the missing picture
TRANSCRIPT
The M.A.D. Project – is about Making A Difference!
The first project of the M.A.D. Couple is about presenting a
missing picture of the Muslim population of the world aiming at
dismantling popularly spread stereotypes and misconceptions that
lead to general feeling of hostility and ignorance.
For achieving our goal we decided to travel to Muslim majority
countries (Indonesia, Malaysia, Palestine, Egypt) and to educate
ourselves about arts and cultural diversity existing there.
The M.A.D. project is not limited to exploring arts and cultures
related to Islam, but rather focus on artistic expression of people
living in those countries, whether they are Muslims, Hindus,
Christians, or non-faith-based groups.
Back to Europe, based on our travel, we hold presentations in
schools, universities, organizations and will also facilitate
workshops about cultural understanding and critical thinking in
order to foster dialogue and social cohesion within Europe and the
Muslim World.
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In France, Belgium,
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THE M.A.D. PROJECT "When a butterfly beats its wings the force behind its delicate
vibration has the power to create the greatest of changes!".
Kamal Ahamada
Eugenija Kovaliova
2
* Nusantara: unity in diversity (page 3)
* Palestine: culture of resistance (page 4)
* Egypt: art of the revolution (page 5)
II group: Arts in the Muslim majority countries. Each of the
presentation in this group is focused on a specific art form and
covers its different examples through all four countries that we
have visited:
* Art and activism (page 6)
* Architecture of spiritual places (page 7)
* Performing Arts (page 8)
* Islamic art (page 9)
* Visual arts (page 10)
III group: Other topics. Themes that are not related to art
directly, but have caught our attention during the trip:
* Women in the Muslim societies (page 11)
* Architecture of the occupation (page 12)
* Art of noMADism (page 13)
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EDUCATIONAL TOUR
CONTENTS
For this first initiative of the M.A.D. Project, the M.A.D. Couple is
taking you to an artistic and cultural journey in South East Asia
and the Middle East. Within the frame of art and culture, we
propose you to explore various themes that are relevant for the
understanding of the Muslim World. Our presentations will
include photos, videos, discussions, workshops about cultural
understanding, breaking stereotypes and critical thinking, and
even live talks with artists and professionals via video conferences
(if possible to arrange technically).
Below you will find a list of the topics for the lectures we propose.
Choose one or several topics that you wish to hear according to the
need of your classroom or organization.
I group: a missing picture of a muslim country - each
presentation in this section focuses on a specific country or region
and will try to present the diversity that exists in that country
through its various forms of arts with the goal to present a
different image than the one dominating mass media. Each
presentation of the first group includes a workshop (if possible
within the given time).
3
Nusantara literally means the outer island and today this term is
used to describe territory that includes Indonesian archipelago,
Malaysia, Singapore, part of Thailand and the Philipinnes. These
territories were united in its diversity under the rule of Majapahit
empire in XIV century.
During our travel through Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia we
witnessed the legacy of the uniting power of old empire: tolerance,
peaceful coexistence and maintenance of respect, that were
actively promoted and supported in XIV century, are still a
distinct feature of the region today.
Nusantara is exceptionaly rich in cultures and arts, Indonesia
alone being a home to around 300 distinct native ethnicities, for
example. Within 5 fruitful months we tried to collect as many
examples of different arts as we could, learning on the way how
many of art forms are used to serve unity in diversity.
In this presentation we wish to present rich diversity of the
Nusantara region through various examples of both traditional
and contemporary arts, stories of artists with various religious
backgrounds, and images from different parts of the region.
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I group: a missing picture of a muslim country NUSANTARA: UNITY
IN DIVERSITY
4
I group: a missing picture of a muslim country PALESTINE: CULTURE
OF RESISTANCE
Palestine often receives very negative media coverage with the
focus on suicide bombers attacks, islamist Hamas party activities
in Gaza, and efforts of Israel to defend itself. News of ordinary
Palestinians living their life under the occupation rarely make the
news headlines and thus creates misguiding image of who
Palestinians are.
For about two months, the M.A.D. Couple has been exploring
various peaceful forms of resistance in Palestine, something that
we decided to call - the Culture of Resistance. Palestinians
themselves say “To exist is to resist”, therefore everyday struggle
became a culture. We met with circus artists, musicians, poets,
animation creators, painters, peace organizations, farmers,
entrepreneurs and both local and international activists, christian
and muslim communities, who are all part of the popular
resistance in the occupied Palestine.
