Iraqi Brain Drain, Discussion Panel
The Courtyard Theatre, London, 8 Jan 2009

Planet Art eXchange |  PAX'08

Iraqi Brain Drain Discussion Panel, Thursday 8 Jan. 2009 at 6pm Co-organised by Planet Art eXchange, Solidarity for an independent and unified Iraq Iraqi Committee for national media and culture.	View the List of Assassinated Iraqi Scholars

This panel discussion will elaborate on the major theme explored in the exhibition Art of Trauma being held concurrently at the Courtyard Gallery from December 15, 2008 – January 30, 2009. Conference panelists will examine the targeting of Iraqi scholars and academics addressed by an art installation exhibited in ‘The Art of Trauma’ exhibition. The conference will explore the contexts of the assassination of the academics through the following topics: State of Iraqi science and culture prior to the invasion, Iraqi scientists and the resistance of occupation, who is behind the assassinations, documenting the assassinations, the assassination in the western media, Iraqi science and culture under the occupation, how to stop the assassinations..

Confirmed panelists include:
• Dr Haifa Zangani:, an Iraqi-born novelist and artist, is the author of Women on a Journey: Between Baghdad and London. Her latest book is City of Widows: An Iraqi Woman’s Account of War and Resistance (Seven Stories, 2007). She is a weekly columnist for al-Quds newspaper and an occasional commentator for the Guardian, Red Pepper, and al-Ahram Weekly. She lives in London
• Pr Saad Naji Jawad; Prof of political sciences at Baghdad University, head of Iraq's University Professors Association - Iraq

For further press information please contact: Lotfi Kaabi, MetaConcept, Tel 07910908758 Email lotfi@pax08.com

The Art of Trauma, Exhibition of Iraqi art
8 Jan 2009 - 8 Feb 2009
Organised by The Courtyard Gallery,
Curated by Lotfi Kaabi

Art of Trauma and peace’ Exhibition Launch Night : Thursday 8 Jan 2009 6pm til midnite Gallery Address : 40 Pitfield St London N1 8EU Gallery Opening hours : Tuesday to Sunday 6pm til 8pm Transport : Old Street Tube

A brand new exhibition opening at The Courtyard Gallery housed in The Courtyard Theatre on December 15th 2008. The Art of Trauma and Peace’ will draw together for the first time, 25 artists from 7 countries with works created between 78 and 08 to explore the trauma of loss in all its aspects and the transition to peace. This process has to be one of healing, the real ‘witnessing presence’ created in The Art of Trauma and Peace’ by the varying artists, brings home the intensity of this process, allowing all involved to better understand and appreciate the damage to the internal ‘other’, the absence, and confusion, that occurs in the traumatic experience, as well as the hopefully resulting reaction towards peace. Indirect, unaestheticised and dialogic in nature, ‘the art of trauma and peace’.

Important elements of The Art of Trauma are illustrated in the works of Iraqi artists during the period 1978-2008 including the POW, by the late Ismael Fettah (1989), Adel Mohsen (1978), Saad Tweij (1982) Amir Hussein (1982), Adel Kamal (1999), Saad Attai (2001), Amer Al Abidi (2002).

Other exhibitors include Tamara Nouri (Iraq), Chris Holden , Mary Fitzpatrick , Tony Knox, Ruth Dillon , Pui Lee (UK), Raeda Achour (KSA), Reem Khateeb (Syria) Hamid Bouhioui, Fatima Al Hajjaji, Mohamed Rachidi, Faouzia Jaidani and Mustapha Meskine (Morocco) Lisa Who (Australia), Derek Culley ( Ireland ) Placide (France), Larisa Dizdar (Bosnia), Lotfi Kaabi (Tunisia)