Art

MER 319: Art at Work–People, Power and Cultural Production

Dear Friends and Comrades, We’re thrilled to share Issue 319 of Middle East Report, “Art at Work–People, Power and Cultural Production.” Across the region today, art is being made, redefined and reimagined under extreme conditions of war, political upheaval and the interplay of state and market capital. Through

James Ryan • 3 min read

UAE

The Business of Culture

A Review of Beth Derderian's ‘Art Capital: Museum Politics and the Making of the Louvre Abu Dhabi'

Shir Alon • 9 min read

Art

‘Women at Work’—Challenging the Art/Craft Divide

A review of the Dalloul Art Foundation’s 2025 exhibition.

Marybelle Issa • 12 min read

Golan

The Grandmothers’ Anger—Theater at the Margins of Occupation

Playwright Lekaa Sharaf speaks with anthropologist Maria Kastrinou about theater in the Golan and the art of listening amid ongoing occupation and genocide.

Lekaa Sharaf, Maria Kastrinou • 13 min read

Syria

Listening to the Jazira—Songs as Counter Archives in Northeast Syria

Local shaabi music legend Khader al Nasser calls himself the “master” as he professes to teach a group of young women about love while plucking chickens in an old music video circulating on YouTube. Eventually a group of women elders kick him out for his mischievousness. It is ridiculous, endearing

Heidi S. Affi • 11 min read

Iran

Soundtrack of Dissent—The Music of Protest in Iran

In February 2026, one month after mass protests in Iran led to a government crackdown killing thousands, Shervin Hajipour released a new song from inside the country. Hajipour had become internationally known during the Woman, Life, Freedom protests of 2022, when his song “Baraye” went viral before he was arrested

Nafiseh Sharifi • 14 min read