Press item
Ruya Foundation press item
Press
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For press enquiries please contact Rosanna Hawkins:
rosanna@reesandco.com | +44 (0)20 3137 8776
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Financial Times
Ruya's Iraq Office Director, Furat al Jamil, spoke to the Financial Times about young artists living and working in Iraq.
Harper’s Bazaar Art
Ruya's recent projects and initiatives are featured in the September 2016 issue of Harper's Bazaar Art.
Artribune
The Artribune reports that Ruya Co-founder Tamara Chalabi and Paolo Colombo will co-curate the National Pavilion of Iraq at the 57th Venice Biennale.
The Art Newspaper
The Art Newspaper includes the Ruya Foundation in their summary of how artists and museums are addressing the refugee crisis.
The Arab Weekly
Ruya Foundation's participation in Art16 was featured in The Arab Weekly.
Niqash
Niqash spotlights the ongoing work of Ruya to create international opportunities for, and foster recognition of, Iraqi contemporary artists.
Gazet Van Antwerpen
An interview with artist Haider Jabbar was featured in the Gazet Van Antwerpen on the occasion of his solo exhibition in Sint-Antonius, Zoersel. Jabbar speaks of his work being included in 'Invisible Beauty' the exhibition commissioned for the Iraq Pavilion at the 56th Venice Biennale, which is currently on show at S.M.A.K in Ghent.
Zoersel Magazine
An interview with artist Haider Jabbar was featured in Zoersel Magazine on the occasion of his solo exhibition in Sint-Antonius, Zoersel. Jabbar speaks of his work being included in 'Invisible Beauty' the exhibition commissioned for the Iraq Pavilion at the 56th Venice Biennale, which is currently on show at S.M.A.K in Ghent.
Hyperallergic
Tamara Chalabi talks about the Ruya Artist Database and the intentions of the platform with Hyperallergic.
The Art Newspaper
The Art Newspaper reports on the launch of the Ruya Artist Database.
The Art Newspaper
Ruya Foundation was featured as a highlight of Art16, the London Global Art Fair in The Art Newspaper.
How to Spend It, FT
Iraqi artists Ahmad Abdul Razzaq, Dilan Abdin, Julie Adnan are amongst those mentioned in the Financial Times's How To Spend It, which highlights Ruya's booth at Art16.
The Art Newspaper
Ruya Foundation's research trip in Northern Iraq with the artist Francis Alys appears in The Art Newspaper.
Paleett Magazine
Paleett Magazine features Ruya's exhibition in the British Embassy in the International Zone, curated and organised in partnership with the Canadian Embassy.
CNN Style
On the occasion of Latif Al Ani being honoured as a 2015 Prince Claus Laureate, CNN profiles the photographer, mentioning his presentation at the Iraq Pavilion at the 56th Venice Biennale.
The Art Newspaper
The Art Newspaper spotlights the ongoing work of Francis Alÿs and Ai Weiwei with Ruya in Iraqi refugee camps, with quote from Tamara Chalabi.
The Christian Science Monitor
Report from The Christian Science Monitor on the first edition of "Ruya Labs", a series of art workshops for artists and art students of Baghdad. The first instalment invited the curator of folk and traditional music Rolf Killius to create the sound art project "Wahid Baghdad", where participants used contemporary sounds from the city to think the heritage of traditional Iraqi music.
L’Obs
Ruya's drama therapy work with young Iraqi orphans on French news magazine L'Obs.
BBC News
Tim Allman from BBC News presents a video report on Ruya's drama therapy performance.
AFP
AFP reports on Ruya's drama therapy project with a group of teenage girls from a Baghdad orphanage.
How To Spend It, FT
Pavilion artist Latif al Ani's photographs, and Ruya Foundation's publication Traces of Survival: Drawings by Refugees in Iraq Selected by Ai Weiwei, were listed in the Collector's Highlights of the 56th Venice Biennale in the Financial Times's How To Spend It.
The Daily Telegraph
Latif al Ani's photograph of an American couple at Cestiphon, Iraq (1965), and the exhibition of his work in the Pavilion of Iraq at the 56th Venice Biennale features in the Daily Telegraph's Viewfinder.
Harper’s Bazaar Art Arabia
Ruya chairman Tamara Chalabi writes about art in Iraq, the theme of Invisible Beauty, and commissioning the Pavilion of Iraq at the 56th Venice Biennale.
