In this episode of Outline, we're joined by author, illustrator, and film producer Marya Zarif, who's known for her animated works that highlight Syrian narratives. The conversation delves into her background, motivations for creating the award-winning Syrian animated series and films Dounia and "Dounia and the Princess of Aleppo," and the emotional impact these works have on audiences. Zarif shares insights on her creative process, the significance of portraying Syrian culture, and the challenges faced as an Arab – and particularly Syrian – creator. The episode also touches on the broader issues of Syrian visibility in media and the responsibility of storytelling in fostering empathy and understanding.

في هذه الحلقة من اوتلاين، نستكشف الرحلة الملهمة لكولكتيف كراسي، المجموعة التي تسعى لدعم الفنانين في حلب من خلال خلق مساحات للتعبير والتعاون. تعرّف على تجارب ناتالي بحادي، من دراستها لإدارة الفنون والثقافة إلى إطلاق كولكتيف كراسي في عام 2022. تتناول المحادثة التحديات التي تواجه بناء مجتمعات فنية وسط العقبات القمعية السياسية، البيروقراطية والاجتماعية، وأهمية إعادة الاتصال بالهوية من خلال الفن، وكيف يمكن للتعبير الفني أن يساعد في التعافي من الصدمات. كما نناقش تطور المشهد الفني المحلي، ودور الموسيقى كآلية للتكيف، والحاجة الملحة لمساهمة السوريين في الخارج في إحياء المشهد الثقافي لوطنهم

This episode of Outline is the first in an Aleppo special hosted by Sabine Boghossian. In this episode, our host is joined by visual artist Christine Gedeon. Born in Aleppo, Syria, and raised in the US, Gedeon now divides her time between Berlin and New York. Her work has focused on her family history in Syria pre-civil war. The discussion delves into her latest projects, including her book "Aleppo Deconstruction Reconstruction" and her film "A Portrait of Michel," which explore the impact of the Syrian war on her family and artistic journey. Gedeon shares the emotional and personal challenges of working on projects related to her family's history, dealing with themes of identity, war, and loss, and the recent fall of the Assad regime. The conversation also touches on broader issues such as the impact of censorship and the political climate on artists, especially those from the Middle East.

El Warcha means workshop in Arabic. It is a collective and maker-space founded in 2016 in the medina of Tunis, Tunisia. It aims to promote hands-on education and civic actions through the making of temporary urban furniture, art installations and public events with local inhabitants. With members of its community moving around, the project established itself in Tottenham in north London in 2018, and in Lisbon since 2020. It has also operated regularly in Nefta in south Tunisia since 2019.

In this episode of Outline, embroidery artist Lizzy Vartanian explains her creative process behind taking old family photos and bringing them to life through embroidery. She tells us about her first exposure to the craft, connecting with her own heritage, and sharing the practice with others. Together, we reflect on the true intangible value of handwork and the stories that are shared and preserved in each final piece.

We kick of a new season of Outline with our new host, Sabine Boghossian, who interviews multimedia artist, photographer, writer and textile designer, Hana Almilli. Hana invites us into her multi-layered creative practice which centers mostly around textiles. Using fabric, she seeks to connect with her history, unite her ancestors and grapple with cultural and identity alienation — a feeling she has found resonates with many. She speaks about the feminine fibre that is integral to textile-based practices having been passed down generations from woman to woman, the value of the repetitive and meditative nature of weaving, and leveraging space and light as part of her work.

