The talks, exhibitions, meals, concerts, and readings organized by TEJA and in collaboration with different spaces and institutions are a key element of the experience for the creators participating in the residencies. They also serve as spaces for dialogue, ensuring freedom of expression regarding the conflicts or emergency situations faced by the creators in residence or those affecting the territories they come from.
We wrap up an incredible month of processes and cultural immersion. This June, Mohamed Bakri’s residency was fully dedicated to Córdoba and its surroundings: a territory of discovery through art, thought, and heritage.
Presentation of portfolios by Maria Zrieq, Abboud Abu Tair, Nisreen Tahhan, and Mohamed Bakri at the Museo Reina Sofía.
Through photography, both artists explore memory, waiting, and resistance in the face of the colonial transformation of the territory. From June 10th to 30th at La Casa Encendida (Ground Floor and Mezzanine).
An inspiring stop at CA2M, Museo Centro de Arte Dos de Mayo, a space where contemporary art feels alive and constantly evolving.
This exhibition project brought together the creative visions of diverse collectives and creators in a conceptually profound initiative. Organized by the Directorate-General for Visual Arts and Contemporary Creation of the Ministry of Culture, the event served as a space for intercultural dialogue, standing out for its deep social reflection and its focus on new visual narratives.
During our time in Barcelona, we attended the activities at Jiser. We discovered Randa Mirza’s “Atlal”, a profound visual reflection on memory in Lebanon, and supported Shaima Hamad at the opening of “Obertures: Aquí i Ara”. Her performance reading, “Swarming Bodies”, beautifully intertwined her family’s beekeeping archives with Palestinian identity and territory.
During our time in Barcelona, we visited the exhibition “Prisoners of Love. Until the Sun of Freedom” at MACBA, an ode to the resistance of the Palestinian people that spans nearly two decades of artistic commitment. Through a powerful audiovisual installation centered on the resilience and song of prisoners in the face of dispossession and oppression, the work immersed us in a profound reflection where love and resistance become indistinguishable.
This week, MACBA hosted the portfolio presentations of our current residents! A gathering dedicated to giving visibility to and sharing the research and artistic production processes developed throughout their residencies.
During our trip to Barcelona, we enjoyed a gathering at La Escocesa, where our residents presented their projects and shared a space for creative dialogue. After touring the center’s facilities, we wrapped up the day strengthening community bonds over a massive paella alongside the network members.
We shared a unique experience with Mohamed Bakri on a walk from the Institute for Postnatural Studies that brought together culture, memory, and Palestinian gastronomy. Accompanied by the traditional “Maqloube,” we walked together through the neighborhood on a journey of art and conceptual storytelling about oblivion.
Last Friday, May 8, our residents visited the Reina Sofía Museum to tour the permanent collection and the new exhibition curated by Manuel Segade on the fourth floor. Through three itineraries exploring affects, fiction, and institutional critique, the group explored a showcase of over 400 works with a strong focus on female artists and previously unseen pieces. We would like to thank Andy Luengo for coordinating this visit and for his excellent guidance throughout the tour.
Casa Árabe welcomed Palestinian photographers Mohammad Bakri and Abboud Abu Tair, along with representatives from TEJA, to visit the facilities and coordinate Bakri’s upcoming residency in Córdoba.
Our residents had the opportunity to visit the Helen Levitt exhibition at Fundación Mapfre. Her photographs transported us to a New York City full of life, street games, and subtle lyricism.
We accompanied our residents to discover the work of Matías Costa in an exhibition organized by the Official Association of Architects of Madrid (COAM) and PHotoESPAÑA. The exhibition offers us an emotional journey through the transformation of contemporary photography.
Last Saturday, April 25, we experienced an exciting day in Perales de Tajuña, joining our resident artists for a new stage of “Mano Vuelta.” This project by Paisanaje is a research and creation program that, through a situated artistic and curatorial lens, focuses on food systems and the territory.