Paleett
Iraqi art magazine Paleett features the artists from Invisible Beauty, the Pavilion of Iraq at the 56th Venice Biennale as well the publication Traces of Survival: Drawings by Refugees in Iraq Selected by Ai Weiwei.
The Art Newspaper
In his preview of the 56th Venice Biennale, critic Gareth Harris writes about art that stems from horror and despair, and speaks to Ruya chairman Tamara Chalabi about art and conflict, and Pavilion of Iraq.
The Guardian
Culture writer Charlotte Higgins writes about artist Haider Jabbar's work at Pavilion of Iraq in her review of the 56th Venice Biennale.
Christie’s Magazine
Ruya Foundation chairman Tamara Chalabi talks to Christie's Magazine about art in Iraq, and Pavilion of Iraq at the 56th Venice Biennale.
Wall Street Journal
Mary M. Lane's preview of the 56th Venice Biennale and Okwui Enwezor's vision for the exhibition, also includes artist Latif al Ani's participation in the Pavilion of Iraq.
The Art Newspaper
"The rise of the terrorist group Islamic State (IS) and the Chilcot Inquiry, the British investigation into the 2003 invasion of Iraq, are among the subjects explored by the artists participating in the Iraqi Pavilion," writes Gareth Harris.
Canvas
Preview of the Pavilion of Iraq at the 56th Venice Biennale.
The National
David D'Arcy speaks to artist Salam Atta Sabri about his series, Letters from Baghdad, and to curator Philippe Van Cauteren about the Pavilion of Iraq at the 56th Venice Biennale.
International New York Times
Farah Nayeri speaks to Ruya chairman Tamara Chalabi about the Pavilion of Iraq at the 56th Venice Biennale.
New York Times
“When there’s so much else being destroyed, this is also one way of trying to preserve culture.” Farah Nayeri speaks to Ruya chairman Tamara Chalabi about the Pavilion of Iraq at the 56th Venice Biennale, in a front page feature for the New York Times, as well as the International New York Times edition.
Venice’s Top Five Pavilions, Financial Times
Jackie Wullschlager describes the Pavilion of Iraq as "Venice's most revelatory show" at the 56th Biennale. She lists it among this year's top five pavilions.
Jane Arraf, The Guardian
Journalist Jane Arraf on the lives of artists in Baghdad, and Ruya Foundation's work to support them.
Harper’s Bazaar Art (UK)
Tamara Chalabi and Reem Shather-Kubba talk about Ruya and its current projects in the November 2015 issue of Harper's Bazaar Art.
BBC, Alastair Sooke
Art critic Alastair Sooke speaks to artists Akam Shex Hadi and Haider Jabbar about their work, life as an artist in Iraq and their participation at the Pavilion of Iraq at the 56th Venice Biennale. "It is heartening to hear that the courageous Iraqi artists exhibiting in Venice are still prepared to stand up for the forces of civilisation," he writes for the BBC.
ArtAsiaPacific
Critic and gallerist Jolaine Frizzell reviews the Pavilion of Iraq at the 56th Venice Biennale.
Apollo
In her review of the 56th Venice Biennale for Apollo, critic Laura Gascoigne writes: "In the Iraq Pavilion, a roomful of works by Salam Atta Sabri ... restored my faith in the expressive power of drawing".
The Very Best of Venice, Apollo
Tom Jeffries picks the Pavilion of Iraq as one of the top five shows at the 56th Venice Biennale. He cites artist Rabab Ghazoul's It's a long way back (Chilcot Inquiry), 2015, as a highlight of the exhibition.
Apollo
Apollo selects the Pavilion of Iraq as one of the highlights of the 56th Venice Biennale in its preview of the exhibition and fair.
The Guardian
Rabab Ghazoul speaks to The Guardian about her plans for a three day arts festival around the Chilcot Inquiry, after taking part in the Pavilion of Iraq at the 56th Venice Biennale.
The Art Newspaper
The Art Newspaper discusses Ai Weiwei's work with refugees, including his collaboration with Ruya for Traces of Survival: Drawings by Refugees in Iraq Selected by Ai Weiwei, and an interview with Tamara Chalabi.
Nafas Art Magazine
An extract from Letter to Tamara Chalabi by Philippe Van Cauteren, first published in the Invisible Beauty exhibition catalogue (Ruya Foundation and Mousse Publishing).
