the Arab world, Iran and North Africa. By Julia Hitz
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Afghan National Museum
The many headless Buddhas
The tragic history of Kabul is nowhere more clearly seen than at two adjacent historical sites: the ruined shell of the Darul Aman Palace and its close neighbour the National Museum of Afghanistan, where visitors are hard pressed to find a Buddha with its head intact. By Emran Feroz
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Flouting freedoms in Turkey
Self-censorship thriving
Turkey welcomes private investment in its arts and culture. But freedom for artists and journalists is largely restricted. The alternative arts scene has slipped into the background. By Ceyda Nurtsch
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Photography Biennale of the Contemporary Arab World
A feast for the eyes
With media reports on the Arab world focused on the political conflicts and current discussions dominated by dealing with migration from the region, the photo biennale in Paris shines as a beacon of diversity and pluralism. Felix Koltermann visited the exhibition for Qantara
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″Art of Freedom. Freedom of Art″ in Tunisia
Carving out a niche between terror and bureaucracy
Resulting from political changes in the wake of the Arab Spring five years ago, Tunisian artists have gained more freedom. But, as Sarah Mersch writes, those rights are under threat – from religious fanaticism and government pressure
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Islamic art
Iconoclasm: the counter-narrative
Although received wisdom would have us believe otherwise, Islam is not actually an anti-iconic religion. Indeed, down through the ages, it has always produced images. Today, artistic creativity needs to resist the appalling flood of visual information being produced by the jihadists. By Asiem el Difraoui and Antonia Blau
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The National Museum in Beirut
Fighting to save the region's cultural heritage
As world heritage sites in Iraq and Syria continue to be bombed, blown up and bulldozed, the question as to what can be done to save their historical treasures has taken on a new urgency. The National Museum in Beirut is playing its part in trying to save the region's cultural heritage. By Juliane Metzker in Beirut
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"Artjog" art exhibition in Indonesia
Putting art before cinema
This year's eighth "Artjog" art exhibition in the Indonesian city of Yogyakarta featured 103 works by 87 artists from 11 countries. Its theme, "Infinity in Flux", paid homage to the Fluxus movement of the 1960s, a movement dedicated to removing the boundaries between artistic disciplines, as well as those between works of art and their audiences. By Christina Schott
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Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization
Vatican treasures in the Gulf
The Vatican is pursuing a new policy of openness towards other faiths and co-operation between religions, a policy that is reflected in a very special exhibition in the Emirate of Sharjah, the neighbouring emirate to Dubai. This exhibition shows the full breadth and reach of Islam. By Werner Bloch
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The German archaeologist and explorer Max von Oppenheim
Enchanted by the Myth of the Orient
Max von Oppenheim was an astute observer of the Near East. He was also captivated by its history, culture and way of life. In fact, Oppenheim's entire adult life is an illustration of how difficult it is to reconcile the captivating dream of the Orient with the sober political reality of the region – a difficulty that remains to this day. By Kersten Knipp
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Turkish art in Germany
A reading Arab pulls in the crowds
His paintings fetch record sums in Turkey. Now the works of Osman Hamdi Bey are pulling in the crowds at Berlin's Alte Nationalgalerie, much to the delight of its young director. By Julia Voss
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Syrian painter and digital artist Tammam Azzam
"I, the Syrian"
"I, the Syrian" is the title of an exhibition by Tammam Azzam that was held in Beirut and London in early 2014. Selected works from his project now feature in various international art exhibits. Martina Sabra met and spoke with the Syrian painter and digital artist in Beirut