{{Short description|Palestinian and Dutch interdisciplinary artist and lecturer}} {{Infobox artist | birth_date = 1982 | birth_place = Beirut, Lebanon | alma_mater = Lebanese American University, Beirut | known_for = Luminal art, theater | notable_works = ''My Light is Your Light...'' (2014)<br>''The Liminal'' (2025) | website = [https://www.alaaminawi.com alaaminawi.com] }}
'''Alaa Minawi''' (born 1982, in Beirut) is a Lebanese, Palestinian and Dutch interdisciplinary artist and lecturer based in Amsterdam. His work ranges between performing arts and installations, often merging the two practices, and explores themes such as belonging, conflict and healing, and Arab-futurism.{{Sfn|van den Eijnden|2024}}{{Sfn|Vlaams Cultuurhuis de Brakke Grond|2023}}{{Sfn|Hogeschool voor de Kunsten Utrecht|2024}}
== Education and career == [[File:View of Alaa Minawi's "My Light is Your Light" at the rear of St. James's Church in the Churchyard - geograph.org.uk - 5659162.jpg|thumb|Detail shot of Minawi's ''My Light is Your Light..'' in the churchyard of St. James's Church, Piccadilly (2018)]] Minawi graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from the Lebanese American University in 2008, and earned a MA in Fine Arts from Hogeschool voor de Kunsten Utrecht in 2018.{{Sfn|Hogeschool voor de Kunsten Utrecht|2024}} He went on to study lighting design lighting design at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London.{{Sfn|Hogeschool voor de Kunsten Utrecht|2024}}
Minawi began his career in 2006 as a lighting designer and scenographer, collaborating with various theater and dance companies in Lebanon and the Arab region.{{Sfn|Vlaams Cultuurhuis de Brakke Grond|2023}} In 2010, he began creating his own installations, which have been frequently exhibited in public spaces.{{Sfn|Vlaams Cultuurhuis de Brakke Grond|2023}} {{Sfn|Broeken|2020}}{{Sfn|Ghandour Hert|Khalaf|Khoury|Mallat|2021}} Some of his notable works include ''Beyond Myself...'' (2013),{{Sfn|Frame Magazine editorial|2014}} ''My Light is Your Light...'' (2014),{{Sfn|Embrechts|Etemad|2024}}{{Sfn|van den Eijnden|2024}}{{Sfn|BBC News|2016}} ''The Bride'' (2016),{{Sfn|Stichting Spring|2024}} ''Waiting for It to End...'' (2020),{{Sfn|Artiflex editorial|2021}}{{Sfn|DOTE|2020}}{{Sfn|Patel|2016}} and ''The Liminal'' (2024).<ref>{{Cite news |last=Linssen |first=Dana |date=2024-11-12 |title=Nederlanders verkennen grenzen van de documentaire op IDFA |url=https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2024/11/12/nederlanders-verkennen-grenzen-van-de-documentaire-op-idfa-a4872791 |access-date=2024-12-31 |work=NRC |language=nl-NL}}</ref> In 2016, Minawi began an artistic research project focused on the concept of belonging and its connection to physical space, culminating in a series of performances collectively titled ''2048''.{{Sfn|Stichting Spring|2023}}{{Sfn|DOTE|2020}} In this work, Minawi aimed to integrate installation and performance art, involving the audience as a part of his performance.{{Sfn|Stichting Spring|2023}}{{Sfn|Hogeschool voor de Kunsten Utrecht|2024}}{{Sfn|Merhi|2023}}
Minawi is a teacher at the Amsterdam University of the Arts (AHK) and the Hogeschool voor de Kunsten Utrecht (HKU), and is a lecturer at the Sandberg Institute in Amsterdam. He is the founder and program director of the Beirut Summer School for Theater and Performance.{{Sfn|Hogeschool voor de Kunsten Utrecht|2024}}{{Sfn|Beirut Summer School|2025}}
