Hind Mezaina

Random Stars - Emirati All-Girl Rock Band — The Culturist Over a week ago, The National featured a story about Random Stars, "the first Emirati all-girl rock band" . The papers here like to sensationalise anything done by an Emirati that is otherwise deemed...

I always wished I got to see this band play live, first heard about them in 2013 but feels like they disbanded / disappeared shortly after they were written about. www.theculturist.com/home/random-...

Osiris: The Bahraini Pink Floyd? - أوزيرس. Ya Halla! The last posting for The Jets was jus' marvs. I had to return once again to Blogsville as if transmogrified by a magical spe...

Not much personal insight, but recall this from 2012, maybe you’ve already seen this by now.
Thank god for blogs. Now feels more urgent than ever to find better ways to have info like this preserved / archived. theaudiotopia.blogspot.com/2012/03/osir...

Co-hosting this with @jisoliman.bsky.social on May 4, new project we’re working on.
Will screen:
DON’T GET TOO COMFORTABLE (Shaima Al Tamimi)
WHERE AM I FROM? (Nouf Aljowaysir)
STILL PROCESSING (Sophy Romvari)
THE FLOWERS STAND SILENTLY, WITNESSING (Theo Panagopoulos) www.421.online/whats-on/col...

The Culturist Film Club: Les Félins / Joy House — The Culturist The next edition of  The Culturist Film Club  will be on Sunday, April 13 at 11am at Alliance Francaise in Dubai. I’ve selected a thriller from Alliance Francaise’s film library, starring Al...

Join me this Sunday, April 13 at 11am at Alliance Francaise for the next edition of The Culturist Film: Club, Joy House / Les Félins (René Clément, 1963), starring Jane Fonda and Alain Delon
www.theculturist.com/home/the-cul...

Didn't have a chance to share this earlier, but if in Dubai:

March 8, I'm co-presenting a film screening+book discussion at Jameel Arts Centre
Film: Terra Femme (dir. Courtney Stephens)
Book: Three Centuries of Travel Writing by Muslim Women (Indiana Uni. Press)
jameelartscentre.org/whats-on/fil...

Hind Mezaina

Starting a monthly newsletter titled Happenings to share things I’m working on + recommendations. Just sent one out.
If you’d like to receive it, you can subscribe on my website, the form is on the homepage.
www.hindmezaina.com

📣 Dubai, join me on Jan 25, 6pm at Jameel Arts Centre for a short film program curated by me.
Films+discussion:
DAYBREAK EXPRESS (D. A. Pennebaker)

GOLDEN JUBILEE (Suneil Sanzgiri)

COAST (Francisco Dias)

THE INSTABILITY OF CLOUDS (Zazie Ray-Trapido)

Details: jameelartscentre.org/whats-on/nig...

glory (James Benning, 2019)

Not been here for more than a year. Not sure if I’ll leave the other place, I’m thick skinned like that, but maybe I’ll dip in and out of here a bit more.

An enjoyable and memorable screening/performance followed by a discussion last night at NYUAD Arts Centre. Thanks to @activecultures.bsky.social and team for making it happen.

You should consider screening at NYUAD - it is set in New York 2022. I’m sure lots to unpack from it. Hopefully we can chat night of Koyaanisqatsi.

I’ve never seen it as well. Just hope it will be a good screening experience (not attended anything in that auditorium before).

On Mon, Oct 2 I’ll be moderating a discussion with Nujoom Alghanem after the screening of her film HONEY, RAIN & DUST. Part of Earthscape Chronicles film series in College of Architecture, Art & Design at American Univeristy of Sharjah. Free to attend.
Details: www.theculturist.com/home/caad-ki...

Looking forward to watching KOYAANISQATSI (Godfrey Reggio, 1982) with a live score of music by Philip Glass performed by the Philip Glass Ensemble - on Oct 5 at NYUAD Arts Centre www.nyuad-artscenter.org/en_US/events...

Talking Heads Reunite for ‘Stop Making Sense’ Restoration Premiere Talking Heads spoke with Spike Lee at TIFF, together for the first time in 21 years, about making their 1984 concert film 'Stop Making Sense.'

The new restoration is also to mark the 40th anniv. of the film which premiered last night at Toronto Film Festival.
Dubai, don’t miss this. A perfect concert film.
https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-features/talking-heads-stop-making-sense-reunite-restoration-premiere-tiff-1234819393/

Don’t think enough people in Dubai know the new restoration of Jonathan Demme’s STOP MAKING SENSE is screening in Dubai for one night at 6pm this evening. Just got back from travelling and found it it listed on Vox Cinemas’ website. Looks like it hasn’t been marketed properly.

I’ve not been hearing good things about HF lately, so not been keen to follow / support what he does.

The Culturist Film Club #5: Geographies of Solitude — The Culturist

Not been very active here. Still trying to figure out if I should spend more time here or not. In the meantime, if in Dubai, I’m hosting this on Saturday, July 15 at 7pm at Jameel Arts Centre. Join me if you can. https://www.theculturist.com/home/the-culturist-film-club-5-geographies-of-solitude

Also this in Chelsea Plaza Hotel across the road from Ravi. Goan.
https://www.chelseaplazahoteldubai.com/en/ambot-details

Al Mallah, good for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Longish walk (in this heat?), Mannaland (Korean food).

Probably too hot to see it during the day now. I know someone that visited last week and she said it was very hot and felt bad for the security man stationed there.

Shadows Travelling on the Sea of the Day by Olafur Eliasson - Qatar Museums This site-specific installation by Berlin based artist, Olafur Eliasson, consists of twenty circular shelters, positioned according to the axes of a fivefold symmetrical pattern.

Think the Olafur Eliasson installation is all the rage now.
https://qm.org.qa/en/visit/public-art/shadows-travelling-olafur-eliasson/

The simple pleasure and joy of having first rate theatres just walking distance from where you live / work is something that sadly my part of the world will never ever be able to replicate.

It’s been great to see a cinemas in few cities doing a Sakamoto fest, sad to be missing them. You’re in the right city when it comes to cinemas!!!

I’ve been listening to the songs from Eurovision this year. Cheers me up a lot. It’s a strange bubble of joy Eurovision.
Will wait for when it feels right or when I’m ready to listen to that playlist.

I’ve been thinking a lot lately of just switching off social media altogether. But I still find goodness in the other place, despite the evil people on it / running it. Maybe a small act of resistance by still being there. I don’t know … one day at a time I guess.

I haven’t had the heart to look at / play this list. 💔

Really? Maybe I should get The National to write about it. 🤭

*Shake hands* Hello!