FROM THE PIONEERS OF MODERN ART TO THE PRESENT

Moments of Change shines a spotlight on the women artists of the buzzing art scene in the Middle East and is a captivating survey, spanning from the early 20th century to contemporary developments.

One focus is on the pioneering women, such as lnji Efflatoun, Monir Shahroudy Farmanfarmaian, Etel Adnan, Huguette Caland, Fahrelnissa Zeid, and Füsun Onur, each of whom played a key role in the development of modern art by developing their style through a dialogue between the traditional artistic language of the Islamic world and the new currents of Western art. Many of them shared experiences of major socio-political changes, political conflict, war, and exile. Experiences that are also reflected in the works of the artists born after World War II, including Mona Hatoum, Shirin Neshat, Anna Boghiguian, through an exploration of themes such as identity, oppression, diaspora, and the loss of home. A younger, contemporary generation, on the other hand, confidently questions the role of women in Muslim-influenced societies as well as Western stereotypes.

Texts by experts as well as interviews with female artists and actors from the wider region provide a crossgenerational insight into this exciting, internationally well connected art scene.