Inner Structures–Outer Rhythms

Inner Structures–Outer Rhythms: Contemporary Arab & Persian Graphic Design highlights the work of a select group of thirty of the best contemporary designers from the Middle East/North African (MENA) region and its diaspora. The college is partnering with Dr. Huda Smitshuijzen AbiFarès, director of the Khatt Foundation, Center for Typography in Amsterdam, to curate this exhibition and produce a publication of the same title.
 

The exhibition charts certain trends that reflect the specificities of Islamic visual culture, local aesthetic movements, and contemporary design applications that respond to current events and socio-political concerns. The exhibition will feature posters, videos, textiles, graffiti, books, fonts, and typefaces and is divided into four broad themes: visualizing rhythm in poetry and music; type and lettering for political activism; designing for culture and the arts; and beyond Arabic calligraphy. It will also include a viewing/reading library with dozens of informative publications on design from the MENA region.

This exhibition takes place in the Main Gallery at MCAD

ARTISTS
Inner Structures-Outer Rhythms will include the works of the designers Reza Abedini, Mariem Abutaleb, Studio Kargah, Homa Delvaray, Naji ElMir, Yara Khoury Nammour, Khajag Apelian, Hussein Nasreddine, Azza Alameddine, Naïma Ben Ayed, Farah Fayyad, Wael Morcos, Kristyan Sarkis, Amir Karimian, Mohammadreza Abdolali, Studio Safar, Studio Kemistry, Turrrbo, Hamid Mirza Qorbanpour, Lara Assouad, Acil Benamara, Yusef Alahmad, Hey Porter!, Karim Farah, Ayman Hassan, Nadine Chahine, Omaima Dajani, Jana Traboulsi, Rasha Dakkak, Mark Nicolas, and Bahia Shehab.

The first week of November Dr. AbiFarès will moderate a virtual artist panel discussion with four of the designers and writers featured in the exhibition and publication. Details TBA.

Image: KRISTYAN SARKIS