Tariq Al Shaab
Interview with Ruya's chairwoman Tamara Chalabi about the Pavilion of Iraq at the 55th Venice Biennale.
Diptyk
The Pavilion of Iraq at the 56th Venice Biennale features Moroccan art magazine, Diptyk.
Artsy
The Pavilion of Iraq's exhibitions Invisible Beauty and Traces of Survival feature in Artsy.
Canvas
Pavilion artist Akam Shex Hadi features in the summer issue of Canvas among works by Bruce Naumann and Christoph Buchel, in a review of the 56th Venice Biennale.
Canvas
Interview with curator Philippe Van Cauteren about the Pavilion of Iraq at the 56th Venice Biennale.
Monopol
Monopol features the Pavilion of Iraq at the 56th Venice Biennale, and Ruya Foundation's collaboration with Ai Weiwei in Traces of Survival: Drawings by Refugees in Iraq Selected by Ai Weiwei.
Il Manifesto
Il Manifesto interviews photographer Latif al Ani about his work, Baghdad in the 50s, 60s and 70s and his participation at the Pavilion of Iraq at the 56th Venice Biennale.
Modern Weekly
In its review of the 56th Venice Biennale, the Hong Kong magazine Modern Weekly explores the role of conflict in the Pavilion of Iraq.
Handelsblatt
Handelsblatt features curator Philippe Van Cauteren and his work on the Pavilion of Iraq at the 56th Venice Biennale.
GQ
In a preview of the 56th Venice Biennale, GQ speaks to Ruya Foundation chairman Tamara Chalabi about the Pavilion of Iraq.
Il Manifesto
Il Manifesto, a daily Italian newspaper, writes about the role of photography, art and conflict in Invisible Beauty, the Pavilion of Iraq at the 56th Venice Biennale.
FAD
Crystal Bennes and Thomas Jefferies discuss Rabab Ghazoul's work and the Pavilion of Iraq in their review of the 56th Venice Biennale.
Exibart
The Pavilion of Iraq at the 56th Venice Biennale features in Exibart.
CNN
Critic Colin Gleadell writes the Pavilion of Iraq, and the general concern with human rights and oppression at the 56th Venice Biennale.
Berliner Zeitung
The Pavilion of Iraq appears in a review of the 56th Venice Biennale.
BBC News
Pavilion artist Rabab Ghazoul features in this BBC News report on artists from Wales at the 56th Venice Biennale. Rabab was also interviewed by BBC Radio Wales about her work on the Chilcot Inquiry for the Pavilion of Iraq.
ArtNow Pakistan
ArtNow Pakistan features the Pavilion of Iraq at the 56th Venice Biennale, as well as the artists selected for the exhibition.
Mousse Magazine
Lovely photographs of the Pavilion of Iraq at the 56th Venice Biennale in Mousse Magazine, by Mathias Depardon.
La Razon
In a review of the 56th Venice Biennale, La Razon looks at the role of art and conflict in the Pavilion of Iraq.
Suddeutsche Zeitung
The Pavilion of Iraq features in a review of the 56th Venice Biennale.
Diari ARA
Catalunian daily paper Diari ARA reviews the Pavilion of Iraq at the 56th Venice Biennale.
Die Welt
Curator Philippe Van Cauteren writes to Die Welt about his research in Iraq and his vision for the Pavilion of Iraq at the 56th Venice Biennale.
Huffington Post
A review of the 56th Venice Biennale which also discusses the significance of art and conflict in the Pavilion of Iraq.
Der Spiegel
Feature on artist Haider Jabbar and his work for the Pavilion of Iraq at the 56th Venice Biennale.
Le Monde
Photographer Latif al Ani's portrayal of Baghdad in the 50s and 60s, and his participation in Ruya's Pavilion of Iraq at the 56th Venice Biennale features in Le Monde.
Al Mada
Al Mada features the Pavilion of Iraq at the 56th Venice Biennale.
ArtReview
ArtReview's feature on transnationalism in contemporary art also considers the role of the Pavilion of Iraq at the 55th and 56th Venice Biennale.
Le Monde
Philippe Dagen explores the role of art and conflict in the Pavilions of Iraq and Armenia at the 56th Venice Biennale.
ArtReview
Online exclusive interview with Philippe Van Cauteren, curator of the Pavilion of Iraq at the 56th Venice Biennale. Van Cauteren speaks to ArtReview about his plans for Venice, and what it means to 'represent' a country at the Biennale.