Being a director, winning the Angénieux Encouragement Award at Cannes, navigating the film industry, and differences between working on ads, TV and cinema: award-winning Egyptian director Haya Khairat gives us an insider view on life behind the camera. In conversation with Mikey, Haya shares her experiences grappling with cynicism, being a women director, and keeping her passion for cinema alive. She also lists her key dos and don’ts for aspiring directors and recommends her top 5 films and filmmakers that keep her inspired. Haya Khairat is an Egyptian director, cinematographer and photographer. She was the first Egyptian to win the Angénieux Special Encouragement Award at the Cannes Film Festival. Haya worked as first assistant cameraman for “Afrah al-Qobba”, “La Tatfi al-Shams” and “Al-Rehla”. She was also the director of photography for “Dark Chocolate” which won “Best Short Film” at the Cairo Film Festival in 2019.Created & hosted by Mikey Muhanna, afikra Edited by: Ramzi RammanTheme music by: Tarek Yamani https://www.instagram.com/tarek_yamani/About Outline:Outline is a process-focused conversation that looks at guests’ individual projects rather than their full bodies of work. The conversation sketches the journey of the project; the spark of curiosity that led to the project, the process of implementing the idea, the struggles that emerged throughout the implementation, and the aftermath of the project that includes new questions and new ideas. The name “Outline” stems from the idea of creating a retroactive project outline which is part of a broader emphasis on the process of curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking from a nuts and bolts perspective. Outline is not discipline-specific; the series will be held with artists, academics, writers, filmmakers, among others. Join the live audience: https://www.afikra.com/rsvp   FollowYoutube - Instagram (@afikra_) - Facebook -Twitter Support www.afikra.com/supportAbout afikra:‎afikra is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region- past, present, and future - through conversations driven by curiosity. Read more about us on  afikra.com Hosted by: Sabine Boghossian 👉 https://www.instagram.com/sabineboghossian/& Omar Thawabeh 👉 https://www.instagram.com/omarthawabeh/Sabine Boghossian is a multidisciplinary creative who dives headfirst into anything that captures her curiosity. Born and bred in a multicultural household in Aleppo, Syria, she has spent the last decade balancing her life between Beirut and Brussels. Her passion for food and sensitivity to language fuel her diverse practice, which spans scenography, design, and copywriting on subjects as varied as food, architecture, and identity. She recently launched "yurs" a line of repairable leather goods in the form of DIY kits.Omar Thawabeh is a Beirut-based translator, writer and the co-host of afikra's Outline podcast. His translations and essays were published in Bidayat, The Public Source, Oasis, among other platforms and magazines. In 2023, his Arabic translation of Lamia Ziadé’s graphic novel "Bye Bye Babylone" was published by Mauzoun. FOLLOW & RATE THE OUTLINE PODCAST » Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/afikra-outline/id1646405442» Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4GbiJVVNtBXMvH6155am06» Anghami: https://play.anghami.com/podcast/1044639425THIS SERIES IS PART OF THE AFIKRA PODCAST NETWORKExplore all episodes in this series: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfYG40bwRKl4kiYfcmVlscYdob4Hk62-P&si=W35hkYg6-taJOwF9ABOUT AFIKRAafikra | عفكرة is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region – past, present and future – through conversations driven by curiosity.📍 Local events in 40+ locations worldwide http://afikra.com/chapters🎧 New podcasts + videos weekly http://afikra.com/podcasts⚡ Become a member: https://www.afikra.com/membership🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afikra_🔗 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/afikra.official🔗 Twitter: https://twitter.com/afikra

