Highlights from artist Maisara Baroud’s ‘I’m Still Alive’ exhibition
Updated 21 June 2024
Arab News
DUBAI: Here are three highlights from Maisara Baroud’s ‘I’m Still Alive,’ which runs at Zawyeh Gallery in Ramallah until June 23.
‘I’m Still Alive No. 1’
In the early days of the ongoing Israeli military assault on his hometown of Gaza, artist Maisara Baroud lost both his home and his studio. So he took to drawing a diary, which he has continued as the devastating violence continues, “to tell my friends that I am still alive.” This exhibition sees artists including Mohammad Sabaaneh recreating Baroud’s works in Ramallah.
‘I’m Still Alive No. 3’
“To declare that Maisara is still alive is a declaration that we are all still alive too,” Sabaaneh said in a statement. “So, we don’t become neutral in this genocidal war targeting and annihilating Palestinians physically and spiritually, we decided to participate in re-drawing Maisara’s paintings in Ramallah, playing the same role of a prisoner smuggling another prisoner’s paintings out of prison.”
‘I’m Still Alive No. 5’
On June 23, Baroud’s works will be wiped from the walls, “highlighting the project’s impermanence and the transient nature of the war, hoping for an end to the occupation nightmare one day, as “no condition is permanent,’” the organizers stated. “The exhibition serves as a tribute to Baroud and Palestinians in Gaza.”
Arthouse cinema opening soon in the heart of Saudi Arabia
Faisal Baltyuor discusses the launch of his passion project, Cinehouse
Updated 28 sec ago
Jasmine Bager
RIYADH: “I created Cinehouse because I wanted it for myself,” Saudi film producer and CEO of Muvi Studios, Faisal Baltyuor, tells Arab News from his headquarters in Riyadh. In October, Baltyuor is opening what he’s billing as the first arthouse cinema in the Kingdom.
Baltyuor — a film buff hailing from the Eastern Province — has been involved in some of Saudi Arabia’s most successful titles, including critically-acclaimed Netflix hits. But Cinehouse is more than just a business venture; it’s a passion project, designed to foster the kind of creative and immersive environment he himself would want to experience.
“Having it in Riyadh, the capital and the heart of the country, was important,” Baltyuor states. His focus, he says, is on building a thriving hub for filmmakers, and making it a go-to destination for those “coming from anywhere in Riyadh — even from the airport.”
Cinehouse’s first screening will be a never-before-publicly-shown 1975 documentary, “Development of Riyadh City,” by Saudi director Abdullah Al-Muheisen. To screen a documentary about Riyadh in Riyadh was a deliberate choice on Baltyuor’s part.
Hiring and nurturing Saudi talent is also a key pillar of the Cinehouse vision. The venue has committed to supporting local professionals across various roles from cinema staff to truly understanding the distinct Saudi audience, in order to ensure that Cinehouse remains a space where local talent is both celebrated and developed.
“We wanted to create a place that feels like home, while showcasing the best of Saudi talent in both cinema and dining,” Baltyuor says. It’s all in the name. But, he adds, “It’s not just putting a chair and watching a movie.” It is, quite literally, about the bigger picture.
Cinehouse is equipped with three screening rooms, all designed to provide an intimate setting. The Dolby Atmos sound system in each is state-of-the-art. In addition to the high-end cinematic environment, Cinehouse features a menu created by a Saudi chef.
“We’re creating a space where people feel like they belong,” Baltyuor says.
Baltyuor has a team of five trusted members who will select the films to be screened each month. Cinehouse will always include a local Saudi and Middle Eastern entry as well as top films from around the world. October’s films include Jonathan Glazer’s “The Zone of Interest,” Ryoo Seung-wan’s “The Executioner,” Aki Karuismaki’s “Fallen Leaves,” and Yemeni director Amr Gamal’s “The Burdened.”
FAISAL BALTYUOR’S FIVE MUST-SEE MOVIES
‘The Godfather’
I don't think there’s a single person who doesn't know how the great director Frances Ford Coppola, with this film, influenced lovers of artistic cinema — to the point that it turned into a cinematic icon that was, and still is, high up the lists of the best films in history.
‘The Shawshank Redemption’
What I love most about this cinematic masterpiece is that it’s an ordinary story about hope, which the little-known director Frank Darabont transformed into a great film. Could Stephen King have imagined, when he wrote “Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption,” what it would become? I don't know. But, as Andy Dufresne says: “Remember, Red, hope is a good thing. Maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies.”
‘Inception’
Christopher Nolan’s visual world — which revolves around memory, mind and the nature of the human psyche — always aims to explore topics within the framework of a social-philosophical plot in an attempt to reach the truth of man, time and identity in an artistic way. In this film, he took inspiration from the architectural compositions of the works of the Dutch artist M. C. Escher.
‘Past Lives’
In South Korean culture, the concept of In-Yun is one similar to fate, which suggests that nothing is coincidental and every single meeting is mainly the result of meetings that happened in previous lives. That’s what’s at the heart of Celine Song’s romantic drama.
‘Ratatouille’
This is a must-see because Pixar, and even Walt Disney Pictures, have not yet produced a better film than this animation in all its aspects — the story, the imagery, the technology, and the acoustics.
