Pop-up Mathaf @ Mori Art Museum ：マトハフ・アラブ近代美術館共催シンポジウム遠くて近い、近くて遠い、アラブと日本：アーティストの役割とは何か

When I started to research younger Japanese artists for this project, I realized that they share many preoccupations and emotional responses with their Arab counterparts that are not immediately noticeable, although it’s much easier to see the superficial differences, many contemporary artists are commenting on their societies’ strengths and failings in similar and fascinating ways. We wanted to start a dialogue about this, mostly because we hadn’t heard it before.　

—Deena Chalabi, Curator of Pop-up Mathaf at Mori Art Museum

Deena Chalabi

Deena Chalabi developed the Pop-up Mathaf in her role as the founding Head of Strategy for Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art. From 2009 to 2012, she oversaw the museum's branding, strategic development and communications, and co-curated the inaugural exhibition of Mathaf's permanent collection of modern art from the Arab world. The first Pop-up Mathaf, "Interference," took place in collaboration with the Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA) in London in July 2011 and examined the relationship between art and social change. Chalabi recently became Co-Executive Director, Public Engagement at Alwan for the Arts, a cultural organization in New York City.

Since it first opened in Doha in 2010, Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art has articulated its vision and purpose not simply through its exhibitions, but also by focusing on different strategies for engaging with audiences in Qatar and beyond. The goal of the ‘Pop-up Mathaf’ has been to engage with international audiences through developing a flexible, engaging platform for multiple voices on art and ideas, and to address a substantial knowledge gap around the contexts for Arab contemporary art. The first Pop-up Mathaf, called ‘Interference,’ took place in London in collaboration with the Institute of Contemporary Arts in July 2011, and included artist talks, workshops, a film screening, a commissioned publication and interactive elements. Same-Same But Different is the second Pop-up Mathaf, developed in collaboration with Mori Art Museum in Tokyo for September 2012