Author: Christopher Resch

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The exhibition "Forgotten Enlightenments – Unknown Stories about Islam in Contemporary Art" in Leipzig, Germany (photo: Goethe-Institut/Walther Le Kon)

Global history of ideas – contemporary Muslim art

Enlightenment rediscovered

A black sequined dress against a dark background. Two expressive hands dancing. A western dance, an "Oriental" dance – whatever that is. The video-sound-collage of artist Anahita Razmi sets out to demonsrate that cultural forms of expression can be adapted. By Christopher ReschMore

"Contemporary Muslim Fashions" exhibition: Muslim fashion – a material controversyExhibition: "Jews, Christians and Muslims" in Berlin: Dispelling mythsPortrait of the Egyptian artist Soad Abdelrasoul: Creating her own universe
Poster advertising the Atteyat al-Abnoudy Retrospective in Berlinʹs Arsenal Cinema

Retrospective of Egyptian film director Atteyat al-Abnoudy

Advocate of the people

The Egyptian filmmaker Atteyat al-Abnoudy gave a voice to those people the state had forgotten – and preserved their pride and integrity. Her work provides a picture of social injustices in Egypt since the 1970s. By Christopher ReschMore

Atteyat al-Abnoudy retrospective in Berlin's Arsenal CinemaInterview with director Tamer El Said: "In the Last Days of the City": Between light and dark Egyptian film-maker Youssef Chahine: The great visionary of Arab cinema
Maverick and enfant terrible of the Arab film scene: Youssef Chahine (photo: picture-alliance/dpa)

Egyptian film-maker Youssef Chahine

The great visionary of Arab cinema

Obsessive, argumentative, yet well ahead his time artistically and in terms of the subject matter his films addressed: 11 years after his death director Youssef Chahine remains a lodestar for the emerging Arab independent film scene. Christopher Resch explains whyMore

Youssef Chahine: "Chaos": Sympathy with the upright citizens of EgyptInterview with Youssef Chahine: "Tenderness has disappeared"Obituary: Youssef Chahine: A cosmopolitan envoy of freedom
German journalist and author Birgt Svensson (source: screengrab, SWR mediathek)

Birgit Svensson's biographical account "Murderous Freedom"

Between heaven and hell – fifteen years in Iraq

Journalist Birgit Svensson arrived in Iraq in 2003 and never left, enjoying the dubious status of being the only German-language reporter in the country for much of the time since. Recently published in German, "Moerderische Freiheit" recounts her experiences, offering insights into Iraq that go beyond terrorism and war. By Christopher ReschMore

From Basra to Baghdad: Young Iraqis rise up for a life worth livingIraqʹs political future: Entering a new eraWomen writers in Iraq: Writing to stay alive
Still from "Bloody Beans" by Narimane Mari (source: YouTube)

Algerian cinema

Young, rebellious and full of beans

Algeria's young filmmakers are turning their attention to making films that engage with the country's violent past. Christopher Resch met up with three of themMore

Merzak Allouache′s ″Tahqiq fel djenna″: Seventy two grapes Qantara dossier: "Arab cinema"Algerian cartoonists at the cutting edge: Licensed to draw
Demonstrating against dictator Hosni Mubarak on Cairo′s Tahrir Square in 2011 (photo: dpa)

Egyptian video archive 858.ma

Nothing but the truth

The battle for images and symbols rages on: seven years after the start of the Egyptian revolution, the media collective Mosireen is trying to challenge the official state narrative with a wealth of citizen video material. By Christopher ReschMore

Official Mosireen websiteThe Mosireen Collective on YouTubeRepression and legitimation in Egypt: The world as al-Sisi sees itInterview with the Lebanese journalist Hazem Saghieh: More lapdog than watchdog
Scene from Ahmad Abdalla's Film "Decor"

Ahmad Abdalla′s film ″Decor″

Let the audience decide what′s real

"Decor," the latest film by the Egyptian director Ahmad Abdalla, is a tribute to the narrative power of cinema and to the eternal themes of freedom, love, and constraint. Christopher Resch watched the filmMore

Ahmad Abdalla's Film "Microphone": Cosmos of subculturesEgyptian cinema: Enormous creative energyQantara dossier: Arab cinema

In brief

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Most Recent Photo Essay

Forced removals: it's estimated that 8,000 refugees live in Bihac. The camps are overcrowded and every day there is talk of burglaries. There was a stabbing in front of the kindergarten. Next to Camp Bira, there were about 500 people not registered with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM). In mid-June police picked them up and drove them to a site called Vucjak

The inhumanity of Bosniaʹs Vucjak refugee camp

Within eyeshot of the Bosnian-Croatian border, thousands of refugees are camping in squalor on a former garbage site. Their supplies are scarce. Photographer Dirk Planert was among them