What does it mean to work across textile and digital mediums? Nour Hage, award-winning British-Lebanese designer and artist, delves into her practice, exploring themes of West-Asian Identities, NFTs and Web3. We discuss traversing the physical and digital realms and why she chooses digital art for her personal exploration. We also explore the meaning of the evil eye and misunderstanding/seeking to understand our grandparents as people. Nour Hage is an award winning British-Lebanese designer and artist, based between London and Dubai. She works across textile and digital and her practice is centred on the exploration of West Asian identities, culture, history and storytelling, with a particular focus on women, the supernatural and mental wellbeing.She was the inaugural Jameel Fellow at the V&A Museum in 2021 - 2022. Her solo exhibition Kheit at Leighton House is open until 16th July.Created & hosted by Mikey Muhanna, afikra Edited by: Ramzi RammanTheme music by: Tarek Yamani https://www.instagram.com/tarek_yamani/About Outline:Outline is a process-focused conversation that looks at guests’ individual projects rather than their full bodies of work. The conversation sketches the journey of the project; the spark of curiosity that led to the project, the process of implementing the idea, the struggles that emerged throughout the implementation, and the aftermath of the project that includes new questions and new ideas. The name “Outline” stems from the idea of creating a retroactive project outline which is part of a broader emphasis on the process of curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking from a nuts and bolts perspective. Outline is not discipline-specific; the series will be held with artists, academics, writers, filmmakers, among others. Join the live audience: https://www.afikra.com/rsvp   FollowYoutube - Instagram (@afikra_) - Facebook - Twitter Support www.afikra.com/supportAbout afikra:‎afikra is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region- past, present, and future - through conversations driven by curiosity. Read more about us on  afikra.com Hosted by: Sabine Boghossian 👉 https://www.instagram.com/sabineboghossian/& Omar Thawabeh 👉 https://www.instagram.com/omarthawabeh/Sabine Boghossian is a multidisciplinary creative who dives headfirst into anything that captures her curiosity. Born and bred in a multicultural household in Aleppo, Syria, she has spent the last decade balancing her life between Beirut and Brussels. Her passion for food and sensitivity to language fuel her diverse practice, which spans scenography, design, and copywriting on subjects as varied as food, architecture, and identity. She recently launched "yurs" a line of repairable leather goods in the form of DIY kits.Omar Thawabeh is a Beirut-based translator, writer and the co-host of afikra's Outline podcast. His translations and essays were published in Bidayat, The Public Source, Oasis, among other platforms and magazines. In 2023, his Arabic translation of Lamia Ziadé’s graphic novel "Bye Bye Babylone" was published by Mauzoun. FOLLOW & RATE THE OUTLINE PODCAST » Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/afikra-outline/id1646405442» Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4GbiJVVNtBXMvH6155am06» Anghami: https://play.anghami.com/podcast/1044639425THIS SERIES IS PART OF THE AFIKRA PODCAST NETWORKExplore all episodes in this series: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfYG40bwRKl4kiYfcmVlscYdob4Hk62-P&si=W35hkYg6-taJOwF9ABOUT AFIKRAafikra | عفكرة is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region – past, present and future – through conversations driven by curiosity.📍 Local events in 40+ locations worldwide http://afikra.com/chapters🎧 New podcasts + videos weekly http://afikra.com/podcasts⚡ Become a member: https://www.afikra.com/membership🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afikra_🔗 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/afikra.official🔗 Twitter: https://twitter.com/afikra

Fadi Bou Karam talks about the history of Levantine etymologies and their possible origins. He discusses the influence of the Ottomans on the way certain words are pronounced, notably in Lebanese Arabic. The words include fruits and vegetables, such as artichoke, orange, loquat & more.Fadi Bou Karam is a photographer based in Beirut, Lebanon. He was born and raised in Beirut, and growing up in a war-torn country, photos held a special significance for him as they were often the only remnant of people who no longer existed.It wasn't until he reached his thirties that Bou Karam realized how much he needed photography, both as a therapeutic tool and a way to discover oddities within the mundane. In 2013, he and a group of photographers from around the world started the Observe Collective, which was founded on a shared fascination with watching and documenting the diverse humanity that surrounds us. Created & Hosted by Mikey Muhanna, afikraEdited by: Ramzi RammanTheme music by: Tarek Yamani https://www.instagram.com/tarek_yamani/About the afikra Conversations:Our long-form interview series features academics, arts, ‎and media experts who are helping document and/or shape the history and culture of the Arab world through their ‎work. Our hope is that by having the guest share their expertise and story, the community still walks away with newfound curiosity - and maybe some good recommendations about new nerdy rabbit holes to dive into headfirst. ‎Following the interview, there is a moderated town-hall-style Q&A with questions coming from the live virtual audience ‎on Zoom.‎ Join the live audience: https://www.afikra.com/rsvp   FollowYoutube - Instagram (@afikra_) - Facebook - Twitter Support www.afikra.com/supportAbout afikra:‎afikra is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region- past, present, and future - through conversations driven by curiosity. Read more about us on  afikra.com  Hosted by: Sabine Boghossian 👉 https://www.instagram.com/sabineboghossian/& Omar Thawabeh 👉 https://www.instagram.com/omarthawabeh/Sabine Boghossian is a multidisciplinary creative who dives headfirst into anything that captures her curiosity. Born and bred in a multicultural household in Aleppo, Syria, she has spent the last decade balancing her life between Beirut and Brussels. Her passion for food and sensitivity to language fuel her diverse practice, which spans scenography, design, and copywriting on subjects as varied as food, architecture, and identity. She recently launched "yurs" a line of repairable leather goods in the form of DIY kits.Omar Thawabeh is a Beirut-based translator, writer and the co-host of afikra's Outline podcast. His translations and essays were published in Bidayat, The Public Source, Oasis, among other platforms and magazines. In 2023, his Arabic translation of Lamia Ziadé’s graphic novel "Bye Bye Babylone" was published by Mauzoun. FOLLOW & RATE THE OUTLINE PODCAST » Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/afikra-outline/id1646405442» Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4GbiJVVNtBXMvH6155am06» Anghami: https://play.anghami.com/podcast/1044639425THIS SERIES IS PART OF THE AFIKRA PODCAST NETWORKExplore all episodes in this series: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfYG40bwRKl4kiYfcmVlscYdob4Hk62-P&si=W35hkYg6-taJOwF9ABOUT AFIKRAafikra | عفكرة is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region – past, present and future – through conversations driven by curiosity.📍 Local events in 40+ locations worldwide http://afikra.com/chapters🎧 New podcasts + videos weekly http://afikra.com/podcasts⚡ Become a member: https://www.afikra.com/membership🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afikra_🔗 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/afikra.official🔗 Twitter: https://twitter.com/afikra