== Awards and nominations == Minawi's installation ''My Light is Your Light...'' was selected for UNESCO's International Year of Light 2015 and was nominated for the Best Light Art Award at the D’Arc Awards, London, UK in 2016.{{Sfn|DOTE|2020}}{{Sfn|Patel|2016}} In 2024, Minawi's work-in-progress installation ''The Liminal'' received a Special Jury Award in International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam's immersive non-fiction competition;<ref>{{Cite web |last=IDFA Festival |title=IDFA Professionals {{!}} Winners 1988–2024 |url=https://professionals.idfa.nl/program/awards-juries/winners-1988-2023/#past-competitions |access-date=2024-12-20 |website=IDFA |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=IDFA Festival |date=2024 |title=Jury reports 2024 |url=https://festival.idfa.nl/en/awards-jurys/jury-reports-2024/ |access-date=2024-12-20 |website=IDFA |language=en}}</ref> it premiered in 2025 and was nominated for the Best Dutch Director Award in the Digital Storytelling category at the Dutch Directors Guild Awards.{{Sfn|Dutch Directors Guild|2025}}
== Selected works == ===Installations=== * 2013 - ''Beyond myself...''{{Sfn|Amsterdam Light Festival|2025}} * 2014 - ''My light is your light...'' {{Sfn|Lumiere Festival|2018}}{{Sfn|Stadsschouwburg-Utrecht|2024}}{{Sfn|The Crown Estate|2022}} * 2016 - ''The Bride''{{Sfn|Al Jazeera Documentary الجزيرة الوثائقية|2016}} * 2020 - ''Waiting for it to end...''{{Sfn|Brabant Remembers|2020}}{{Sfn|Broeken|2020}} * 2022 - ''Cobie's light'' * 2022 - ''Figure no. 7''{{Sfn|I Light U|2025}} * 2023 - ''Out-of-body experience{{Sfn|I Light U|2025}}'' ===Performances=== * 2012 - ''A piano in my pillow''{{Sfn|Beirut.com|2012}}{{Sfn|OLJ|2012}} * 2018 - ''2048 – The machine''{{Sfn|Torbey|2020}} * 2019 - ''2048 – Bodies – Borders – Belonging'' * 2019 - ''2048 – What does not make us one''{{Sfn|DOTE|2020a}} * 2021 - ''That breath we held...''{{Sfn|Al Bustan Festival|2021}}{{Sfn|UNESCO|2022}} * 2023 - ''2048 – Identity in Dissolution''{{Sfn|Agenda Culturel|2023}}{{Sfn|Vanwijnsberghe|2023}} * 2025 - ''The Liminal''{{Sfn|Stichting Spring|2023}} == References ==
=== Citations === <references />
=== Sources ===
* {{cite web |last1=Agence France Press |title=هل يمكن أن يتنفس ضحايا انفجار بيروت مجددا؟ عرض تفاعلي يروي على المسرح بالرسم والعزف الارتجاليين مشاعر لبنانيين عاشوا المأساة |trans-title=Can the victims of the Beirut explosion breathe again? - An interactive performance brings to the stage, through live drawing and improvisational music, the emotions of Lebanese people who lived through the tragedy. |url=https://www.independentarabia.com/node/244336/سياسة/متابعات/هل-يمكن-أن-يتنفس-ضحايا-انفجار-بيروت-مجددا؟ |website=The Independent - Arabia |publisher=Media Arabia |language=ar |ref=none |access-date=31 January 2025 |date=23 July 2021}} * {{cite web|url=https://www.agendaculturel.com/events/2048-identity-in-dissolution|title=2048 – Identity in Dissolution|access-date=19 September 2025|date=13 January 2023|last=Agenda Culturel|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240519104001/https://www.agendaculturel.com/events/2048-identity-in-dissolution|archive-date=2024-05-19|url-status=live}} * {{cite web|url=https://albustanfestival.com/blog/programme/the-breath-we-held-%D9%8A%D9%88%D9%85-%D9%84%D9%85-%D9%8A%D9%86%D8%AA%D9%87%D9%8A-tuesday-22-february/|title=The Breath We Held|access-date=19 September 2025|date=2021|last=Al Bustan Festival|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220125041310/https://albustanfestival.com/blog/programme/the-breath-we-held-%D9%8A%D9%88%D9%85-%D9%84%D9%85-%D9%8A%D9%86%D8%AA%D9%87%D9%8A-tuesday-22-february/|archive-date=2022-01-25|url-status=live}} * {{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXdGmDvGBSQ |title=ما تبقى لنا - رسائل كنفاني |date=2016-08-23 |last=Al Jazeera Documentary الجزيرة الوثائقية |access-date=2025-09-30 |via=YouTube}} * {{cite web|url=https://amsterdamlightfestival.com/en/artworks/beyond-myself|title=Beyond myself...