Art for Our Lives

Six months months after the US withdrawal and Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, the arts landscape has changed dramatically. Yusuf Misdaq, a.k.a. Yoshi, is an Afghan poet, author, musician, visual artist, and documentary filmmaker. In episode 4 of Art for Our Lives, Yusuf shares his thoughts on the future of art in Afghanistan, the role of the Afghan diaspora, and his hopes and his misgivings for a world whose young people seem to be undergoing a spiritual revolution.

Egyptian artist Ganzeer gained notoriety internationally for his role in the Egyptian Revolution in 2011. His protest art led to him being frequently referred to as a “street artist,” but his work spans different mediums and his subjects are multi-dimensional. With the premier of his new graphic novel, The Solar Grid, Ganzeer weaves together different themes of social commentary into a SciFi narrative that isn't as far off from reality as it may seem.

Theme music "Motion to Beat" by Modhify. Additional music "Animal" and "Quantum Space" by Modhify.

What can storytelling have to do with conservation and mitigating the effects of environmental injustice? Photographer, videographer, and conservationist Yazan Aboushi talks with Kate about the ways in which environmental storytelling can improve access to and protection of the natural world around us.

Music “Motion to Beat” and “Light Granite” by Modhify, and “Romantic Doom” by Mike Trimens

DC-based curator and artist Laila Jadallah discusses creating in isolation, putting together an international exhibition during the global pandemic, and the politics of curation.

Music by Modhify "Quantum Pace" and "Motion to Beat"