# Ibraaz > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Ibraaz > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Ibraaz.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ibraaz > Source revision: 1350184265 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) ***Ibraaz*** is an [online](/source/Online) forum for [visual culture](/source/Visual_culture) in [North Africa](/source/North_Africa) and the [Middle East](/source/Middle_East). ## Publication *Ibraaz* publishes an annual online platform that focuses on research questions conceived through a network of editorial contributors based in the Middle East and beyond.[1] Its key editorial aim is to publish emerging writers and artists, alongside work by internationally renowned writers, academics, curators, activists, and filmmakers. *Ibraaz* works by posing annual ‘platforms’ where a question is put to writers, thinkers and artists about an issue relevant to the [MENA](/source/MENA) region. This platform is sent to respondents both within and beyond the MENA region. Content is added to the website every month. Contributions are archived every twelve months when a new platform begins. *Ibraaz*also publishes a series of books, edited by Anthony Downey, under the 'Visual Culture in the Middle East' title. To date, these have included *Future Imperfect: Contemporary Art Practices and Cultural Institutions in the Middle East*(Sternberg Press, 2016); *Dissonant Archives: Contemporary Visual Culture and Contested Narratives in the Middle East*([I.B. Tauris](/source/I.B._Tauris), 2015); and *Uncommon Grounds: New Media and Critical Practices in North Africa and the Middle East* (I.B. Tauris, 2014). ## History *Ibraaz* was set up from discussions between Anthony Downey, [Kamel Lazaar](/source/Kamel_Lazaar) and Lina Lazaar. It was founded as a research platform to rethink stereotypical frames of reference that have defined discussions around cultural production from within and beyond the Middle East.[2] The inaugural platform was launched as part of the 54th [Venice Biennale](/source/Venice_Biennale) in June 2011,[3] alongside the exhibition *The Future of a Promise*, the largest Pan-Arab exhibition to be held at the Venice Biennale. *Ibraaz* Platform 001 responded to regional developments across North Africa and the Middle East, the so-called ‘[Arab Spring](/source/Arab_Spring)’ and its effects upon the visual culture of the region.[4] *Ibraaz* is an initiative of the [Kamel Lazaar Foundation](/source/Kamel_Lazaar_Foundation).[5] ## Scope of coverage and activities *Ibraaz*’s content covers mostly contemporary visual culture from or about the Middle East and its [diaspora](/source/Diaspora). However, it can also include non-visual culture, such as [sound-based art](/source/Sound_art),[6] and other periods, such as [Modern art](/source/Modern_art).[7] The content consists of essays, interviews, reviews, artists' projects, platform responses and video contributions in its online channel. In addition to the online platform and publications, *Ibraaz* organize and co-host events relating to visual culture in the Middle East. These include book launches,[8] panel discussions[9] and the annual [Jaou Tunis](/source/Jaou_Tunis) conference.[10] In 2013, *Ibraaz* held the conference *Future Imperfect: Cultural Propositions and Global Perspectives* at [Tate Modern](/source/Tate_Modern), [London](/source/London).[11] The event featured contributors including [Douglas Coupland](/source/Douglas_Coupland), [Raqs Media Collective](/source/Raqs_Media_Collective), [Joana Hadjithomas](/source/Joana_Hadjithomas) & [Khalil Joreige](/source/Khalil_Joreige), [Zineb Sedira](/source/Zineb_Sedira), and others. *Ibraaz* periodically collaborates with a range of international artists and organisations, frequently publishing online exhibition catalogues and audiovisual content. Such partnerships have included with [Asia Contemporary Art Week](/source/Asia_Contemporary_Art_Week)'s FIELD MEETING Take 4: Thinking Practice,[12] held at the [Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum](/source/Solomon_R._Guggenheim_Museum) and [Asia Society](/source/Asia_Society), [New York City](/source/New_York_City), [USA](/source/United_States) in 2016; the [Palestinian](/source/Palestinian_people) [biennial](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/biennial) [Qalandiya International](/source/Qalandiya_International_(QI));[13] the [Delfina Foundation](/source/Delfina_Foundation), London;[14] [Hayward Gallery](/source/Hayward_Gallery), London, and [Maraya Art Center](/source/Maraya_Art_Centre), [Sharjah](/source/Sharjah);[15] and [The Jerusalem Show](/source/The_Jerusalem_Show), [Jerusalem](/source/Jerusalem).