Une Assemblée de poète.sse.s civiques
Curators : Hoor Al Qasimi, president and director of Sharjah Art Foundation & Julia Morandeira Arrizabalaga, director of KADIST Paris A Convening of Civic Poets is a collaboration between KADIST Paris and Sharjah Art Foundation . Co-curated by both organizations’ directors, it showcases works from the respective collections alongside invited contributions that seek to probe the relevance of the figure of the civic poet and their redefinition on civic engagement. Pier Paolo Pasolini, a prominent reference, would define the role of the poet as a public voice endowed with an ethical responsibility towards reality and against the brokenness of the world. Civic poets champion an intellectual rage that addresses present and historical urgencies, and expand through their writings and actions the practice of social justice as well as a renewed sense of linguistic agency. The exhibition features artists who pay tribute to civic poets. Manthia Diawara ‘s film discusses freedom with activist Angela Davis and Bouchra Khalili ‘s film and installation explore Jean Genet’s radical allyship, while Hajra Waheed focuses on songs from activists and artists to amplify transnational solidarity. Helina Metaferia celebrates the stories of black female civil rights protesters, and Jinoos Taghizadeh imprints on the reverse of stamps the portraits of Iranian intellectuals murdered because of their dissidence. Radios and their transformative role are also part of the exhibition, including a mixtape by Radio Alhara & Learning Palestine Group on the present, past and future of Palestine, and Hajer Ben Boubaker’ s podcast on North African migrant movements in Paris. Some artists in the show identify as poets, harnessing language’s political power, like Cecilia Vicuña ‘s Palabrarma series and David Wojnarowicz ‘s spoken word addresses during the AIDS crisis filmed together with Marion Scemama . Public events and discussions with Farah Al Qasimi and Joe Namy complete the project, expanding on related questions. A Convening of Civic Poets connects these diverse voices and issues, forming a geography of kindred struggles and solidarities spanning from Palestine to Barbès. However, a central tension — as present in Nidhal Chamekh ’s work — arises as artists grapple with the role of being witnesses and how to transmit their experiences without reducing them. This project doesn’t aim to provide definitive answers but rather seeks to explore the relevance of civic poetry today in fostering a sphere of radical civility and new forms of artistic engagement. Available audio works Hajer Ben Boubaker, Mokhtar prends ta valise 2 Radio Alhara & Learning Palestine Group, Learning Palestine _ Until Liberation Bouchra Khalili, An Audio, Family Album Hajra Waheed, Hum on Cashmere Radio + Exhibition audioguide Screening program 3pm | Bouchra Khalili, Twenty-Two Hours , 2018 3:40pm | Marion Scemama & David Wojnarowicz, After Word , 1989 – Last Night I Took a Man , 1989 3:50pm | Bouchra Khalili, Twenty-Two Hours , 2018 4:30pm | Manthia Diawara, Angela Davis: A World of Greater Freedom , 2022 5:50pm | Marion Scemama & David Wojnarowicz, After Word , 1989 – Last Night I Took a Man , 1989 6pm | Bouchra Khalili, Twenty-Two Hours , 2018 6:40pm | Manthia Diawara, Angela Davis: A World of Greater Freedom , 2022 Events program Tuesday October 17, 2023 – from 7 to 9pm Conversation between members from Cinélutte, the Movement of Arab Workers and Al Assifa, convened by Bouchra Khalili (in French) Friday November 17, 2023 – from 7 to 8:30pm Farah Al Qasimi in conversation: Um Al Dhabaab (Mother of Fog) and alternative registers of history-telling (in English) December 14 & 15, 2023 – from 4 to 8pm Workshop with Joe Namy (in English) Guided tours November 30, 2023 & January 31, 2024 – at 6:30pm With Julia Morandeira Arrizabalaga, director of KADIST Paris and co-curator of the exhibition