Art_Africa_2016_03_

ARTAFRICA

The Guggenheim Abu Dhabi has been a transformative project and is set to be an

important and game-changing institution. It’s largely adopted a reparative way of

addressing the building of narratives of collections from a larger world art history

and has focused largely on the West Asian region. We have actually adopted the

decolonised term ‘West Asia’ instead of ‘Middle East’ to refer to the region. These

are some of the far-reaching approaches that this institution is capable of instating.

It is, of course, important to state that an international institution with the standing

and standards of the Guggenheim, being based in Abu Dhabi, brings a new focus

on the extended region. Asia is a new hub and responds to its own vast societies and

proximities. The Guggenheim Abu Dhabi will cater to these centres and audiences.

As for the art market, it will naturally follow suit with these new developments and

reconnect with a rich history that has long been ignored.

The importance of talks programmes and seminars has become increasingly

prevalent in generating new forms of thought. What are some of the discussions

that you hope to come out of this year’s Marrakech Biennale?

We are hoping to make a series of talks or a programme of discussions that address

the legacies of decolonisation, the Pan-Afro/Asian initiatives of the 50s and 60s and

their failures. I’m also hoping that the biennale will become a platform for artists

to present their ideas for their various projects to local and international audiences.

Additionally, one of the highlights is a project within the master programme, curated

by Omar Berrada, who will present an active archive of the critic and filmmaker

Ahmed Bouanani, including his writing, films and library. There will be a number of

workshops and associated events that make up this project.

MARRAKECH BIENNALE / IN CONVERSATION WITH REEM FADDA 9/9

Khaled Malas

Windmill in Arbin,

Eastern Ghouta,

2015 Photo: Yaseen

al-Bushy Khaled

Malas Installing the

windmill in Arbin,

Eastern Ghouta,

2015.

Photo: Yaseen al-

Bushy

FEATURE / MARRAKECH BIENNALE