The Institut du Monde Arabe in Paris announced that an exhibition, “Divas, D’Oum Kulthoum a Dalida”, will open on March 3 if cultural centers are allowed to resume operation after the coronavirus lockdown is lifted.
Covering an area of 1,000 square meters, “From Oum Kulthoum to Dalida” the exhibition also features director, producer and actress Bahija Hafez, Syrian legend Asmahan, Lebanese icon Fairouz and other icons Arab female artists.
Organizers said the exhibition “highlights these iconic female figures and underlines their contemporary artistic heritage.”
It promises an “immersive experience with reconstructions of sets, sound installations, projections, photos, documents, personal objects, outfits and jewelry”, some of which have never been put on display before.
Other featured artists include Warda Al-Jazairia, Lebanon’s Sabah, Hind Rustom, dancer Samia Jamal and actress Suad Hosni
The organizers want the exhibition to shed light on their lives, illustrious careers and glamour and show how they helped shape the 20th century Arab identity.
They aim to emphasize each of these women’s social views and role in changing common perceptions of post-war Arab societies. They embodied a period of artistic and intellectual vigor and presented a novel image of women amid the national political renewal that began in the twenties. In this sense, the exhibition, by highlighting these artists, sheds light on the social history of Arab women and the roles they play in national struggles against colonizers.
In the final part of the exhibition, many contemporary artists will convey their views of these singers whose legacy has been a deep inspiration for a whole new generation. Among them are Lebanese photographer Randa Mirza, composer Wael Kodeih, artists Lamia Ziada, Sherine Neshat, Youssef Nabil and Nabil Boutros.
Seminars, concerts and performances will also be held.