|access-date=19 September 2025|website=Amsterdam Light Festival|last=Amsterdam Light Festival|url-status=live|date=2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250930175428/https://amsterdamlightfestival.com/en/artworks/beyond-myself|archive-date=2025-09-30}} * {{Cite web |last=Artiflex editorial |date=2021 |title=In gesprek met... alaa minawi |trans-title=In conversation with... alaa minawi |url=https://artifex.nu/in-gesprek-met-alaa-minawi |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210414225149/https://artifex.nu/in-gesprek-met-alaa-minawi |archive-date=14 April 2021 |access-date=25 September 2024 |website=artifex.nu |language=nl}} * {{Cite web |last=BBC News |date=2 February 2016 |title=Beş sanatçının gözünden Suriye'de savaş ve göç |trans-title=War and Migration in Syria Through the Eyes of Five Artists |url=https://www.bbc.com/turkce/haberler/2016/02/160205_suriye_sanat |access-date=25 September 2024 |website=BBC News Türkçe |language=tr}} * {{cite web|url=https://www.beirut.com/en/directory/a-piano-in-my-pillow/|title=A Piano in My Pillow|access-date=19 September 2025|date=2012|last=Beirut.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250930192732/https://www.beirut.com/en/directory/a-piano-in-my-pillow/|archive-date=2025-09-30|url-status=live}} * {{Cite web |last=Beirut Summer School |date=2025 |title=Beirut Summer School - Home |url=https://www.beirutsummerschool.com/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250930171446/https://www.beirutsummerschool.com/ |archive-date=2025-09-30 |access-date=2025-09-30 |website=Beirut Summer School |language=en}} * {{Cite web |last=Brabant Remembers |date=2020 |title=Waiting fot it to end |url=https://www.brabantremembers.com/waiting-for-it-to-end/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806135738/https://www.brabantremembers.com/waiting-for-it-to-end/ |archive-date=2020-08-06 |website=Brabant Remembers}} * {{Cite web |last=Broeken |first=Anja |date=10 March 2020 |title=Nieuw kunstwerk 'Waiting for it to end' bij het Biesbosch Museum |trans-title=New artwork 'Waiting for it to end' at Biesbosch Museum |url=https://www.ad.nl/rivierenland/nieuw-kunstwerk-waiting-for-it-to-end-bij-het-biesbosch-museum~a0af2618/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200312211530/https://www.ad.nl/rivierenland/nieuw-kunstwerk-waiting-for-it-to-end-bij-het-biesbosch-museum~a0af2618/ |archive-date=12 March 2020 |access-date=25 September 2024 |website=Algemeen Dagblad |language=nl}} * {{Cite web |last=DOTE |date=2020 |title=Alaa Minawi |url=https://dancingontheedge.nl/artists/alaa-minawi/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221203085510/https://dancingontheedge.nl/artists/alaa-minawi/ |archive-date=3 December 2022 |access-date=25 September 2024 |website=Dancing on the Edge |language=en-US}} * {{cite web |url=https://dancingontheedge.nl/projects/2048-what-does-not-make-us-one/ |title=2048 – What Does Not Make Us One |access-date=19 September 2025|date=2020a|website=Dancing on the Edge|first=|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200809103820/https://dancingontheedge.nl/projects/2048-what-does-not-make-us-one/|archive-date=2020-08-09|url-status=live|last=DOTE}} * {{Cite web |last=van den Eijnden |first=Janus |date=2024 |title=my light is your light |url=https://lightart-collection.com/artworks/my-light-is-your-light |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240529082131/https://lightart-collection.com/artworks/my-light-is-your-light |archive-date=29 May 2024 |access-date=25 September 2024 |website=Light Art Collection |language=en}} * {{Cite web |last=Dutch Directors Guild |date=2025-05-26 |title=Dit zijn de shortlists van de DDG Awards 2025! |url=https://www.directorsguild.nl/dit-zijn-de-shortlists-van-de-ddg-awards-2025/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250930172002/https://www.directorsguild.nl/dit-zijn-de-shortlists-van-de-ddg-awards-2025/ |archive-date=2025-09-30 |access-date=2025-09-30 |website=www.directorsguild.nl |language=nl-NL}} * {{Cite web |last1=Embrechts |first1=Annette |last2=Etemad |first2=Mina |date=26 May 2024 |title=Spring-festival trapt af met naakte solo van Manon Santkin en prachtige trance tussen negen dansers |trans-title=Spring festival kicks off with nude solo by Manon Santkin and beautiful trance between nine dancers |url=https://www.volkskrant.nl/theater/spring-festival-trapt-af-met-naakte-solo-van-manon-santkin-en-prachtige-trance-tussen-negen-dansers~b1348157/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240716173029/https://www.volkskrant.nl/theater/spring-festival-trapt-af-met-naakte-solo-van-manon-santkin-en-prachtige-trance-tussen-negen-dansers~b1348157/ |archive-date=16 July 2024 |access-date=25 September 2024 |website=Volkskrant |language=nl}} * {{Cite web |last=Frame Magazine editorial |date=26 January 2014 |title=Beyond Myself by Alaa Minawi |url=https://frameweb.com/article/beyond-myself-by-alaa-minawi |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231209193748/https://frameweb.com/article/beyond-myself-by-alaa-minawi |archive-date=9 December 2023 |access-date=25 September 2024 |website=Frameweb.com |language=en}} * {{Cite news |last1=Ghandour Hert |first1=Maya |last2=Khalaf |first2=Colette |last3=Khoury |first3=Gilles |last4=Mallat |first4=Danny |last5=Zalzal |first5=Zéna |date=29 December 2021 |title=Les 21 coups culturels de 2021 |url=https://www.lorientlejour.com/article/1286045/les-21-coups-culturels-de-2021.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211229110433/https://www.lorientlejour.com/article/1286045/les-21-coups-culturels-de-2021.html |archive-date=29 December 2021 |access-date=25 September 2024 |work=L'Orient Le Jour |language=fr}} * {{Cite web |last=Hogeschool voor de Kunsten Utrecht |date=2024 |title=Van lichtkunstenaar naar ongrijpbare performer |trans-title=From light artist to elusive performer |url=https://www.hku.nl/het-werk-van-hku/verhalen/van-lichtkunstenaar-naar-ongrijpbare-performer |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240229152131/https://www.hku.nl/het-werk-van-hku/verhalen/van-lichtkunstenaar-naar-ongrijpbare-performer |archive-date=29 February 2024 |access-date=25 September 2024 |website=HKU |language=nl}} * {{cite web|url=https://www.lumiere-festival.com/programme-item/my-light-is-your-light/|title=My Light is Your Light|access-date=19 September 2025|last=Lumiere Festival|date=2018|website=Lumiere Festival|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241010073302/https://www.lumiere-festival.com/programme-item/my-light-is-your-light/|archive-date=2024-10-10|url-status=live}} *{{cite web|url=https://ilightu.nl/en/out-of-body-experience/|title=Out of Body Experience|access-date=19 September 2025|date=2025|last=I Light U|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250930192259/https://ilightu.nl/en/light-art-2025/out-of-body-experience/|archive-date=2025-09-30|url-status=live}} *{{cite news|url=https://www.bndestem.nl/rivierenland/nieuw-kunstwerk-waiting-for-it-to-end-bij-het-biesbosch-museum~a0af2618/|title=Nieuw kunstwerk 'Waiting for it to end...' bij het Biesbosch Museum|work=BN DeStem|date=2020|access-date=19 September 2025}} * {{Cite web |last=Merhi |first=Zahra |date=2023-01-17 |title=المسرحي اللبناني ـ الفلسطيني علاء ميناوي يبني شراكة مع الجمهور بحثا عن الهوية |trans-title=Lebanese-Palestinian playwright Alaa Minawi builds a partnership with the audience in search of identity. |url=https://www.alquds.co.uk/%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%AE%D8%B1%D8%AC-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%81%D9%84%D8%B3%D8%B7%D9%8A%D9%86%D9%8A-%D8%B9%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%A1-%D9%85%D9%8A%D9%86%D8%A7%D9%88%D9%8A-%D9%8A%D8%A8%D9%86%D9%8A-%D8%B4%D8%B1%D8%A7/ |access-date=2025-01-31 |website=Al-Quds al-Arabi |language=ar}} * {{cite news|url=https://www.lorientlejour.com/article/749154/Concerts.html|title=Concerts|work=L’Orient-Le Jour|date=2012|access-date=19 September 2025|last=OLJ|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250930193038/https://www.lorientlejour.com/article/749154/Concerts.html|archive-date=2025-09-30}} * {{Cite web |last=Patel |first=Heenali |date=2016-02-01 |title=Palestinian artist Alaa Minawi wants to help Angela Merkel by auctioning his latest piece |url=https://edition.cnn.com/style/article/alaa-minawi-light-artist-syrian-refugees/index.html |access-date=2024-09-25 |website=CNN |language=en}} * {{cite web|url=https://stadsschouwburg-utrecht.nl/nieuws/lichtinstallatie-my-light-is-your-light-|title=Lichtinstallatie "My Light is Your Light"|access-date=19 September 2025|url-status=live|date=2024|website=Stadsschouwburg-Utrecht|last=Stadsschouwburg-Utrecht|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240516200345/https://stadsschouwburg-utrecht.nl/nieuws/lichtinstallatie-my-light-is-your-light-|archive-date=2024-05-16}} * {{Cite web |last=Stichting Spring |date=13 February 2024 |orig-date= |title=alaa minawi - Spring Festival |url=https://springutrecht.nl/en/people/alaa-minawi/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240530182349/https://springutrecht.nl/en/people/alaa-minawi/ |archive-date=30 May 2024 |access-date=25 September 2024 |website=Spring Utrecht |language=en-US}} * {{Cite web |last=Stichting Spring |date=22 February 2023 |title=2048 – identity in dissolution (٢٠٤٨ – تَحَلّلْ هَوِيَة) - SPRING Festival |url=https://springutrecht.nl/programma/alaa-minawi/?language=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240925075025/https://springutrecht.nl/programma/alaa-minawi/?language=en |archive-date=25 September 2024 |access-date=25 September 2024 |website=Spring Utrecht |language=nl-NL}} * {{cite web|url=https://stjameslondon.co.uk/news/lumiere-london-festival|title=Lumiere London Festival|access-date=19 September 2025|date=2022|website=St. James London|last=The Crown Estate|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220127212307/https://stjameslondon.co.uk/news/lumiere-london-festival|archive-date=2022-01-27|url-status=live}} * {{cite web |url=https://www.behance.net/gallery/99815253/Amsterdam-Fringe-Festival-2048-Visual-Identity |title=Amsterdam Fringe Festival - 2048: Visual Identity |access-date=19 September 2025|date=30 June 2020|last=Torbey|first=Georges}} * {{cite web|url=https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/breath-we-held-li-beirut-sheds-light-unimaginable-collective-trauma?hub=422|title=The Breath We Held|access-date=19 September 2025|date=2 March 2022|first=|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250930194225/https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/breath-we-held-li-beirut-sheds-light-unimaginable-collective-trauma?hub=422|archive-date=2025-09-30|url-status=live|last=UNESCO}} * {{cite web|url=https://www.de-lage-landen.com/article/kunstenfestival-beyond-the-black-box-telt-vijftien-performances-en-nul-klassieke-podia/|title=Kunstenfestival Beyond the Black Box|access-date=19 September 2025|date=31 January 2023|website=de Lage Landen|last=Vanwijnsberghe|first=Peter|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230201054440/https://de-lage-landen.com/article/kunstenfestival-beyond-the-black-box-telt-vijftien-performances-en-nul-klassieke-podia|archive-date=2023-02-01|url-status=live}} * {{Cite web |last=Vlaams Cultuurhuis de Brakke Grond |date=2023 |title=Alaa Minawi |url=https://brakkegrond.nl/makers/269/alaa-minawi |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240229005608/https://brakkegrond.nl/makers/269/alaa-minawi |archive-date=29 February 2024 |access-date=25 September 2024 |website=brakkegrond.nl |language=nl}} == External links ==
* [https://www.alaaminawi.com Official website] * [https://www.beirutsummerschool.com/ Beirut Summer School for Theater and Performance]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Minawi, Alaa}} Category:21st-century Palestinian artists Category:Lebanese artists Category:Dutch artists Category:Scenographers Category:1982 births Category:Living people Category:Alumni of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art Category:Utrecht School of the Arts alumni Category:Lebanese American University alumni Category:Academic staff of the Conservatorium van Amsterdam Category:Academic staff of the Utrecht School of the Arts