Storytelling has always been at the heart of Middle Eastern culture, from the hakawatis in city squares and cafés to the modern artists of the 20th century who wove memory, myth, and meaning into their work.
At Mid East Art, we believe stories are time machines — they carry us across borders, through silent archives, and into the lives of others. They offer new ways to see, to feel, and to connect.
Image credit Dima Sharif.
Beginning this week, Storytelling Sunday will spotlight one work, one voice, or one moment from the region’s art history.
It might be a quote from a forgotten letter. A painting tucked in a faraway museum. A visual echo of home.
Each entry will pair art with language — blending research with creative reflection, memory with movement, history with the personal.
What to expect:
Short weekly entries blending archival research and creative writing
Highlights from 20th and 21st century Arab and Iranian artists
Artist quotes, visual pairings, and primary source discoveries
Themes exploring exile, identity, memory, and return
This isn’t a lecture series. It’s a conversation — across time, borders, and generations.
Welcome to Storytelling Sunday.
Stay tuned each week as we time travel through modern Arab art and its many voices.