Rose Issa has helped to edit a volume of work by Middle Eastern photographers.
Rose Issa has helped to edit a volume of work by Middle Eastern photographers.

Rose Issa wants to 'give a voice' to Middle East artists



Raeda Saadeh is a Palestinian photographer who lives in Jerusalem and has an Israeli passport. She is Muslim, but is compelled to speak and teach in Hebrew. When there is an exhibition of her work in Lebanon or Dubai, or indeed any Arab country, she cannot attend.

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Her life is one of censorship, violence, checkpoints and curfews, and she is not alone. A book of work by Middle Eastern photographers, to be launched at Abu Dhabi Art, which opens tonight, captures the frustration, sadness and anger at the injustices that afflict so many in the Arab world.

As the London-based gallerist Rose Issa, the co-editor of the book Arab Photography Now, says: "These pictures do reflect our daily concerns. Why can't the woman work? Why can't women drive? Why can't the workers in our countries have some minimum human rights? No one with any intelligence would accept those kind of situations. The trouble is we are not at ease in our countries."

Issa is a curator, writer and producer who has championed visual art and film from the Arab world and Iran for nearly 30 years. She is showing at Abu Dhabi Art as well as exhibiting the work of the Lebanese painter Ayman Baalbaki in London. A disarmingly charming woman in her 60s, half Iranian, half Lebanese, she has lived in the UK capital for 25 years. In 2008, she opened a gallery in Kensington, west London, prosaically sandwiched between an Italian restaurant and a dry-cleaner's.

"My motivation was - and is - to give a platform and a voice to the artists from Iran and the Middle East," she says. "Anyone who lives in the Middle East always thinks that our politicians do not perceive or present our ideas the way we feel they should be. As you see with the Arab Spring, it has been the artists who have explored the concerns of the public - the aesthetic issues, the political, social and moral."

It was not until 20 or 30 years ago that photography was considered for its own value and not just used in documentaries or journalism, says Issa, and the photographic galleries in Europe and more so in the Middle East are relatively recent.

"Now we have fashion photography with shows for designers such as Steve McQueen, and Middle Eastern photography is being shown at the Venice Biennale. So many things that were not considered art are now mainstream."

The 31 photographers featured in the book - two work as a team - are drawn from the 22 countries of the Arab world that are "united by a common arena where they speak the same language and have the same religion", but many are leading what Issa calls "in-between lives", sharing their time in cities such as Berlin, Paris, London and New York with visits to their homelands.

Saadeh has adopted the role-playing genre exemplified by Cindy Sherman. But where Sherman's work is an amusing confection, Saadeh's representations are poignant creations of alter egos such as Diana, the ancient Roman goddess of hunting, a Vermeer milkmaid in an abandoned farm, a despairing Cinderella in Old Jerusalem during the curfew. These all illustrate the photographer's repression in a territory where there are houses with no roofs, villages with no life, many still ringed with mines.

While Saadeh's is a work of frustrated fantasy, Gaza-born Taysir Batniji, who was expelled from his country and now lives in Paris, is very direct; his series of Israeli watchtowers is reminiscent of the concentration camps of the 1940s. The London-based Iraqi Jananne Al Ani has taken a set of pictures from a helicopter of defensive positions in the desert between Iraq and Jordan. They are stark and threatening, like some geometric abstract art devised by a drone.

In War Trophies, Khalil Joreige and Joana Hadjithomas have uncompromisingly photographed the wrecked jeeps, guns and armoured vehicles abandoned in the rubble of their war-torn landscape. More telling perhaps, their series Wonder Beirut is based on postcards from the late 1960s, showing the hotels that flourished then but are now destroyed.

Not all the photographers use the imagery of desolation.

Hassan Hajjaj, who divides his time between Marrakech and London, where he also works as a DJ, noticed while helping on a fashion shoot for Elle magazine in the 1990s that everyone on the set was European. His photographs do something to redress the balance, with lighthearted scenes of Moroccan life - girls winking, striking a pose in an alley, a musician on his violin.

Omar D is an eye specialist in Paris but for three months a year he spends his "in between" life in his home country Algeria, where he treats people free of charge. His works are luscious celebrations of Berber lives and customs.

The book is part of Issa's goal to generate greater knowledge of the work of Middle Eastern artists, whether in film, art or photography.

"The problem is we do not have enough documentation of our artistic heritage. So much has been neglected because of war and oppression. Lebanon is just waking up to the idea of cataloguing books on its own culture, but Iranian students cannot see films from before the revolution because girls are in miniskirts and their hair is showing. They don't have access to their own culture."