This presentation will focus on the everyday struggle of
Palestinians to get freedom, justice and dignity with the focus on
art and other cultural ways for resistance, for example - growing
olive trees.
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Europe Educational
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From March to
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5
Egypt’s popular perception is that of grand pyramids standing in
the desert, temples designed for numerous gods and goddesses,
rich history of pharaohs and intriguing hieroglyphs colourfully
scribbled on old papyrus.
During our stay in Egypt we looked at a totally different side of
Egyptian art - the art of the revolution.
Since the start of the revolution in January 2011, the Egyptian art
scene has literally exploded. From graffiti painters to comedians,
artists are playing an important role in the ongoing revolution.
For about a month we have met different artists in Cairo that
keep challenging the social and political situation of their country
and exploring vast potentials of contemporary art, blending it with
well known Egyptian symbols and drawing inspiration from
history.
This presentation will focus on the arts of these revolutionaries by
telling their stories, showcasing their arts and transmitting their
hopes for the future.
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I group: a missing picture of a muslim country EGYPT: ART OF THE
REVOLUTION
6
II group: Arts in the Muslim majority countries
ART AND ACTIVISM
From South-East Asia to Palestine and Egypt the M.A.D. Couple
had a particular interest on how various forms of activism use art
as a medium and a way to express and highlight the socioeconomic
and political issues whether national or international in nature.
Throughout our research we gathered interviews and examples of
activists and artists, both men and women from different social,
ethnic and religious backgrounds, expressing their concerns
regarding ecological situation, globalisation, corruption of
politicians, violation of human rights, social injustices and
international issues. Palestine and Egypt are two countries in
particular rich with artistic expression with a very clear messages
in it.
Among the other stories in this presentation we will talk about
cartoon magazine from Bali that focuses on negative effects of
tourism, graffitti artists from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, street art
of Egypt and poetry from Palestine.
In France, Belgium,
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Europe Educational
Tour
From March to
June 2012
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7
II group: Arts in the Muslim majority countries ARCHITECTURE OF
SPIRITUAL PLACES
This is probably the only presentation in the M.A.D. Project’s
educational program where questions of religion might be slightly
touched through presenting architecture of spiritual places in the
Muslim majority countries.
Though all four countries that we have visited are Muslim
Majority countries, there is a great diversity of religions in each.
Indonesia is a home to six different religions, whilst Palestine is a
blessed land for three major monotheistic religions - Christianity,
Judaism and Islam.
In our travel we have been exploring various spiritual places of
Muslim, Hindu, Christian, Buddhist, Jewish, Confucianist
worshipers. This presentation will give you a glimpse of the
religious diversity existing in the Muslim World by telling its
historical background through its different architecture, including
such world heritage places as the biggest Buddhist temple of
Borobudur, the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem, Coptic
architecture of Cairo.
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Europe Educational
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From March to
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8
II group: Arts in the Muslim majority countries PERFORMING ARTS
Performing arts are probably the most engaging and
entertaining attraction for the viewer. Contrary to widespread
stereotype that Islam forbids arts, performing arts are
flourishing throughout Indonesia, Malaysia, Palestine and
Egypt.
We have collected some of the most interesting examples of
traditional dances, we took a look at unique shadow puppet
theatre of Indonesia and Malaysia, discovered contemporary
theatre in Palestine and Egypt, participated in ceremonies with
religious dances, listened to numerous concerts, including
classical music, hip hop, folk, reggae and traditional.
In this presentation through photos and videos we wish to share
unique performing arts from our travel, each of them being
specific to a place and situation. Be surprised to learn about
enormous diversity of performing arts that are as old as
inhabitants of these four countries and as modern as the
evolutions of its societies.
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9
What is Islamic art? Is it a fair term to describe the arts that are
inspired by the religion of Islam? Or it is a term that should be
applied in broader sense, including artists who are not Muslims?
These are some of the questions the answers to which we have
been trying to find out during eight months trip in South-East
Asia and the Middle East by meeting artists, lecturers, architects
etc.
This presentation will give a glimpse of various forms of arts, be it
calligraphic writing or architecture of mosques, paintings or
performing arts, that are inspired by Islamic values and have
direct relationship to religion. Within this presentation we will try
to present the diversity that exists within Islamic art and
“translate” beautiful messages hidden behind ornaments, music
patterns and body movements of artists we have met.