Mary Ann Peters talks about her art work and productions that stem from the histories of the Middle East. She uses watercolor, gouache, and walnut ink to create pieces that tell stories.Mary Ann Peters is an artist whose combined studio work, installations, public art projects and arts activism have made noted contributions to the Northwest and nationally for over 30 years. Most recently her work has focused on the overlap of contemporary events with splintered histories in the Middle East. Her awards include the 2015 Stranger Genius Award in Visual Art, a 2013 Art Matters Foundation research grant, the MacDowell Colony Pollock Krasner Fellowship (2011), the Civita Institute Fellowship (2004) and the Behnke Foundation Neddy Award in Painting (2000). She is a founder of COCA (Center on Contemporary Art), a recipient of the Artist Trust Leadership and Arts Award, and former board member and board president of NCFE (National Campaign for Freedom of Expression). Created & hosted by Mikey Muhanna, afikra Edited by: Ramzi RammanTheme music by: Tarek Yamani https://www.instagram.com/tarek_yamani/About Outline:Outline is a process-focused conversation that looks at guests’ individual projects rather than their full bodies of work. The conversation sketches the journey of the project; the spark of curiosity that led to the project, the process of implementing the idea, the struggles that emerged throughout the implementation, and the aftermath of the project that includes new questions and new ideas. The name “Outline” stems from the idea of creating a retroactive project outline which is part of a broader emphasis on the process of curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking from a nuts and bolts perspective. Outline is not discipline-specific; the series will be held with artists, academics, writers, filmmakers, among others. Join the live audience: https://www.afikra.com/rsvp   FollowYoutube - Instagram (@afikra_) - Facebook - Twitter Support www.afikra.com/supportAbout afikra:‎afikra is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region- past, present, and future - through conversations driven by curiosity. Read more about us on  afikra.com  Hosted by: Sabine Boghossian 👉 https://www.instagram.com/sabineboghossian/& Omar Thawabeh 👉 https://www.instagram.com/omarthawabeh/Sabine Boghossian is a multidisciplinary creative who dives headfirst into anything that captures her curiosity. Born and bred in a multicultural household in Aleppo, Syria, she has spent the last decade balancing her life between Beirut and Brussels. Her passion for food and sensitivity to language fuel her diverse practice, which spans scenography, design, and copywriting on subjects as varied as food, architecture, and identity. She recently launched "yurs" a line of repairable leather goods in the form of DIY kits.Omar Thawabeh is a Beirut-based translator, writer and the co-host of afikra's Outline podcast. His translations and essays were published in Bidayat, The Public Source, Oasis, among other platforms and magazines. In 2023, his Arabic translation of Lamia Ziadé’s graphic novel "Bye Bye Babylone" was published by Mauzoun. FOLLOW & RATE THE OUTLINE PODCAST » Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/afikra-outline/id1646405442» Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4GbiJVVNtBXMvH6155am06» Anghami: https://play.anghami.com/podcast/1044639425THIS SERIES IS PART OF THE AFIKRA PODCAST NETWORKExplore all episodes in this series: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfYG40bwRKl4kiYfcmVlscYdob4Hk62-P&si=W35hkYg6-taJOwF9ABOUT AFIKRAafikra | عفكرة is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region – past, present and future – through conversations driven by curiosity.📍 Local events in 40+ locations worldwide http://afikra.com/chapters🎧 New podcasts + videos weekly http://afikra.com/podcasts⚡ Become a member: https://www.afikra.com/membership🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afikra_🔗 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/afikra.official🔗 Twitter: https://twitter.com/afikra