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MATCH INFO

Uefa Champions League last 16, first leg

Liverpool v Bayern Munich, midnight, Wednesday, BeIN Sports

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Slow loris biog

From: Lonely Loris is a Sunda slow loris, one of nine species of the animal native to Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore

Status: Critically endangered, and listed as vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature red list due to growing demand in the global exotic pet trade. It is one of the most popular primate species found at Indonesian pet markets

Likes: Sleeping, which they do for up to 18 hours a day. When they are awake, they like to eat fruit, insects, small birds and reptiles and some types of vegetation

Dislikes: Sunlight. Being a nocturnal animal, the slow loris wakes around sunset and is active throughout the night

Superpowers: His dangerous elbows. The slow loris’s doe eyes may make it look cute, but it is also deadly. The only known venomous primate, it hisses and clasps its paws and can produce a venom from its elbow that can cause anaphylactic shock and even death in humans

OPTA'S PREDICTED TABLE

1. Liverpool 101 points

2. Manchester City 80 

3. Leicester 67

4. Chelsea 63

5. Manchester United 61

6. Tottenham 58

7. Wolves 56

8. Arsenal 56

9. Sheffield United 55

10. Everton 50

11. Burnley 49

12. Crystal Palace 49

13. Newcastle 46

14. Southampton 44

15. West Ham 39

16. Brighton 37

17. Watford 36

18. Bournemouth 36

19. Aston Villa 32

20. Norwich City 29

 

 

 

 

 

 

Game Changer

Director: Shankar 

Stars: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali, S J Suryah, Jayaram

Rating: 2/5

Hili 2: Unesco World Heritage site

The site is part of the Hili archaeological park in Al Ain. Excavations there have proved the existence of the earliest known agricultural communities in modern-day UAE. Some date to the Bronze Age but Hili 2 is an Iron Age site. The Iron Age witnessed the development of the falaj, a network of channels that funnelled water from natural springs in the area. Wells allowed settlements to be established, but falaj meant they could grow and thrive. Unesco, the UN's cultural body, awarded Al Ain's sites - including Hili 2 - world heritage status in 2011. Now the most recent dig at the site has revealed even more about the skilled people that lived and worked there.

MATCH SCHEDULE

Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Tuesday, April 24 (10.45pm)

Liverpool v Roma

Wednesday, April 25
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid (10.45pm)

Europa League semi-final, first leg
Thursday, April 26

Arsenal v Atletico Madrid (11.05pm)
Marseille v Salzburg (11.05pm)

Young women have more “financial grit”, but fall behind on investing

In an October survey of young adults aged 16 to 25, Charles Schwab found young women are more driven to reach financial independence than young men (67 per cent versus. 58 per cent). They are more likely to take on extra work to make ends meet and see more value than men in creating a plan to achieve their financial goals. Yet, despite all these good ‘first’ measures, they are investing and saving less than young men – falling early into the financial gender gap.

While the women surveyed report spending 36 per cent less than men, they have far less savings than men ($1,267 versus $2,000) – a nearly 60 per cent difference.

In addition, twice as many young men as women say they would invest spare cash, and almost twice as many young men as women report having investment accounts (though most young adults do not invest at all). 

“Despite their good intentions, young women start to fall behind their male counterparts in savings and investing early on in life,” said Carrie Schwab-Pomerantz, senior vice president, Charles Schwab. “They start off showing a strong financial planning mindset, but there is still room for further education when it comes to managing their day-to-day finances.”

Ms Schwab-Pomerantz says parents should be conveying the same messages to boys and girls about money, but should tailor those conversations based on the individual and gender.

"Our study shows that while boys are spending more than girls, they also are saving more. Have open and honest conversations with your daughters about the wage and savings gap," she said. "Teach kids about the importance of investing – especially girls, who as we see in this study, aren’t investing as much. Part of being financially prepared is learning to make the most of your money, and that means investing early and consistently."

South Africa squad

Faf du Plessis (captain), Hashim Amla, Temba Bavuma, Quinton de Kock (wicketkeeper), Theunis de Bruyn, AB de Villiers, Dean Elgar, Heinrich Klaasen (wicketkeeper), Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Morne Morkel, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Vernon Philander and Kagiso Rabada.

