World Nomads

Tunisia

May 2013

Conceived as a forum for dialogue between cultures, World Nomads is FIAF’s biennial cele-bration of 21st-century transculturalism in the Francophone world. This May, the festival returns for its fifth edition to explore the rich arts and culture of Tunisia just two years after the Arab Spring. Geographically situated at the epicenter of the European, Maghreb, and African worlds, Tunisia has served as an essen-tial point of passage for people and ideas since ancient times. Today, following the events of January 2011, a groundswell of artistic innovation and experimentation permeates the country, anchoring it as a hub for intellectual and artistic dialogue reaching far beyond the Mediterranean region. World Nomads Tunisia brings some of the most influential contemporary artistic figures active in Tunisia today to New York, including dynamic female leaders who are re-energizing Tunisia. Co-presented with leading Tunisian and U.S. cultural institutions, the festival is dedicated to advancing critical thinking about this vibrant country as it carves out a new identity post-revolution.

World Nomads Tunisia is presented under the direction of Marie-Monique Steckel, President of FIAF Lili Chopra, Artistic Director of FIAF

Tony Guerrero, Director of Visual Arts at FIAF Elizabeth Krief Manardo, Advisor and Pres-

ident of the World Nomads Tunisia Committee Leila Souissi, Co-curator of Visual Arts and

Karim Maatoug, Programming Advisor.

2 | 3

Friday, May 3 at 8pm

O p e n i n g n i g h tS o n i a M ’ b a r e k

World Nomads Tunisia kicks off with an evening of mesmerizing music performed by Sonia M’Barek, one of the Arab world’s leading singers. She will be accompanied by the superb Al-Bustan Seeds of Culture’s resident takht, or Arab music ensemble, led by Music Director Hanna Khoury.

“Compelling!”—The New Yorker

Florence Gould Hall

FIAF Members $25 Non-Members $35

Co-presented with World Music Institute.

M u S i c

4 | 5

Friday, May 3 from 7–8pm

Tunisian choreographers Selma and Sofiane Ouissi—two major figures in the Arab dance scene—present a poetic 12-minute video work , shown on the festival ’s opening night. The brother-sister pair appear on film, performing a dance inspired by the process and technique of traditional women potters living in Sejnane, Tunisia. Through their abstract and sensual choreography, the duo honor and promote this disappearing art form, practiced solely by women.

Tinker AuditoriumFree & open to the public.

O p e n i n g n i g h tS e l M a & S o f i a n e

o u i S S i L a a r O u s s a

v i d e o a r t

6 | 7Ghalia Benali

Wednesday, May 15 at 8pm

G h a l i a b e n a l i

Known for her inventive music, Ghalia Benali is one of the most remarkable, multi-faceted talents working in Tunisia. Her expressive voice and melodic compositions ref lec t a variet y of inf luences stretching from Arabic folk and jazz traditions to contemporary Indian classical music. Join Benali for an evening of soulful music that is at once modern and deeply-rooted in the country’s rich traditions.

Florence Gould Hall

FIAF Member $20Non-Member $25Ghalia & Emel Package $35

Made possible by Kamel Lazaar Foundation.

Wednesday, May 15from 10:30pm–12:30am

t u n i S i a n d J S i n n e w Y o r k

Join World Nomads at CATCH’s rooftop bar and dance away to fresh beats spun by DJ Zinga, DJ Raouf, and DJ Ogra, all members of the Tunis-based electronic music collective, Waveform. Experience the collective’s freethinking and festive music, echoing the Revo-lution’s call for freedom, while taking in beautiful night-time views of the New York City skyline.

CATCH Roof Free & open to the public.

M u S i c

8 | 9

Wednesday, May 22 at 8pm

One of Tunisia’s most exciting and inf luential contemporar y artists, Emel Mathlouthi gave voice to the Arab Spring through her powerful, f ier y music. Hear her perform songs, banned in Tunisia under President Ben Ali, from her most recent album Kelmti Horra (My Word is Free).

