I have this problem. I can’t write on command, I approach it like a chore. It’s always squeezed out of me, or happens as a means of trying to escape doing something else.
It’s been about a month since the Kawkaba show opened at Christies. I wrote something that some people found profound. They asked me to write more, then my friends egged me on. Try as I may, I couldn’t bring myself to do it. I revisited the show in hopes of finding a spark to write. And sure enough, no shortage of ideas. And now, here we are at 3 am, with a few days of this exhibition left and a burning urge to be there every day until the end of the show......Read more
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In the second part of a series marking 20 years since the Iraq war, genre-spanning artists explain the difficulties of working in the country – and the poignancy for those outside it.
THIS WEEK'S NEWSLETTER IS CURATED BY CREATIVE DIRECTOR: ABDULRAHMAN "ABDULISMS" SALIH
"Touching Grass. Recovering from COVID for the third time and trying to find a way to not spend the winter months in London. All at once!"
OBSSESSING OVER
"At the moment, the 'Middle of Nowhere' party with Nooriyah. She's doing a Boiler Room night on Nov. 3 in London and it's all hands on deck. They're always great nights and I'm trying to make sure all my people are out for this one."
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He is easily one of the most thoughtful creatives I’ve come to know, always advocating for the art and the artist and wanting to see people create just for the fun of it. But I also know that Abdulisms has an incredible taste in music, which shines through in his answers below.
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In the first episode of the Shubbak Festival podcast we are exploring art, politics, identity, and social media.
With the restrictions imposed during the Covid-19 pandemic we all looked for ways to cope.
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For many, artistic expression was pivotal in passing the long hours spent indoors with no escape. For artists, this was no different; creativity battled boredom, frustration, and loneliness. Without access to public spaces, some of the artists showcasing their work at Shubbak Festival utilised all they could at their disposal. The most important tool of them all? An internet connection.
DJ Nooriyah speaks to Abdulisms, Toufik Douib and Balqis Al Rashed to understand just how important the digital sphere is in their art and activism.
For this very special visually driven episode of Soundscapes Radio we dive into the world of film-maker, creative director and director of photography Abdulisms to talk about his ongoing collaborations with SHANTÉH, Girls of Grime, Ancestral Futures, Steamdown, Iraq-a-fella and many more amazing artists.
Recorded from the set of SHANTÉH’s I.D exhibition & listening party at Kunstraum the Soundscapes crew gathers to watch and enjoy live music and a selection of some of our favourite music videos of the moment.
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Watch the full Episode here: https://vimeo.com/630354394
Abdulisms is a London based British born Iraqi/Irish creative director and digital content producer for IRAQ-A-FELLA. Growing up between London, Doha and Dublin his vision is informed by the contrast of worlds, spaces and mother tongues he's long found himself alternating in.
His work explores bridging underground music with themes of ancestral heritage in creative and diasporic community based projects. Releasing work across the mediums of live broadcast, documentary, augmented reality, live shows, community radio and public installations.
Abdulism's portfolio boasts collaborations with the likes of Talib Kweli, Narcy, Steam Down, Girls of Grime, Ancestral Futures collective, Sofar Sounds and New Delhi based community radio Boxout FM to name a few.
We asked Abdulisms to answer some quick questions to find out more about him.
Read all about it here: https://www.shubbak.co.uk/shubbak-festival-artist-spotlight-abdulisms/