Das Erst, ARD
Das Erst speaks to photographer Latif al Ani in a special report on the Pavilion of Iraq at the 56th Venice Biennale.
Foundations in Venice, Financial Times
Gareth Harris speaks to Ruya Foundation co-founder Reem Shather-Kubba about the role of non-profit cultural organisations at the Venice Biennale, and the importance of visibility at the exhibition.
Afternyne
The arts and lifestyle magazine Afternyne featured Ruya's programme and artists for the Pavilion of Iraq at the 56th Venice Biennale.
Afternyne
The arts and lifestyle magazine featured Ruya's collaboration with Ai Weiwei on a major publication, Traces of Survival: Drawings by Refugees in Iraq Selected by Ai Weiwei.
Artnet
Artnet speaks to Ruya chairman Tamara Chalabi about the Pavilion of Iraq and Ruya's activities in light of the "cultural cleansing" by the Islamic State in Nineveh and Nimrud.
Artnet
Ruya Foundation announces its plans and selected artists for the Pavilion of Iraq at the 56th Venice Biennale.
ArtNews
Ruya Foundation announces the theme of Invisible Beauty, and a collaboration with Ai Weiwei on a major publication, for the Pavilion of Iraq at the 56th Venice Biennale.
BBC Radio Four Front Row
Broadcaster Kirsty Lang explores the contemporary arts scene in Iraq, and speaks to Ruya's chairman Tamara Chalabi and curator Philippe Van Cauteren.
The Art Newspaper
Ruya's comprehensive and unique database of artists living within and outside of Iraq features in The Art Newspaper as a research tool for curators and art professionals.
La Libre Belgique
La Libre Belgique speaks to Philippe Van Cauteren about his trip to Baghdad, organised by Ruya to curate the Pavilion of Iraq and to host a symposium on international contemporary art.
The Observer
Critic Laura Cummings lists Ruya's artist Jamal Penjweny's Iraq is Flying series as one of the 10 best artworks of 2014. She writes: "This photograph has stayed with me all year, growing ever more resonant".
Le Quotidien de L’Art
Critic Roxana Azimi previews the national pavilions for the upcoming 55th Venice Biennale. She speaks to Ruya chairman Tamara Chalabi about fundraising for the Pavilion of Iraq, and the importance of keeping the exhibition independent from governmental institutions.
The Sunday Times
Feature on commissioner Tamara Chalabi and curator Jonathan Watkins' trip through Iraq, where they met artists in their studios, and invited them to be part of the Pavilion of Iraq at the 55th Venice Biennale.
The Financial Times
Critic Gareth Harris writes about the Pavilion of Iraq at the 55th Venice Biennale, and the importance of making Iraqi artists a part of the national circuit.
The Guardian
Arts writer Charlotte Higgins looks at Iraqi biscuits and the challenges of commissioning the Pavilion of Iraq at the 55th Venice Biennale.
Il Sole 24 Ore
A special report on Iraq and the Pavilion of Iraq at the 55th Venice Biennale, with an interview with Ruya's chairman, Tamara Chalabi (interview starts around 15mins in).
Monocle Radio
The Pavilion of Iraq at the 55th Venice Biennale features in Monocle Radio.
Kunstforum
Kunstforum features the Pavilion of Iraq in its special issue on the 55th Venice Biennale.
Aswat Al Iraq
Report by Erfan Rashid on the Pavilion of Iraq at the 55th Venice Biennale.
BBC World
Arts editor Will Gompertz speaks to artist Jamal Penjweny in a report on the Pavilion of Iraq at the 55th Venice Biennale, for BBC World's Outlook programme. (Starts at 32 mins 50 s.)
Artinfo
Artinfo speaks to curator Jonathan Watkins about the Pavilion of Iraq at the 55th Venice Biennale.
Brownbook
In its special issue, the Middle Eastern Guide to the 55th Venice Biennale, Brownbook showcases Pavilion of Iraq, and how the show recreates the ambiance of an Iraqi salon.
BBC News
Curator Jonathan Watkins talks about the Pavilion of Iraq at the 55th Venice Biennale to BBC News.
Reuters
Reuter's selects the Pavilion of Iraq as one of the highlights of the 55th Venice Biennale.
Al Alam
Report on the Pavilion of Iraq and the presence of Iraqi artists at the 55th Venice Biennale.
Al Mada
The Pavilion of Iraq, as well as the 11 artists who took part in the exhibition commissioned by Ruya Foundation, are featured in Al Mada.