[16] ## Contributors Notable contributors to Ibraaz include: - [Lawrence Abu Hamdan](/source/Lawrence_Abu_Hamdan) - [John Akomfrah](/source/John_Akomfrah) - [Wafaa Bilal](/source/Wafaa_Bilal) - [Shezad Dawood](/source/Shezad_Dawood) - [Okwui Enwezor](/source/Okwui_Enwezor) - [Monir Shahroudy Farmanfarmaian](/source/Monir_Shahroudy_Farmanfarmaian) - [Coco Fusco](/source/Coco_Fusco) - [Joy Garnett](/source/Joy_Garnett) - [Hans Haacke](/source/Hans_Haacke) - [Mona Hatoum](/source/Mona_Hatoum) - [Emily Jacir](/source/Emily_Jacir) - [Gulf Labor](/source/Gulf_Labor) - [Walter D. Mignolo](/source/Walter_D._Mignolo) - [Michael Rakowitz](/source/Michael_Rakowitz) - [Beatrix Ruf](/source/Beatrix_Ruf) - [Hassan Sharif](/source/Hassan_Sharif) - [Wael Shawky](/source/Wael_Shawky) - [Adam Szymczyk](/source/Adam_Szymczyk) - [Ala Younis](/source/Ala_Younis) ## References 1. ["Where to Now? Shifting Regional Dynamics and Cultural Production in North Africa and the Middle East"](http://www.ibraaz.org/platforms/). *Ibraaz*. Retrieved 2017-11-03. 1. ["Beyond the Former Middle East"](http://www.ibraaz.org/essays/8). *Ibraaz*. Retrieved 2017-11-03. 1. ["Ibraaz Launch Venice"](http://www.ibraaz.org/news/1). *Ibraaz*. Retrieved 2017-11-03. 1. ["What do we need to know about the MENA region today?"](http://www.ibraaz.org/platforms/1). *Ibraaz*. Retrieved 2017-11-03. 1. ["Ibraaz"](https://www.kamellazaarfoundation.org/project/ibraaz). *Kamel Lazaar Foundation*. 2016-09-19. Retrieved 2017-11-03. 1. ["98weeks: Our Lines Are Now Open"](http://www.ibraaz.org/projects/53). *Ibraaz*. Retrieved 2017-11-03. 1. ["Re-Framing Modernism"](http://www.ibraaz.org/reviews/39). *Ibraaz*. Retrieved 2017-11-03. 1. ["Delfina Foundation — Book Launch: Uncommon Grounds with Ibraaz & I.B. Tauris"](https://web.archive.org/web/20171107013047/http://delfinafoundation.com/whats-on/book-launch-uncommon-grounds-with-ibraaz-and-ib-tauris/). *delfinafoundation.com*. Archived from [the original](http://delfinafoundation.com/whats-on/book-launch-uncommon-grounds-with-ibraaz-and-ib-tauris/) on 2017-11-07. Retrieved 2017-11-03. 1. ["Ibraaz Talks: 13th Istanbul Biennial"](http://www.ibraaz.org/channel/57). *Ibraaz*. Retrieved 2017-11-03. 1. ["JAOU Tunis 2015"](http://www.ibraaz.org/news/120). *Ibraaz*. Retrieved 2017-11-03. 1. Tate. ["Future Imperfect: Cultural propositions and global perspectives – Conference at Tate Modern | Tate"](http://www.tate.org.uk/whats-on/tate-modern/conference/future-imperfect). *Tate*. Retrieved 2017-11-03. 1. ["FIELD MEETING Take 4: Thinking Practice"](http://www.ibraaz.org/publications/129). *Ibraaz*. Retrieved 2017-11-03. 1. ["Qalandiya International 2016"](http://www.ibraaz.org/publications/121). *Ibraaz*. Retrieved 2017-11-03. 1. ["A Prologue to the Past and Present State of Things"](http://www.ibraaz.org/publications/38). *Ibraaz*. Retrieved 2017-11-03. 1. ["Echoes & Reverberations"](http://www.ibraaz.org/publications/25). *Ibraaz*. Retrieved 2017-11-03. 1. ["The Jerusalem Show"](http://www.ibraaz.org/publications/3). *Ibraaz*. Retrieved 2017-11-03. ## External links - [*Ibraaz* website](http://www.ibraaz.org) - [The Kamel Lazaar Foundation website](http://www.kamellazaarfoundation.org/) - [The I.B. Tauris blog, *7 questions for Ibraaz’s Anthony Downey*](https://theibtaurisblog.com/2014/10/10/an-interview-with-ibraazs-anthony-downey/) - [anthonydowney.com, *Interview with Anthony Downey, Di'van Journal, December, 2016*](http://www.anthonydowney.com/2017/02/17/interview-with-anthony-downey-divan-journal-december-2016/) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20170911211137/http://www.anthonydowney.com/2017/02/17/interview-with-anthony-downey-divan-journal-december-2016/) 2017-09-11 at the Wayback Machine --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Ibraaz](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ibraaz) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ibraaz?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.