Video: Curating Collections for the Diasporic Imagination

In this illustrated lecture, Dr Omar Kholeif situates their experience within the broader practice of building collections and exhibitions of the African and Asian diaspora. Programmed to coincide with Monira Al Qadiri’s exhibition at ARKEN Museum of Contemporary Art, the Egyptian-born, British author, curator, artist and museum director argues for a manifesto towards a practice of ‘civic collecting’, a form of ‘world building’ that enables an imaginative space of narration for diasporic voices. Kholeif emphasizes the importance of objects as emblems of place and belonging, markers that help prevent us from becoming lost, and reflects on how collections can engender forms of selfhood and a sense of home.

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Bio

Dr Omar Kholeif is an author, curator, historian, and artist. They are Professor of Global Art Theory and Practice at Glasgow School of Art and Programme Leader of the Master of Letters in Curatorial Practice (Contemporary Art) with University of Glasgow. In 2012, they founded artPost21, a platform for artists and their “dreamwork”. They are series editor of imagine/otherwise published by Sternberg Press, and the author of Huguette Caland. Until recently, they served as director of collections and senior curator Sharjah Art Foundation, UAE; Manilow senior curator and director of global initiatives at MCA Chicago; curator at Whitechapel Gallery, London; co-director of programmes at SPACE, London; senior curator at Cornerhouse, Manchester, among other roles. They are visiting professor at MIMA Research Unit, Teesside University.

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^{Irene Scheinmann, Reflection Collogravure}

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