Contemporary Art, Islam, and the Middle East

Debate in cooperation with Amsterdam Art Weekend and De Balie

Date: Saturday 28 November
Time: 10.30 a.m. - 12.00 p.m.
Location: De Balie, Amsterdam
Language: English

Discussions in western countries about Islam very quickly become dominated by the idea that there are irreconcilable differences between cultures, also when it comes to art. There are however a legion of examples demonstrating that contemporary art and Islam can go together, in Europe, but certainly also in the Middle East and in fact in all places where Islam is a part of society. How real are the contradictions between contemporary art and Islam? Is it better to ignore the religious background in the context of contemporary art? And, to what extent does the wealthy tradition of Islamic art connect with contemporary art?

Panelists: Abdulnasser Gharem, Nilüfer Göle, Abdellah Karroum, Luit Mols, and Nat Muller (moderator). With an introduction by Jelle Bouwhuis.

More information and tickets:
http://www.debalie.nl
weekend.amsterdamart.com

N.B.
Works by Abdulnasser Gharem and Abdullah Al Othman will be on view at the Greenbox Museum of Contemporary Art from Saudi Arabia - a memory from the age of enlightenment. After the conversation at De Balie, director Aarnout Helb will give a tour of the collection. Limited capacity, by reservation only, please reserve via: curator@greenboxmuseum.com