The Mosaic Rooms is five today!
To commemorate the occasion Omar Al-Qattan, Secretary of the Board of Trustees, A.M. Qattan Foundation, reflects on the gallery’s core values and achievements in its first five years in operation… and tells you a bit about what’s in store for 2014!
Q1/ What led to the birth of The Mosaic Rooms?
A desire to create an independent, multi-format platform for Arabic culture in London which is free to explore new and uncharted territories and taboo ideas!
Q2/ Why London, not New York or Dubai, for instance?
I would love to be in all those places as well but to answer your question, London is probably the most important cultural city in the world at the moment; has a very dynamic Arab diaspora; and has very old ties to the Arab World, even if many of them have not always been very savoury…
Q3/ How is the Mosaic Rooms highlighting aspects about Arab culture that are usually ignored by the foreign media?
We programme our shows and events quite thematically, around issues we think are important or topical to all who are interested in the region, but in an in-depth way designed to stimulate discussion and debate rather than around news. We also try to showcase younger voices and not only well-established ones. The focus on culture helps shift the focus away from sensational news to a more profound and, hopefully, sympathetic understanding of the wonders, struggles and genius of the region.
Q4/ Without the Mosaic Rooms, what would not have been possible?
Perhaps nothing would have been impossible as such but I think that having pioneered a multi-format programme focussed on Arab culture in as wide and inclusive a spirit as possible, we set a precedent and caused something of a tidal wave – but then that’s the beauty of culture! Since then, many others have started to do projects along these lines and we now have a really lively Arab cultural scene in London! I just hope it does not get too drowned in commercial fluff!
Q5/ What are the things that the Mosaic Rooms is proudest about (milestones, collaborations, cultural exchanges …)
The height should perhaps be reserved for our Adonis week in early 2012, but we have been honoured by many other wonderful artists, poets, writers, filmmakers and musicians as well – too many to name all of them! We were also very proud to be part of the 2011 Shubbak Festival of Contemporary Arab Culture launched by the Mayor and to be its principle funder in 2013. We have also been loyal partners of the Kensington and Chelsea Nour Festival
Q6/ What’s next for the Disappearing Cities program?
Our Mogadishu-Lost Moderns show in April 2014
Q7/ What is the Mosaic Rooms looking forward to in 2014?
Our first Somali-focussed show; a season focussed on up and coming Algerian artists; a Nadia Kaabi-Linke and Tunisia focussed season; and our first show curated by an external curator.
Q&A taken from a recent interview with Curve Magazine.