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II group: Arts in the Muslim majority countries ISLAMIC ART
10
II group: Arts in the Muslim majority countries VISUAL ARTS
Europe has long and refined tradition of visual arts with the
most famous painters and sculptors coming from various
European countries. Interest in Chinese and Japanese visual arts
has been growing as well. However, what we offer to look at does
not often reach European audience - its visual arts from
Indonesia and Malaysia, Palestine and Egypt.
Paintings with calligraphy, drawings combining motives of East
and West from Malaysia, traditional embroidery from Palestine
and numerous graffitis from revolutionary Egypt. These are just
some of the examples to be presented in the presentation about
visual arts from the four Muslim majority countries we visited.
With this presentation we seek to introduce to you diverse
examples of rich culture and artistic expressions so you can be
inspired and curious to learn more!
In France, Belgium,
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Europe Educational
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From March to
June 2012
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11
III group: Other topics
WOMEN IN MUSLIM
SOCIETIES
Issue of women in muslim societies often makes headlines in our
media, but unfortunately rarely in a positive way.
From South-East Asia to the Middle East we particularly tried to
look at situation of women and always sought to meet women
artists or other prominent women to ask questions and find out
about their life in Muslim majority countries.
We have met several women of different social and religious
backgrounds playing an active role in their respective society: a
poetess from Palestine, an activist and well known public figure
from Egypt, women from matriarchal society in Indonesia, a
musician in a rock band, etc.
In this presentation the audience will get a glimpse of the
situation of women in the four Muslim majority countries that we
have visited based on the interviews we have carried out.
In France, Belgium,
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Europe Educational
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From March to
June 2012
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III group: Other topics ARCHITECTURE OF
THE OCCUPATION
The state of Israel keeps being condemned by the international
community for its violation of human rights regarding its
occupation and colonization of the West Bank, Gaza and East
Jerusalem since 1967. United Nations General Assembly has
condemned Israel in tens of its resolutions, Human Rights
Council has passed more resolutions condemning Israel than it
has all other states combined.
The occupation itself has contributed to transform the physical
features of the Palestinian environment - creation of illegal
jewish-only settlements, destruction of Palestinian homes and
villages, movement restrictions, refuggee camps are just some of
the feautures of architecture of occupation, something totally
unfamiliar to most Europeans.
This presentation will focus on the description of the
architectural landscape of the occupied territories and the
narration of Palestinian‘s stories thus pointing out the violation
of human rights of the Israeli administration.
In France, Belgium,
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Europe Educational
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From March to
June 2012
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13
III group: Other topics
ART OF NOMADISM
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noMAD - is a member of a group of people having no permanent
place of residence or home, and who travels from place to place
to find fresh artists that Make A Difference.
The M.A.D. project has started in May 2011 and up until now
has been carried out mostly by us, the M.A.D. Couple, with
enormous help from friends and people that we have met on our
way.
How the project was created, how we managed with the tight
budget, how we decided where to go and whom to meet, what
was the most unexpected encounter, what was the worst travel,
the freakiest place to stay at and the weirdest food to eat? You
will learn answers to these questions and much more in this
presentation about the "kitchen" of the M.A.D. project and the
process of creation of noMAD tribe. A glimpse into 8 months
travel through Indonesia, Malaysia, Palestine and Egypt.
14
After a couple of years of working as an
assistant to attorney-at-law in
Lithuania, Eugenija Kovaliova decided
to change her life style and went to
Mozambique in South-East Africa to
volunteer in an educational project for 6
months.
Empowered from that amazing
experience, she decided to remain in the
field. For two years Eugenija was
responsible for training volunteers from
all over Europe who came for a year of
training in Denmark in order to be
qualified to work in development
projects in Africa. This is where she met
her friend Kamal Ahamada and together
they decided to found the M.A.D. Project.
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In France, Belgium,
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THE M.A.D. COUPLE
Kamal Ahamada was trained as
International Teacher in a college in
Denmark. Since 2005 he had been involved
in educational, development and cultural
projects in Europe, Asia, Africa and the
Middle-East. He was also a mentor for a
group of volunteers from all over Europe,
who came for a year of training in
Denmark before going to Africa in order to
be instructors in development.
In 2011, together with his friend Eugenija
Kovaliova, he founded the M.A.D. Project.