Florence Gould Hall

FIAF Members $20Non-Members $25 Emel & Ghalia Package $35

Sponsored in part by

e M e lM a t h l o u t h i

M u S i c

10 | 11

Thursday & Friday, May 9 & 10 at 8pm

J o n a h b o k a e r

t h e u L y s s e ss y n d r O m e

Award-winning choreographer Jonah Bokaer explores his familial roots with his Tunisian-born father, Tsvi Bokaer. Set to an evocative soundscape of everyday sounds recorded in the Mediterranean by Soundwalk Collective and inspired by a screenplay written by Tsvi about his childhood, Jonah probes the dual cultural identities he and his father share, delving into the cross-cultural play between migra-tion, displacement, and sense of self. A meditative work, made all the more profound by Tsvi’s quiet on-stage presence, and a stunning lighting installation inspired by travels to Tunisia.

u . S . P r e M i e r e Florence Gould Hall

FIAF Members $20Non-Members $25Jonah & Radhouane Package $35

Co-presented with Chez Bushwick.

d a n c e

12 | 13

Tuesday, May 14 at 8pm

r a d h o u a n e e l M e d d e b

s O u s L e u r s p i e d s , L e p a r a d i s

In this subtle, moving solo that premiered at the Montpell ier Dance Festival in 2012, Tunisian dancer Radhouane El Meddeb pays homage to femininity and the vital, nurturing role women tradi-tionally play as mothers, sisters, and daughters. Set to one of legendary female Egyptian singer Oum Kalthoum’s most popular songs, itself a paean to freedom, El Meddeb’s movements echo female spheres of mourning and maternity, allowing him to break free of restrictive gender roles and reveal his own more sensual side. The work, choreographed in collaboration with Thomas Lebrun, speaks poetically to the continuing evolution of gender roles in Tunisia after the Arab Spring.

u . S . P r e M i e r e Florence Gould Hall

FIAF Members $20Non-Members $25Radhouane & Jonah Package $35

d a n c e

15 | 15

16 | 17

t h e r o l e o f w o M e n

i n t u n i S i a n S o c i e t Y

a r t , w o M e n & P o l i t i c S

Join leading Tunisian women for a lunchtime discussion about the significant and growing role of women as drivers of social, artistic, and political change following the Arab Spring.

Featuring: Keynote Speaker

Yamina Benguigui, French Minister of Francophonie;

Dora Bouchoucha, Film Producer & Founder of Nomadis Images;

Kenza Fourati, Model & Blogger; Amna Guellali, Director of

Human Rights Watch Tunisia; Lina Lazaar Jameel, Sotheby’s

International Contemporary Art Specialist;

Leila Souissi, Tunisian Contemporary Arts Specialist.

Le Skyroom

FIAF Members $35Non-Members $40 Tickets include lunch & wine. Reserved seating.

In English.

Sponsored in part by

Following the success of a live-streamed talk at White Box during the Arab Spring in 2011, World Nomads Tunisia presents an inter-national live-streamed discussion with influential Tunisian women who will speak about working in the arts in present-day Tunisia.

Featuring: Dora Bouchoucha; Amna Guellali, Director of

Human Rights Watch Tunisia; Lina Lazaar Jameel; Leila Souissi;

And via Skype: Hélé Béji, Writer; El Iza Mohamedou,

Chief Political Analyst at the African Development Bank.

White BoxFree & open to the public.

In English.

Tuesday, May 7 at 1pm

Monday, May 6 at 12:30pm

w o M e n i n t u n i S i a

18 | 19

Wednesday–Friday, May 8–10from 5:30–8pm

S o u k : t u n i S i a n

c r a f t M a r k e t

Sip traditional mint tea and sample classic Tunisian pastries as you take in the sights and sounds of a souk, a traditional Arab bazaar, right here at FIAF. Since the 13th century, souks have played a central role in the culture and economy of the Arab world. Come and browse beautiful hand-made crafts that reflect Tunisia’s rich artistic tra-ditions from rugs, textiles, and contemporary clothing to colorful ceramics and glassware.

Tinker AuditoriumFree & open to the public.

S P e c i a l e v e n t

20 | 21

Saturday– Saturday, May 4–18

Opening Reception Saturday, May 4 from 5–8pm

Saturday, May 4from 11am–6pm

World Nomads Tunisia invites you to view work and meet prolific Tunisian graffiti artists, eL Seed and Jaye, at the New Museum’s biennial outdoor street fair, IDEAS CITY. Bring your own message of peace to share on canvases prepared by the artists.

New Museum’s IDEAS CITY Festival Free & open to the public.

Visit newmuseum.org/ideascity for info.

The After Revolution visual arts program is curated by Tunisian-based Leila Souissi.

