TEXT2SPEECH: Contemporary Arab* Performance/الأداه العربي* الحديث is a selection of works by artists of or living in the MENA region who are establishing a name for themselves in the world of performance. Fadl Fakhouri curates a range of works by artists whose performance work does not belong in one category or medium as a further refutation of the colonial borders imposed upon us. Some of these works may find themselves under the label of theater while others crossover to fashion or music. Regardless, these are artists to look out for and support as their commitment to performance will lead to their being household names at the turn of the century or hopefully before then.

TEXT2SPEECH is a curatorial project from Fadl Fakhouri which exhibits artists whose work centers borders, whether it be state borders, interpersonal boundaries, patriarchal gender guidelines or linguistic borders. This selection of short films will include works by the following artists:

dir. E Rady, 2016
United States. 2 min.

BODY IN MOTION
dir. E Rady, 2018
United States. 2 min.

OCCUPYING A CHAIR
dir. E Rady, 2019
United States. 6 min.

3 studio performances begging the question of masochism’s place in the world of oppression and identity seeking.

VAST GEOGRAPHIES
dir. Muyassar Kurdi, 2020
United States. 5 min excerpt.

Muyassar Kurdi finds new ways to play instruments, although play is not readily interpreted as fun in this performance.

FROM MENA WITH LOVE
dir. Ridikkuluz, 2020
United States, Lebanon, Australia, and France. 2 min.

Ballroom dancers spanning the US and Europe, come together to exhibit the fusion of traditional arab dance and contemporary ballroom dance. Vogue is at stake.

SEA NONNA SEE TETA
dir. Leila Awadallah, 2022
United States. 10 min.

Filmed in Italy, Leila Awadallah utilizes ancestral movement research and improvisation to pursue the creation of hybrid performance.

THE BOOK OF DUST
dir. Fargo Tbkahi, 2024
United States. 17 min excerpt.

Performed in front of a live audience, Fargo Tbakhi’s delusion is the answer to their own definitions of sanity. Process and processing line the audience’s eyes on a prop-filled stage.

REACHING
dir. Noel Maghathe, 2020
United States. 5 min excerpt.

A performance that reveals the tension and tethering of the homeland longing that has the potential to nurture.

ASSIMILATION
dir. Fadl Fakhouri, 2021
United States. 2 min.

WINE, LEMON, EGG, GASOLINE
dir. Fadl Fakhouri, 2021
United States. 2 min.

2 studio performances that play with a color language developed by the artist. Red, white & blue become more than hues and placate the subject’s allegiance to the state.

REBORN!
dir. Ayoub-Jasmina Moumen, 2021
France. 22 min.

Taking place in Paris, Ayoub-Jasmina Moumen along with Refugee Engaged Wear employs the deconstruction of fashion to refute borders of gender and the imposed carnal prison.

*Arab is a catchall term that does not reflect the various ethnic identities within the MENA/SWANA region.
[Curation by Fadl Fakhouri and film descriptions provided by artists]

TRT: 77 minutes