São Paulo – Cinema, literature, theatre, music, dance, art, storytelling, cordel, archaeology, photography, fashion, gastronomy and artistic interventions are part of the programme of the South American Festival of Arab Culture to take place at 26 sites in the city of São Paulo, and in cities in São José dos Campos, Santos and Campinas. The activities began on Thursday (18) and end on March 31st.
In São Paulo, the event should be promoted at spaces that are symbols of the city and the state, like the Conjunto Nacional, Sesc (several units), Livraria Cultura (several units), Cervantes Institute, Ibirapuera Auditorium, Masp, Capobianco Theatre, the Syrian Lebanese Hospital, Arab clubs, cultural centres and cinemas. Many activities are concentrated in the Paulista Avenue region, but the Cinema Exhibit, for example, should take place in Jardim Angela and Capão Redondo neighbourhoods, in the southern region of the city.
According to Arab literature professor Paulo Farah, who is ahead of the organisation of the festival, the event, which took nine months to be prepared, should have reflection on Arab cultural manifestations and contributions by immigrants. “This year, Brazil is celebrating 130 years since the beginning of Arab immigration. Today, over 12 million Arabs and descendants live in the country and contribute culturally, economically and politically. In São Paulo alone there are around 2.5 million people. In other countries in South America, the Arab presence is also expressive,” pointed out Farah.
According to him, the intention is to strengthen the connection between South America and the Arab countries “based on the respect to cultural diversity and to historic and cultural ties, as well as to provide incentives to peace culture through the generation of cultural ties between the peoples,” said the professor.
Among the highlights of the programme, Farah mentioned the Ajuh (Faces) group, from Syria, which has among its participants the immigrant Kinan Adnawi, elected the best lute player in the Arab world in 2009, at a competition promoted in Beirut in 2009. They should have three presentations in the capital of São Paulo. The first on March 25, at 6:00 pm, at BibliASPA, the second at the São Paulo Art Museum (MASP), on March 27, at 4:00 pm, and the third on March 28th, at Ibirapuera auditorium, at 11:00 am, with musician André Gereissati.
The 12 exhibitions scheduled in the festival’s programme include “O cotidiano dos países árabes em aquarelas” (The daily life of the Arab countries in watercolours), by the artist Nilton Bueno, which will be on display at the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce, from March 20th to 31st. The watercolour paintings portray everyday scenes from the 22 Arab countries, such as a merchant of pictures and carpets in a market in Algeria, and people in a mosque in Syria, for instance. The watercolour paintings were based on photographs taken by Paulo Farah on field trips. “The photos portray the reality of each country and were taken over the course of at least 10 years,” says Farah.
On March 25th, established as the National Day of the Arab Community by federal law, a new space for culture and research will be inaugurated in the city of São Paulo. Located at Baronesa de Itú street, 639, it will be called the “Arab-South American Culture and Research Centre.” The premises will include Espaço BibliAspa (of the Library and Centre of South American and Arab Research), libraries with bibliographical and multimedia collections, a documentation centre, research rooms, a publishing company, a restoration room, a museum, exhibition rooms, and courses. “During the festival, the BibliASPA space will host presentations, lectures, debates, exhibitions, book releases, and film and theatre exhibitions,” says Farah.
According to Farah, the date for the festival was not chosen randomly. Founded in 1859, the 25th of March street soon brought together Syrians, Lebanese, Palestinians, Iraqis, Egyptians and Jordanians, among others.
The festival is promoted by the Arab-South American Cultural Centre: BibliASPA Space, with backing from the federal government, from the ministries of Foreign Relations and Culture, of the Municipal Secretariat of Culture of São Paulo, and from the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce.
Of the buildings that speak
Photographic exhibition “Alhambra ou Dos edifícios que falam” (Alhambra or Of the buildings that speak), by the Chilean Patricia Osses, which opened officially last evening (18th), at Instituto Cervantes, marked the beginning of the festival’s activities. The photographic essay was made in 2001 in the Palace of Alhambra, in Granada, Spain, built in the XIII century, during the Arab presence in the Iberian Peninsula.
The photographs reveal details of the architecture of the luxurious Moorish palace, of domes and arcs, shaded patios, and shiny tiles. In Patricia’s photos one can see Arab windows, stained glass, columns and mosaics. The walls feature the exquisite Arab calligraphy and beautiful coloured mosaics.
"More than conveying a clear and precise idea of the magnificent building, the images prefer to bring textures and handwriting, nuances of light and suggestions of shapes, bringing the viewer closer to the experience of walking around the Moorish palace," she explains. "The nearness of the photos was intentional, so as to give the impression that one is actually there," she finishes off.
View the full programme of the South American Festival of Arab Culture on the site
www.festivaldaculturaarabe.org
*Translated by Mark Ament and Gabriel Pomerancblum