As You Were

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(Warner Bros)

Going grey? A stylist's advice

If you’re going to go grey, a great style, well-cared for hair (in a sleek, classy style, like a bob), and a young spirit and attitude go a long way, says Maria Dowling, founder of the Maria Dowling Salon in Dubai.
It’s easier to go grey from a lighter colour, so you may want to do that first. And this is the time to try a shorter style, she advises. Then a stylist can introduce highlights, start lightening up the roots, and let it fade out. Once it’s entirely grey, a purple shampoo will prevent yellowing.
“Get professional help – there’s no other way to go around it,” she says. “And don’t just let it grow out because that looks really bad. Put effort into it: properly condition, straighten, get regular trims, make sure it’s glossy.”

Roger Federer's record at Wimbledon

Roger Federer's record at Wimbledon

1999 - 1st round

2000 - 1st round

2001 - Quarter-finalist

2002 - 1st round

2003 - Winner

2004 - Winner

2005 - Winner

2006 - Winner

2007 - Winner

2008 - Finalist

2009 - Winner

2010 - Quarter-finalist

2011 - Quarter-finalist

2012 - Winner

2013 - 2nd round

2014 - Finalist

2015 - Finalist

2016 - Semi-finalist

The specs

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Power: 178hp at 5,500rpm

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Transmission: seven-speed dual-clutch auto

Price: from Dh209,000 

On sale: now

Terminator: Dark Fate

Director: Tim Miller

Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton, Mackenzie Davis 

Rating: 3/5

Summer special
Squads

India: Kohli (c), Rahul, Shaw, Agarwal, Pujara, Rahane, Vihari, Pant (wk), Ashwin, Jadeja, Kuldeep, Shami, Umesh, Siraj, Thakur

West Indies: Holder (c), Ambris, Bishoo, Brathwaite, Chase, Dowrich (wk), Gabriel, Hamilton, Hetmyer, Hope, Lewis, Paul, Powell, Roach, Warrican, Joseph

THE DETAILS

Deadpool 2

Dir: David Leitch

Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Josh Brolin, Justin Dennison, Zazie Beetz

Four stars

Day 2, Dubai Test: At a glance

Moment of the day Pakistan’s effort in the field had hints of shambles about it. The wheels were officially off when Wahab Riaz lost his run up and aborted the delivery four times in a row. He re-measured his run, jogged in for two practice goes. Then, when he was finally ready to go, he bailed out again. It was a total cringefest.

Stat of the day – 139.5 Yasir Shah has bowled 139.5 overs in three innings so far in this Test series. Judged by his returns, the workload has not withered him. He has 14 wickets so far, and became history’s first spinner to take five-wickets in an innings in five consecutive Tests. Not bad for someone whose fitness was in question before the series.

The verdict Stranger things have happened, but it is going to take something extraordinary for Pakistan to keep their undefeated record in Test series in the UAE in tact from this position. At least Shan Masood and Sami Aslam have made a positive start to the salvage effort.

How to help

Donate towards food and a flight by transferring money to this registered charity's account.

Account name: Dar Al Ber Society

Account Number: 11 530 734

IBAN: AE 9805 000 000 000 11 530 734

Bank Name: Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank

To ensure that your contribution reaches these people, please send the copy of deposit/transfer receipt to: juhi.khan@daralber.ae

MATCH INFO

Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg

Barcelona v Liverpool, Wednesday, 11pm (UAE).

Second leg

Liverpool v Barcelona, Tuesday, May 7, 11pm

Games on BeIN Sports

Afcon 2019

SEMI-FINALS

Senegal v Tunisia, 8pm

Algeria v Nigeria, 11pm

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WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?

1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull

2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight

3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge

4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own

5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed

SPECS

Mini John Cooper Works Clubman and Mini John Cooper Works Countryman

Engine: two-litre 4-cylinder turbo

Transmission: nine-speed automatic

Power: 306hp

Torque: 450Nm

Price: JCW Clubman, Dh220,500; JCW Countryman, Dh225,500

Top New Zealand cop on policing the virtual world

New Zealand police began closer scrutiny of social media and online communities after the attacks on two mosques in March, the country's top officer said.

The killing of 51 people in Christchurch and wounding of more than 40 others shocked the world. Brenton Tarrant, a suspected white supremacist, was accused of the killings. His trial is ongoing and he denies the charges.

Mike Bush, commissioner of New Zealand Police, said officers looked closely at how they monitored social media in the wake of the tragedy to see if lessons could be learned.

“We decided that it was fit for purpose but we need to deepen it in terms of community relationships, extending them not only with the traditional community but the virtual one as well," he told The National.

"We want to get ahead of attacks like we suffered in New Zealand so we have to challenge ourselves to be better."

If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.

When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.

How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.