Following the revolution in 2011, Tunisian photographers, required to work with a license under President Ben Ali’s regime, took to the streets to freely cap-ture the momentous reaction to the Arab Spring in real-time.

World Nomads Tunisia presents photographs from seven contem-porary Tunisian photographers, offering a remarkable view of these important events taken by those who lived through them.

Featuring work by Héla Ammar, Amine Boussoffara, Wassim Ghozlani, Amine Landoulsi, Zied Ben Romdhane, Rim Temimi, & Patricia Triki.

White BoxFree & open to the public.

t h e a f t e rre v o l u t i o n

a t w h i t e b o x

t h e a f t e rre v o l u t i o n

a t i d e a S c i t Y f e S t i v a l

v i S u a l a r t S

22 | 23

Sunday–Friday, May 12–31Opening Reception

Sunday, May 12 from 6–8pm

Wednesday–Saturday, May 8–June 1

The FIAF Gallery offers a view of the Revolution’s impact as captured through paintings, photography, and video by f ive contemporary Tunisian artists, whose work is being shown in New York for the first time. Curated by Tunisian-based Leila Souissi, the exhibition features work by four female artists who spotlight the challenges they have faced not just as artists, but also as women.

Featuring work by Héla Ammar, Amel Ben Attia, Nicène Kossentini, Mouna Jemal Siala & Mohamed Ben Slama.

FIAF Gallery Free & open to the public.

Forbidden under President Ben Ali, street art has quickly become an important outlet for expression since the Revolution. World Nomads Tunisia welcomes internationally renowned Tunisian graffiti artists, eL Seed and Jaye, to New York for the f irst time to create original works in collaboration with New York-based “writers,” including Meres Ones, founder of 5Pointz.

Followed by a film crew, eL Seed and Jaye will bring their unique style with messages of tolerance and peace to walls in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Queens at 5Pointz, considered the epi-center of the world’s graffiti scene.

On Sunday, May 12, view their work and the film documenting their creations around New York City during a celebratory reception at 5Pointz.

5PointzFree & open to the public.

Co-presented with 5Pointz.

t h e a f t e rre v o l u t i o n

t h e a f t e rre v o l u t i o n

a t 5 P o i n t z

v i S u a l a r t S

24 | 25Buried Secrets

Tuesdays, May 7–28

World Nomads Tunisia presents a month of Tunisian films curated by Dora Bouchoucha, one of the most successful female film produ-cers in Tunisia. The films featured in the series explore the place of women in Tunisian society before and after the fall of President Ben Ali in January 2011. With gripping shorts, insightful documentaries, and award-winning features, this series provides an important win-dow into one of the most watched countries post-revolution.

Tunisia in Film curated by Dora Bouchoucha.

Films produced by NomadisImages created in Tunisia. Co-presented with ArteEast.

FIAF Members Free*Non-Members $10Students w/ ID $7*Advance tickets $2. Free Members’ tickets distributed day-of. Membership card required.

Films after May 7 will be shown in Tinker Auditorium.

t u n i S i a i n f i l M

c i n é M a

26 | 27

Tuesday, May 7at 12:30, 4 & 7pm

s h O r t & F e a t u r eTuesday, May 14

at 12:30, 4 & 7:30pm

t h e S i l e n c e So f t h e P a l a c e r e d S a t i nl a w 7 6

l e S S i l e n c e S d u P a l a i S When 25-year old Alia returns

to the palace where she grew up with her servant mother, all of the memories she struggled to bury come flooding back. A powerful look at female oppression during the reign of the last monarchs in Tunisia. Winner of the Golden Camera award at the Cannes Film Festival in 1994.

Moufida Tlatli 1994. Color. 127 min.

With Amel Hedhili, Najia Ouerghi, Hend Sabri.

Florence Gould Hall

Arabic and French with English subtitles.

M e e t t h e c u r a t o rAt 7pm Dora Bouchoucha presents The Silences of the Palace followed by a Q&A.

S a t i n r o u G e While investiga-ting a suspected liaison between her teenage daughter and a cabaret musician, a widowed seamstress becomes drawn to an exotic night-club. As she gradually sheds her matronly housedresses for the f lamboyantly sequined garb of a bar-girl, she begins to emerge from her cocoon of loneliness. 

Raja Amari 2002. Color. 100 min.

