Tag Archives: kamel lazaar

Six Pillars – The Politics of Tunisian Theatre and Dance

The restored CinéVog building, in a quarter nicknamed 'Aston Villa'

The restored CinéVog, in a quarter nicknamed ‘Aston Villa’

At JAOU Tunis symposium on Visual Culture in an Age of Global Conflict, we spoke to Moncef Dhouib, Tunisian film director, actor & screenwriter. The symposium was at the Bardo Museum, Tunisia as it had been last year, despite attacks on tourists this March by militants.

Dhouib, a veteran actor, screenwriter, producer and puppeteer is a pioneer in the Tunisian performing arts. Dhouib describes his project CinéVog, a local theatre complex model for theatres which he wants to spread across the Maghreb to bring the performing arts back to the people.

Also young Tunisian dancer and choreographer Wael Maghni describes how he reconciled his dance practice with his belief in Islam and the current state of employment and opportunities for dancers and choreographers in Tunisia today. Maghni was on the symposium roundtable ‘Maghreb Condition Report I: The Choreographed Body in Tunisian Culture’. Interviews are in French.

Broadcasts: on 104.4FM in London Tues 21:30hrs, repeats Thurs 16:00hrs

Six Pillars Podcast: Film Director Moncef Dhouib + Dancer Wael Maghni at JAOU Tunis by 6pillars

Six Pillars – Artist Hiwa K, Molten Arms in Kurdish-Iraq

A series from Jahiwa k the bellou Tunis, a symposium on Visual Culture in an Age of Global Conflict. JAOU is hosted yearly at the Bardo Museum, Tunis, Tunisia by the Kamel Lazaar Foundation and this year went ahead despite a brutal shooting of 20 tourists by ISIS in the museum this March.

This week’s broadcast features artist Hiwa K, born in Kurdish Iraq, living in Berlin. Hiwa discusses his piece The Bell, (pictured) currently on show at the 56th Venice Biennale, in the main exhibition of Arsenale titled “All The World’s Futures”. Hiwa made a short presentation on The Bell at JAOU Tunis, a piece which took 8 years to complete and features melted down arms from all over the world, used in Iraq, and turned into a bell ornamented with the classical relief of a lion with a bearded, human head.

Info on Six Pillars and JAOU Tunis on www.sixpillars.org

Six Pillars: JAOU Tunis with Artist Hiwa K by 6pillars

Six Pillars: Sultan Al Qassemi on the JAOU Conference, Tunis

Six Pillars JAOU Tunis with Sultan Al Qassemi and Chris Weaver by 6pillars

jaousquareAfter the Bardo Museum attacks on tourists earlier this year, JAOU festival and symposium is more than ever set to hold its annual arts events at the Tunis museum in Tunisia. Sound artist Chris Weaver interviews founder of the Barjeel Foundation, UAE and renowned Arab affairs commentator Sultan Al Qassemi about his participation in JAOU Tunis, from Dubai where they are both currently living. “Personally I’m very much intrigued by post-revolution art and culture in Tunisia. Tunisia is constantly now ranked as the only free country in the Arab world, what does that mean for art, does that mean there is a higher ceiling? What about the taboo subjects that we face in the gulf and other parts of the Middle East and North Africa, can you broach them? Can you approach them? This is a unique opportunity to witness first hand in Tunisia.” Broadcasts Tuesday 21.30 GMT, repeats Thursday 16:00 GMT. http://www.sixpillars.org