Rise, Habibi • 50 Artists x 30 Poets • Women Collaborate across Centuries• | Crypt Gallery
Arts
Literary Arts
Rise, Habibi at the Crypt Gallery NW1 2BA * May 28- June 14 (forget what you think you know about faith, feminism + the female experience long ago) In partnership with Saqi Books & Shubbak 2025, Radical Love’s ‘Rise, Habibi’ showcases the groundbreaking poems of 30 Arab & Muslim women writing over 1,000 years ago, taken from Saqi's cult collection 'Classical Poems by Arab Women' translated by Abdullah al-Udhari. We posted them (in original Arabic and English translation) to 50 emerging artists across the world who reimagined these ancient words in photography, paint, sculpture and textile for a breathtaking and deeply personal exhibition unlike any other. In times of crushing despair, we draw inspiration from warriors, saints, princesses and slaves who defied expectation and refused to be silenced as we celebrate the enduring legacy of female Arab and Muslim creative resistance.. 'better to live in hardship then end up as a whipping girl' Zabba 9C Abbasid Dynasty Over a thousand years old but timeless, short & sweet, in just a few lines 30 women bare their hearts and souls as mothers dote on babies, girls crush on forbidden boys (and girls), celebrated scholars rebel against patriarchy and the daughters of slaves revolt against greed, all using poetry as their form of expression. 'Can't you see we've become beetles run by a beetle boss?' Hajna 8C Baghdad A dizzying array of artists includes Kazna Asker, Dana Barqawi, Malak Mattar, Azraa Motala, Ilona Szalay, Yara Said, Molly Crabapple, Hana Gamal, Zahra Marwan, Nadine Faraj, Lizzy Vartanian, Tamsin Abbott, Lena Kassicieh, Sheila Nortley, Saraiya Bah, Mariam Tafsiri, Reem Arkan, Miyuki Kasahara, Eylül Aslan, Nouf Alhimiary, Darin Ahmad, Chantey Dawal, Anouska Beckwith, Mobeen Akhtar, Aula al Ayoubi, Farah Soobhan, Vean Ima, Nina Gadd, Cherryl Brunel, Hend al Mansour, Khadijah Rehman, Eli Wirija, Femi Tiwo, Kit Dambite, Samar Hejazi, Ana Cayuela Munoz, Hana Almilli, Michelle Dickson, Saba Siddiqui, Sandra Daniel, Timi Hayek, Dia Batal, Fatma Al Najjar, Enas Saeed, Hala Kamona,Vicki da Silva, Maisa Mansour, Salma Hossam Almadhoun and Joumana Medlej. As part ofShubbak- Europe's largest Arab Culture Festival- Rise, Habibiruns May 29 (Opening Night on May 28 sold separately) to June 14 at The Crypt Gallery, St Pancras where Caryatids oversee the magic of this female collaboration across centuries. 'If youwere nota starIwould be in thedark. Salaam toyourbeautyfrom onewhomisses the thrills ofyourcompany' Hafsa 12C Granada Please support this independent exhibition by giving £5/ £10/ £20 (or more if you’ve got it!). TWO TICKETED EVENTS TO WATCH OUT FOR- OPENING NIGHT WITH LIVE PERFORMANCE & POETRY READING/ ARTIST Q&A ... TO BE ANNOUNCED Running as part of Shubbak 2025- Europe's largest Arab culture festival https://www.shubbak.co.uk/rise-habibi/ Follow us @radical_love_art Link to Dazed article on Radical Love's 2017 show #femalelust : https://www.dazeddigital.com/artsandculture/article/34516/1/women-artists-respond-to-ancient-arabic-poems-in-new-show Curated by Róisín O' Loughlin. Poster Image Artwork by Dana Barqawi 'She refused his whiteman's burden'.
Information Source: Radical Love | eventbrite