With Hiam Abbass, Hend El Fahem, Maher Kamoun.

Arabic and French with English subtitles.

l o i 7 6 Filmed on the eve of the election in Tunisia, this f ictive documentary set in 2015 presents testimonies on the consequences of a new law and the challenges of the future.

Mohamed Ben Attia 2011. Color. 12 min.

With Nouha Barhoumi, Irad Zaafouri, Tahar Ferchichi.

Arabic with English subtitles.

28 | 29

s h O r t & F e a t u r eTuesday, May 21

at 12:30, 4 & 7:30pm

Tuesday, May 28at 12:30 & 4pm

b u r i e d S e c r e t Sw a v ei t w a S

b e t t e r t o M o r r o w

c ’ é t a i t M i e u x d e M a i n Shot after the fall of President Ben Ali in January 2011, this documentary follows Aida, a homeless Tunisian mother who goes in search of a better life. As she wanders, seeking shelter, she takes no notice of the historical events happening around her. An engaging alternate look at post-revolution Tunisia.

Hinde Boujemaa 2012. Color. 71 min.

Arabic with English subtitles.

l e S S e c r e t S In this second feature from Amari (Red Satin), a mother and her daughters, Aicha and Radia, live in the base-ment of an abandoned estate.

When a couple unexpectedly moves in, the family hides in fear of being kicked out. But as Aicha becomes increasingly curious about the new neighbors, she risks exposing her family’s secrets.

Raja Amari 2009. Color. 91 min.

With Hafsia Herzi, Soundes Bel Hassen, Wassila Dari.

Arabic and French with English subtitles.

v a G u e Over three periods of her life, a grandmother repeats the same story to her grandson. As he grows up, he discovers that things with his grandmother aren’t quite as they seem.

Mohamed Ben Attia 2010. Color. 12 min.

With Mouna Noureddine, Karim Brahem, Youssef Loussaief.

Arabic with English subtitles.

30 | 31Bobby

s h O r t & F e a t u r eTuesday, May 28

at 7:30pm

c u r S e d b e t h e P h o S P h a t eb o b b Y

It’s the first day of school, and 8-year-old Fares is finally allowed to walk to school alone. Along his way, he encounters a stray dog that he names Bobby. It ’s the beginning of a true friendship until Fares decides to bring Bobby back home.

Mehdi M. Barsaoui 2012. Color. 18 min.

With Alaeddine Ben Hamza, Jamel Sassi, Chekra Rammeh.

Arabic with English subtitles.

M a u d i t S o i t l e P h o S P h a t e Three years before the events

of January 2011, a protest broke out in the Gafsa mining basin. Although ultimately unsuccessful and brutally suppressed by the government, this “revolt for dignity” inspired the Tunisian Revolution.

Now, four years later, director Sami Tlili returns to the Basin to examine life in the region today. A forceful, elegant documentary.

Sami Tlili 2012. Color. 76 min.

With Béchir Abidi, Adel Jayyar, Laila Khaled.

Arabic with English subtitles.

Fri 3 Video Art selma & sofiane Ouissi p.5 TA Opening night 7–8pm

Fri 3 Music sonia m’Barek p.3 FGH Opening night 8pm

sat 4 Visual Arts the after evolution p.21 nM at ideas City Festival 11am–6pm

sat 4 Visual Arts the after evolution at White Box p.21 WB Opening reception 5–8pm

mon 6 Talks the role of Women in tunisian society 12:30pm p.17 SKy

tue 7 Talks Art, Women & politics 1pm p.17 WB

tue 7 Film The Silences of The Palace 12:30, 4 & 7pm p.26 FGH meet the Curator: dora Bouchoucha presents The Silences of The Palace 7pm

