Before tattoos became a form of self-expression, they could tell a person’s story-- their tribe, their marriage, their beliefs, and the world they belonged to. From the blue-green markings of Iraqi women to the disappearing tattoos of Amazigh communities, explore the ancient art of daqq and the generations of memory held in the skin.
From his Sharjah studio, Antoine Deeb reflects on the questions that shape his practice. On authorship, uncertainty, and the patience required to grow into the artist he is becoming.
Jump into week 7 of the quarantine with Emirati artist Hassan Sharif in his early 1980s performances in Dubai and London! Finding a few parallels to our methodical and rather mundane day-to-days in self-isolation, we are reminded of Hassan’s carefully constructed activities rooted in Fluxus and British Constructivist thought. We sit down (virtually) with his nephew Mohamed Sharif to discuss the role of performance in his uncle’s practice and Mohamed’s archival work at the Artist’s Estate.
While unraveling time-warped thoughts one month into the quarantine, Suzy interviews Munira Al Sayegh on her experience curating ‘Bayn’ with UAE Unlimited in 2017. Reflecting on this shared ‘in-between-ness’ sensation, their conversation trails from their personal lives growing up in Abu Dhabi and New York and Munira’s takeaway moments of her first-ever curated show.
‘The Quarantine Files’ series presents of the most inspiring stories of the pioneer Egyptian female artist Inji Efflatoun during her time as a political prisoner in jail from 1959-1963. Including first hand accounts from Inji herself, this article is a story of how bravery, perseverance and ingenuity lead to self-discovery and artistic explorations —all while confined and quarantined within a jail cell. Hope is just as contagious these days - read on.
In this interview, uncover the stories of Emirati photography Fatima Albudoor on adapting to college life in Boston as illustrated beautifully and intimately in her artist book ‘Making Cathedrals.’ Exploring the sensations of transience, dislocation and the ‘in-between-ness’ of our life journeys, this emotional read is a must during our quarantine days ahead.
Digging into the 2017 archives of the first time I interviewed Ammar Al Attar, we trace the Emirati photographer’s evolution of his four-year-long archival Cinema in the UAE Project. How do we remember what’s lost and give importance to the unwanted and overlooked? Read on!
Meet Ali Cha’aban, a Lebanese born, Jeddah based artist who is tackling what it means to be Arab in today’s world. His works are triggering new debates relevant to global politics and social realities, explored through his interactive installations, street and fashion photography. Mid East Art sits down with the artist to discuss his unique inspirations and where he's going.
How does virtual viewing galleries enhance art appreciation? As part of Mid East Art’s ‘Art & Tech’ series, we interviewed Bahraini artist Sheikh Rashid bin Khalifa on his recent work in the quarantine and his early embrace of virtual art display on Google Arts & Culture.
Mid East Art unveils never before seen footage and an interview text of the late Saleh Al Ustad, one of the pioneer fine art photographers of the UAE and Gulf region. This feature documents Saleh’s history from Missouri to Southern California in the early 1980s and the establishment of a fine art scene in the UAE.

In Morocco, a taxi is more than a way to get from A to B. From colour-coded city cars to the legendary Mercedes-Benz “Merci dix,” discover the unwritten rules, shared journeys, and cultural stories behind Morocco’s unique taxi system.