the latest group show from Edge of Arabia, is now open in Dubai. Many more details here. Including work by the legendary Abdulnasser Gharem. Curated by Bashar Al Shroogi.
Here’s a New Turkish Artist
whose work is, I think, fun. And that’s not a word you hear a great deal in relation to contemporary art (not because it’s not fun).
She’s called Sezgi Kuttaş. More of her work here.
Die-hard Iranian Romantics
Are in for a tough time this Valentine’s Day. The day has been formally banned in Iran. No cards, no gifts and no promotion of the day will be allowed.
Which will, surely, make young lovers even more determined to mark the day.
Not a Sequel…
The former US diplomat Chas Freeman, or Chas W. Freeman Jr. to you and me, has written a book. It’s called America’s Misadventures in the Middle East, which, as titles go, is not a million miles away from Misadventure in the Middle East. But I’m told they’re very different books (his is readable, funny, interesting etc. etc.).
In Israel and Lebanon
the weather over the past few days has been Biblical. Horizontal hail. Gales.
As it raged last night a section of Israeli coast was dislodged, setting loose a headless Roman statue made from marble. It was washed up this morning on the beach.