The Greater Middle East Volume 3
An insight into the Greater Middle Eastern art scene. The richness of specialities, the pure potential and authenticity of Middle Eastern and North African regions needs to be explored.
This issue explores art and artists from Iran, Turkey, Tunisia and Morocco.
Any real change implies the breakup of the world as one has always known it, the loss of all that gave one an identity, the end of safety. And at such a moment, unable to see and not daring to imagine what the future will now bring forth, one clings to what one knew, or dreamed that one possessed. Yet, it is only when a man is able, without bitterness or self-pity, to surrender a dream he has long cherished or a privilege he has long possessed that he is set free — he has set himself free — for higher dreams, for greater privileges.
James Baldwin, „Faulkner and Desegregation,“ Partisan Review (Fall 1956)
After 27 years in prison, Nelson Mandela visited New York City in 1990, just months after his release. The city welcomed him like a global hero. Hundreds of thousands gathered for a historic ticker-tape parade in Manhattan, celebrating not just a man, but the end of an era of injustice.
At Yankee Stadium, he addressed a massive crowd, thanking the American anti-apartheid movement for its solidarity. His visit symbolized hope, reconciliation, and a new chapter for South Africa and marked one of the most powerful political moments of the early 1990s.
Shakira’s Arab roots come from her father, William Mebarak Chadid, who is of Lebanese descent. Her paternal family emigrated from Lebanon to Colombia, settling in Barranquilla, a city with a historically strong Arab diaspora community (mainly Lebanese, Syrian, and Palestinian families).
Growing up, Shakira was exposed to elements of Arab culture at home, especially music and storytelling. One of the strongest visible influences is belly dance, which she learned as a child and later incorporated into her performances. The hip movements that became part of her signature stage presence are inspired by Middle Eastern dance traditions.
She has often spoken proudly about her Lebanese heritage, describing it as a core part of her identity. Her multicultural background, Colombian and Arab, helped shape the unique global artist she became.
In the 1990s and 2000s, pickup trucks became more than vehicles across many Arab countries. They became symbols of reliability, work, and mobility. Models like the Toyota Hilux, Nissan Patrol Pickup, and Isuzu D-Max were everywhere: from deserts and construction sites to farms and city outskirts.
Their durability in extreme heat and rough terrain made them essential for workers, traders, Bedouin communities, and small business owners alike. In Gulf countries, North Africa, and parts of West Asia, they carried tools, goods, families: sometimes entire livelihoods.
In the 90s especially, the Hilux gained almost legendary status for its toughness. By the 2000s, pickups also became lifestyle statements, customized and upgraded, crossing social classes. Practical, affordable, and resilient, they reflected the region’s rapid economic and social transformation during those decades.
Caramel 2007
Set in a #Beirut beauty salon, Caramel follows five women as they deal with love, aging, secrets, and social expectations. Through friendship and shared experiences, they support one another while searching for happiness in their complicated personal lives.
Director: Nadine Labaki
Main cast: Nadine Labaki, Yasmine Al Massri, Joanna Moukarzel, Gisèle Aouad, Sihame Haddad