Al Adib
Spotlight on the 11 Iraqi artists invited to take part in Ruya's Pavilion of Iraq at the 55th Venice Biennale.
Al Arabiya News
The 11 Iraqi artists who took part in the Pavilion of Iraq at the 55th Venice Biennale feature in Al Arabiya.
The National
David d'Arcy features artists Abdul Raheem Yassir and Basra-based collective WAMIs work at the Pavilion of Iraq at the 55th Venice Biennale.
Qantara
In its special issue on Kurdistan, Qantara speaks to Jonathan Watkins about the Pavilion of Iraq at the 55th Venice Biennale.
Canvas
In a feature on the Pavilion of Iraq at the 55th Venice Biennale, Canvas writes: "With the support of Ruya, the Pavilion promises to show a vibrant, yet honest view of the arts scene in one of the world's most war-torn countries".
Elephant
Elephant magazine interviews curator Jonathan Watkins about contemporary art in Iraq in light of the Pavilion of Iraq at the 55th Venice Biennale.
Sotheby’s
Sotheby’s films the Pavilion of Iraq in its selection four highlights at the 55th Venice Biennale.
New York Times
“He made his living cutting hair in Baghdad, but art has always been his calling [...] he used to paint in the middle of the night to avoid the unnerving cacophony of sirens, horns and explosions.” The New York Times features Iraqi artist Bassim al Shaker, who took part in the Pavilion of Iraq at the 55th Venice Biennale.
Artforum
Critic and editor Negar Azimi reviews the Pavilion of Iraq at the 55th Venice Biennale. She writes: "the work of the pavilion is probably a faithful reflection of contemporary art in Iraq".
Frieze Magazine
"It is impossible to imagine what kind of challenges artists face in Iraq today, but this exhibition reveals a great spirit of resilience, improvisation and humour,” writes Frieze magazine’s co-editor Jennifer Higgie, in her review of the Pavilion of Iraq at the 55th Venice Biennale.
Al Arabiya News
Report on Furat al Jamil's short animation film Baghdad Night, co-produced by Ruya Foundation.
Asharq Al-Aswat
Artist and filmmaker Furat al Jamil in her studio, working on Baghdad Night, a short animation film co-produced by Ruya.
Foreign Policy Magazine
Ruya chairman Tamara Chalabi and curator Jonathan Watkins are named global thinkers of the year by Foreign Policy for Welcome to Iraq, the Pavilion of Iraq at the 55th Venice Biennale.
The Independent
Critic Zoe Pilger reviews Ruya's Welcome to Iraq exhibition at the South London Gallery, London.
The Londonist
The Londonist, an online guide for London, recommends Ruya's Welcome to Iraq exhibition at the South London Gallery, UK.
Time Out London
The global going out guide recommends Ruya's Welcome to Iraq exhibition at the South London Gallery, London.
BBC News
BBC News report on Ruya's Welcome to Iraq exhibition at the South London Gallery, London.
Artnews
In light of Jamal Penjweny's participation in Here and Elswhere, an exhibition of contemporary art from the Middle East at the New Museum, New York, Artnews looks at Ruya's Pavilion of Iraq at the 55th Venice Biennale as a catalyst for the emergence of art from Iraq in the international art scene.
Canvas
Ruya's chairman Tamara Chalabi looks at Iraqi art, from its ancient golden age to its uncertain future, in an op-ed for Canvas.
Vogue Daily
Vogue recommends Here and Elsewhere, a group show of contemporary art from the Middle East, which includes Ruya's artist Jamal Penjweny.
Artinfo
Ruya appointed Philippe Van Cauteren as curator of the Pavilion of Iraq at the 56th Venice Biennale.
Artforum
Ruya appointed Philippe Van Cauteren, artistic director of S.M.A.K, Gent, as curator of the Pavilion of Iraq for the 56th Venice Biennale.
The Economist
The Economist writes about Ruya artist Jamal Penjweny's work in Here and Elsewhere, a group exhibition of contemporary art from the Middle East at the New Museum, New York: "Mr Penjweny’s premise is that the memory of a dictator, whether good or bad, persists after his death. The exhibition too, leaves a lasting impression and confirms how art can create a historical record".
ArtReview
Announcement in ArtReview about Philippe Van Cauteren's appointment as curator of the Pavilion of Iraq for the 56th Venice Biennale.