Wed 8 Visual Arts the after evolution thru saturday, June 1 p.23 GAl

Wed– Fri 8–10 Special Event souk: tunisian Craft market 5:30–8pm p.19 TA

thu– Fri 9–10 Dance Jonah Bokaer 8pm p.11 FGH

sun 12 Visual Arts the after evolution at 5pointz p.23 5p Opening reception 6–8pm

tue 14 Dance radhouane el meddeb 8pm p.13 FGH

Film Law 76 & Red Satin 12:30, 4 & 7:30pm p.27 TA

Wed 15 Music ghalia Benali 8pm p.7 FGH

Music tunisian dJs in new york 10:30pm–12:30am p.7 cr

tue 21 Film Wave & Buried Secrets 12:30, 4 & 7:30pm p.28 TA

Wed 22 Music emel mathlouthi 8pm p.9 FGH

tue 28 Film It Was Better Tomorrow 12:30 & 4pm p.29 TA

tue 28 Film Bobby & Cursed Be the Phosphate 7:30pm p.31 TA

off-site locations

c a l e n d a r o f e v e n t S M a Y 2 0 1 3

l o c a t i o n S & t i c k e t i n G

french institute alliance française

ticketing 800 982 2787 / fiaf.org information 212 355 6100 Subway 4, 5, 6 to 59th st / n, r, Q to 5th ave / F to 63rd st connect @fiafny • facebook.com/fiafny

FGH florence Gould hallTA tinker auditorium 55 east 59th st (between park & madison avenue)

SKy le SkyroomGAl fiaf Gallery 22 east 60th street (between park & madison avenue) gallery hours • tue–Fri: 11am–6pm • sat: 11am–5pm

5p 5Pointz 45-46 davis st, Long island City, ny Subway 7 to 45 rd / Court house square

cr catch roof 21 9th avenue Subway L to 8 ave / a, C, e to 14 st

nM new Museum ideaS citY festival 235 Bowery street Subway J, Z to Bowery st / 6 to Bleecker st / B, d, F, m to Broadway & Lafayette st

WB white box 329 Broome street Subway B, d to grand st / J, Z to Bowery st/ F to delancey st Wed–Fri: 11am–6pm • sat: 12pm–6pm • sun: 12–5pm

As of March 28, 2013

S P o n S o r S S P e c i a l t h a n k S

c o - P r e S e n t e r S & P a r t n e r S

Co-presenters

US-based Key Partners Tunisia-based Key Partners

Office national de l’artisanat tunisien (Onat); the tunisian ministry of Commerce.

5pointz

Foundations & AgenciesCorporate Sponsors

Kamel Lazaar Foundation

embassy of tunisia in Washington d.C.

permanent mission of tunisia to the united nations

the tunisian national tourist Office

Florence gould Foundation

Un grand merci to all our friends and champions! tahar & narjess Bayahi; mohamed Becheur; hélé Béji; nejib Belkhadit; syhem Belkhodja; ryma Benayed; salma Ben mahmoud; Wassim Ben yahia; Zeineb Ben yahmed; dora Bouchoucha - nomadis images; simone Carrica; Lina Chaabane; elisabeth daldoul - editions elyzad; Jaouida djehane; annie djamal; Kenza Fourati; marc de gontaut Biron; anissa Kasbaoui; sofia Khaoula Zaied; sonia Louzir - deloitte; Karim maatoug; saoussen mahjoub; mohamed malouche; imed marzouk; anis mnif; pavan pardasani; Bernard royet; mustapha tlili; daria Vancavas; amar Zribi; tunisian network for a successful society (tuness).

Individual Donors anonymous; rené-pierre & alexis azria; Wassila guiga-Lotfi; Fatma & Lassaad Kilani; elizabeth Krief & Jacques manardo; Chiheb mahjoub; paulin, paulin & paulin; Olfa rambourg; Jerry m. sorkin; soraya & moez Zouari.

ImagesCover: © Rim Temimip. 2: Sonia M’Barek ©Hamdi Boussouibap. 4: Selma & Sofiane Ouissi © David Douvrardp. 10: Jonah Bokaer © Bénédicte Longechalp. 12: Radhouane El Meddeb © Agathe Poupeneyp. 6: Ghalia Benali © Jean-Luc Goffinetp. 8: Emel Mathlouthi © Azza B ji & Ghaith Arfaoui p. 14–15: © Wassim Ghozlani Courtesy of Leila Souissip. 22: © Mohamed Ben Salamap. 20: © eL Seedp. 16: © Patricia Trikip. 24: Buried Secrets © Nomadis Images p. 30: Bobby © Nomadis Images p. 18: © TAyP

DesignPhilippe Apeloig Production AssistantsMarion Bizet Will RodenboughCopy EditingJulia Foster Kathryn Appleton

French Institute Alliance Française (FIAF)22 East 60th Street T. 212 355 6100

fiaf.org@fiafnyfacebook.com/fiafny

World Nomads

Tunisia

May 2013