DOHA: The Serpentine Gallery in collaboration with Qatar Museums Authority (QMA) is organising Ehtifal — a free programme of Arab literature, debate, music and art-from July 4 to 6 in London.
A part of Shubbak London’s Arab contemporary arts festival; Ehtifal (meaning ‘celebration’) features internationally acclaimed novelist Hisham Matar, Sudanese artist, Ibrahim El Salahi, whose show opens at Tate Modern this month, and the virtuoso Egyptian violinist, Waeil Abo Bakr, among others.
The first two days of the festival will be hosted jointly by the Serpentine with Mathaf in a special Pop-Up programme.
Chaired by Pop-Up Mathaf curator Deena Chalabi, the opening event will take place at the London Review Bookshop in Bury Place, and will feature contributions from the celebrated Sudanese artist Ibrahim El Salahi, author Hisham Matar, Ma’n Abu Taleb, artist and poet Etel Adnan, young novelist Sophie Al Maria, publisher Margaret Obank and Serpentine Co-Director, Hans Ulrich Obrist.
On July 5, two special performances will take place in Sou Fujimoto’s Serpentine Pavilion: the trio of artists that make up the Palestinian audio/visual collective Tashweesh will present a specially commissioned multi-media performance mixing hip-hop, visuals, archive material, vocals, breaks and soundscapes, inspired by the recent history of Arab London. Virtuoso Egyptian violinist Waeil Abo Bakr, famed for his work with Led Zeppelin and Peter Gabriel, will present a set with five musicians.
Ehtifal will culminate in a free open-air family day, as a special celebration of Qatar UK 2013 Year of Culture, on July 6 in and around the Serpentine Gallery Pavilion, designed by Sou Fujimoto.
Artists and designers from London and Qatar will present a special day of cross-cultural adventure in English and Arabic for children and families. With the Fischli/Weiss sculpture, Rock on Top of Another Rock, on loan from Qatar Museums Authority, as the focal point of a specially created fantasy landscape in Kensington Gardens, children will be able participate in storytelling, live illustration, interactive games and histories relating to Qataris living in London.
The Peninsula
