“Orientalist Art and the Mirage of Realism and Objectivity” in a Lecture at the BA
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Alexandria—
The BA will hold on Wednesday, 12 March 2008, a lecture entitled “Orientalist Art and the Mirage of Realism and Objectivity” by Nasser Rabbat, Agha Khan Professor of Islamic Architecture, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
The lecture reflects upon the current popularity of Orientalist art in the Arab region as works in this tradition—created mostly during the second half of the 19th century and the first third of the 20th—are sold in auction in large numbers to wealthy Arab collectors who decorate their homes with artworks of this nature as a statement of cultural identity. Professor Rabbat will analyze the currently widespread phenomenon of the use of Orientalist images in academic books and articles to represent the Arab culture and heritage.
The lecture will start 19:00 hrs at the BA Conference Center, Lectures Hall.