Two London exhibitions will form part of a new initiative to document the history of performance art in the Arab region.


Image from Automobile, 2012-2014. A performance by Joe Namy that forms the basis of a newly commissioned work for Echoes & Reverberations. Photo: Christian Kleiner.

Over the last few months, Delfina Foundation has been busy working on Staging Histories, our initiative to document the history of performance art in the Arab region through archival research and new commissions.

Our initial research has focused on a range of ideas, artistic productions, and key performative works since the 1980s.

This research framework is informing two exhibitions this summer, co-commissioned by Shubbak:

(1) A Prologue to the Past and Present State of Things – an exhibition at Delfina Foundation that presents different reference points from this research through archival materials, artist profiles, images and video works. Dates: 2 July to 15 August 2015.

(2) Echoes & Reverberations – an exhibition of new commissions at the Hayward Gallery’s Project Space that focuses on aurality and oral tradition – this theme that has emerged from the research. Dates: 24 June to 15 August 2015. Supported by Maraya Art Centre, Sharjah and A. M. Qattan Foundation.

We will be announcing the full lists of artists soon, as well as confirming the opening night receptions, tours and performances.

Media Partner: Ibraaz.

In addition to institutional partners, both exhibitions raised funds through Art Basel Crowdfunding Initiative on Kickstarter.

We are grateful to the major supporters of our campaign: Perihan Bassatne, Maya Rasamny, Fatima Maleki, Marwan Assaf, Raghida Ghandour, Jenny Hall, and Midge Palley.

Special thanks to other generous crowdfunders: Ibraaz, The Third Line Gallery, Dana Farouki, Maria Sukkar, Maryam Eisler, Mourad Mazouz, Joana Schliemann, Rose Issa, Sheena Wagstaff, Isabelle van den Eynde Gallery, Mona Khashoggi, Hanan Sayed Worrell, Zeina Durra & Saadi Soudavar, Faris Smadi, Paola Weiss, Nawel Khelil, Gabriela Galceran, Maya Nassereddine, James Lindon, Layla Binbrek, Gabriel Catone, Sabrina Amrani, Yola Noujaim, Yassi Sohrabi, Kate Jones, Nadine Toukan, Khalid Mezaina, Samallie Kiyingi, Albertine Kopp, Salma Tuqan, Cathy Costain, Lawrie Shabibi, Zain Masud, Antonia Carver, Lisa Fischman, Kavita Chellaram, Burcu Yuksel, Abdullah AlTurki, Mary Sabbatino, Omar Berrada, Madeline McLean, Jared & George, L M De Felice, Aisha Mazin Stoby, Hind Mezaina, Alessio Antoniolli, Oussama Rifahi, Camilla Barella, May Calil, Luiza Texeira de Freitas, Karim Mostafa, Justine Ludwig, Alia Fattouh, Ellen Wettmark & Hans Rosenstom, Ali Cherri, Alia Al-Senussi, Vali Mahlouji, and Mareike Dittmer.