Victoria and Albert Museum

Until recently, the museum had no examples of 20th-century material from the Middle East. We are therefore beginning to collect Middle Eastern 20th-century and contemporary works, working with colleagues in the V&A’s western departments and with other national and regional institutions. Major ceramics items are being acquired in liaison with the V&A’s Ceramics and Glass section and the Middle Eastern Department in the British Museum. A major initiative in the contemporary field has been the Jameel Prize for contemporary art and design inspired by Islamic tradition, first awarded in July 2009, from which we have acquired some works for the collection. Collecting contemporary photography from the Middle East has been stimulated by collaborative acquisitions realised in cooperation with the Photography section of the V&A's Word and Image Department and the British Museum, generously funded by The Art Fund.

London Design Festival:

While We Wait is an immersive installation by Bethlehem-based architects Elias and Yousef Anastas about the cultural claim over nature in Palestine. The towering structure consists of elements of stone from different regions of Palestine, fading upwards from earthy red to pale limestone. The stone elements are shaped by both innovative and traditional techniques: they are designed on a computer, cut by robots and hand-finished by local artisans. The process of ‘stereotomy’, the art of cutting stones so they can be assembled into a larger configuration, enables the lace-like structure to support itself. Moreover, lace-like gaps between the stones allow the viewer to look out, while being encouraged to imagine the installation’s eventual, natural surroundings through evocative sound and video components.

After being exhibited at the V&A, While We Wait is destined to live permanently in the Cremisan Valley, where the controversial separation wall is currently being built, threatening to segregate the community, isolate land from its owners and sever the historic link between the valley and its eponymous monastery. In stark contrast to the rectangular concrete wall, which dominates and divides the Palestinian landscape, this installation will venerate its extreme natural beauty. Returning to the very earth from which it was made, it celebrates the visual, symbiotic relationship between nature and architecture. Moreover, the structure will serve to unite the local community in a similar way to their non-denominational Friday gatherings in protest of the wall. While We Wait therefore suggests an alternative claim over nature.

Culture in Crisis

The Culture in Crisis programme began roughly 4 years ago with the ambition of bringing together institutions with a shared interest in protecting cultural heritage; providing a forum for sharing information, inspiring and supporting action and raising public awareness.

We understand the impact of cultural heritage loss on communities and the contrasting positive role that heritage protection can have in rebuilding and recovering these areas. As such we aim to encourage a cross-disciplinary approach to protecting cultural heritage around the globe.

With the launching of the Culture in Crisis Talk Series, we begin a new stream within our work. The monthly series brings in artists, designers, heritage workers, activists - and many others - to discuss these issues with relation to their own practice. The series intends to be responsive, fluid and to open up dialogue on important and pressing issues.

http://www.vam.ac.uk/blog/network/culture-in-crisis

Afruz Amighi 1001 Pages, 2008, Polythene with hand-cut design made using a stencil burner

Dice Kayek (Ayse and Ece Ege), Hagia Sophia, 2009. Embroidered satin, glass

Bahia Shehab A Thousand Times No, 2010, Book

Elias and Yousef Anastas While We Wait, 2017, Stone installation