This is the third edition of the biennale des photographes du monde arabe contemporain, with a very diverse selection of photographers and subjects.

Actually, the event isn’t limited to just the Institut du Monde Arabe – it’s taking place simultaneously in the galleries of nine different venues. Follow the suggested trail, see them all, and you’ll end up at the MEP for a very interesting retrospective…

For this edition of the biennial, the Institut du Monde Arabe is putting the spotlight on the Lebanese scene, with around twenty photographers showing works from the past decade.

The exhibition is organised in two parts, with the first taking a more documentative approach showing the geographical, urban and social realities, with a second section taking a less realist approach, showing a desire to escape this reality.

Three works in the exhibition go beyond simple photography. There’s the short film Beyrouth centre ville, 1991 by Tanino Musso, a kaleidoscopic installation called Beyrouth mon amour by Vladimir Antaki and another installation by Zad Moultaka that brings together original video and music.

If you follow the suggested trails between the other participating venues (not really in a straight line, but not far from each other) you’ll be able to discover the work of Giorgia Fiorio at Agathe Gaillard’s gallery, a collective exhibition called From Morocco at the Clémentine de la Férronière Gallery, an exhibition by Michel Slomka at the town hall of the 4th arrondissement, Hakawi حكاوي – Stories of Contemporary Egypt at the International City of the Arts…

The trail ends at the MEP, which has given carte blanche to Moroccan (but London-based) artist Hassan Hajjaj for a vast retrospective that you probably shouldn’t miss.

A very stimulating, diverse and beautiful biennial indeed!

The biennale des photographes du monde arabe contemporain is at the Institute of the Arab World (here) and eight other venues until 24th November 2019

Open every day except Mondays from 10am-6pm (7pm weekends and public holidays)

Admission: 10€ / 6€

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