Essay 

The Child Tempered by War: Julian Stallabrass on the work of photographer Ayman al-Amiri

Art historian and curator Julian Stallabrass writes about Baghdad-based photographer Ayman al-Amiri’s series Homage to Tarkowsky (2013). The 19 year old photographer is currently working on a documentary series produced by RUYA. In the opening to Tarkovsky’s film, Ivan’s Childhood, which is set during the German invasion of the Soviet Union, a very beautiful boy runs…
Event 

RUYA holds symposium in Baghdad on contemporary art.

RUYA hosted a day long symposium on contemporary art in Baghdad last week, open to artists and intellectuals from across the country. Curator Philippe Van Cauteren, who RUYA brought to Baghdad to meet artists and visit the city’s cultural institutions, gave a presentation on the current international state of contemporary art. ‘We took advantage of…
 

Curating the Pavilion: Philippe Van Cauteren’s trip to Baghdad

Well, here I am in my office in Baghdad making final arrangements for the visit of Belgian curator Philippe van Cauteren in preparation for the Iraq Pavilion at the Biennale di Venezia 56. At 18:36, I heard a car bomb about half a mile from my office. This is very common for us in Baghdad,…