In partnership with British Council – MENA, Liverpool Arab Arts Festival launches their international visual arts project Port Cities. This exhibition premiere at Space Liverpool features newly commissioned work by artists Mohamed Abdelkarim, Laila Hida, Nadia Kaabi-Linke and Siska.
Situated where land meets sea, global port cities have unique characteristics. Their social, economic, political and cultural heritage is deeply connected to their roles as key centres for trade and migration. The artists visited Liverpool on a research residency in February 2024 to inform the development of new artworks critically exploring the past and future of port cities in both Liverpool and the Arab region.
From reflecting on Liverpool’s slave trade legacies to the ecological impact of human activities, this multidisciplinary exhibition presents new artistic perspectives on how ports have and continue to shape the character of cities, and how we connect across seas.
After premiering in Liverpool, the Port Cities exhibition will tour internationally to Tripoli, Lebanon; Alexandria, Egypt; Rabat, Morocco; and Tunis, Tunisia throughout 2024.
Exhibition opening afternoon: 1-4pm Friday 12 July. Featuring a performance by Siska.