Review: Marvel’s “Agatha All Along” — a creepy, kooky and fantastic miniseries
Kathryn Hahn returns as titular witch and Marvel returns to form
Updated 43 min 30 sec ago
Matt Ross
DUBAI: Whisper it, but there are signs that Marvel is coming out of its post-“Avengers: Endgame” slump. After a string of movies and shows that boasted more misses than hits, the recent “Deadpool & Wolverine” not only joked about the dip in output quality over the last couple of years, but has gone some way towards showing there may be life in the comic-book behemoth yet. So the pressure is certainly on “Agatha All Along”, the latest miniseries to hit the Disney+ streaming service.
A spinoff from the excellent “WandaVision,” the show sees Kathryn Hahn reprise her role as the villainous Agatha Harkness. Still trapped in smalltown America, and stripped of her magical powers, Agatha is released from the last vestiges of Wanda Maximoff’s spell by a teenage kid (“Heartstopper” star Joe Locke). Realizing she needs to walk the legendary Witches Road in order to reclaim her powers, Agatha sets about building a new witches coven to help her.
The show’s secret weapon is Hahn. Slipping effortlessly back into the role, she’s all snark and sass as she reluctantly admits that she can’t get her powers back without the help of her new coven family. Perhaps taking inspiration from the success of “WandaVision,” creator and showrunner Jac Shaeffer leans into the weird, fourth wall-breaking silliness — a true crime detective show spell Agatha gets stuck in is “based on the Danish series Wandavisdysen.” On top of that, a raft of new characters led by Locke, Patti LuPone as a Sicilian witch, returning star Debra Jo Rupp, and Aubrey Plaza (stealing the first two episodes at least with her role as a warrior witch) give Hahn the perfect foils to explore Agatha’s backstory.
Marvel shows, on the small screen at least, tend to be at their best when they tell intricate, thought-out stories about weird and wonderful worlds, sidestepping some of that grandiose, world-ending pomp typical of the MCU movies. With “Agatha All Along” — and more specifically, with Hahn leading such a great ensemble cast — Marvel might very well be back to winning ways.
DUBAi:After a historic inaugural edition last year, Riyadh Fashion Week is set to return for its sophomore season – and soon.
Hosted by the Saudi Fashion Commission, the second edition of the Riyadh Fashion Week will run for five days, from Oct. 17 – 21, according to the event’s official Instagram page.
“Our vision for this year’s Riyadh Fashion Week builds on the remarkable success of our inaugural edition. We are committed to celebrating the boundless creativity of over 30 talented Saudi designers while elevating Riyadh’s position as a dynamic global fashion hub,” reads a post on Instagram.
“This year’s event promises an even richer tapestry of cross-cultural exchange and innovation, propelling Saudi Arabia’s fashion industry to new heights.”
The five-day event will feature 30 designers and 28 runway shows.
While no names or labels have been announced, last year’s edition saw names names like Ashi Studio, 1886, Yousef Akbar, and Arwa Al-Banawi present collections.
Coldplay add second and third dates to 2025 Abu Dhabi concert
Palestinian-Chilean artist Elyanna will open for the band in the Emirati capital
Updated 25 September 2024
Arab News
DUBAI: While fans across the UAE scramble to get tickets to Coldplay’s Abu Dhabi concert in January 2025, the band has added another two dates to their trip to the UAE.
The British band are now set to bring their hugely successful “Music of the Spheres World Tour” to Zayed Sports City Stadium on Jan. 11 as well as Jan. 12 and Jan. 14, it was announced on Wednesday.
Palestinian-Chilean artist Elyanna will open for the band.
The 22-year-old has been a frequent collaborator of the group this year, joining the band on stage at their Glastonbury set. Last week, she released the Arabic edition of the band's new song “We Pray.” On Saturday, she performed with Coldplay in Las Vegas.
Promoters Live Nation Middle East confirmed Abu Dhabi will be the only stop in the region for the band.
Bella Hadid returns to the runway at Saint Laurent’s Paris Fashion Week show
Updated 25 September 2024
ARAB NEWS and REUTERS
DUBAI: US Dutch Palestinian supermodel Bella Hadid made a return to the runway at Saint Laurent’s Paris Fashion Week show following a two-year hiatus from the catwalk on Tuesday night.
The model, who has been open about her battle with Lyme disease and who recently launched a fragrance brand, hit the runway in a masculine suit by creative head Anthony Vaccarello.
Vaccarello offered a lineup of ample, masculine suits for the Parisian label's spring-summer 2025 collection, with prominent shoulders and matching ties, Reuters reported.
Models made their way steadily around an open-air runway set up in the central courtyard of the Kering-owned fashion house's Left Bank headquarters.
They wore thick, studious glasses or aviator shades.
Bomber jackets added heft to the silhouettes, while chunky jewelry and pointy stilettos brought extra glamour to the looks, which were closely fashioned after the personal style of the house founder, Yves Saint Laurent.
Part way through the show, Vaccarello shifted to more feminine, bohemian styles, sending out flowing skirts in paisley motifs and shimmery brocade jackets covered with flowers and paired with short skirts.
The late-night show drew crowds of onlookers who cheered at the celebrity arrivals including singer Lenny Kravitz, model Kate Moss and actor Gwyneth Paltrow. It capped the second day of Paris Fashion week, which runs to Oct. 1 and includes some of the biggest global fashion labels, including Hermes, Chanel, Valentino and LVMH-owned Louis Vuitton.
