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Please send your abstract (1 page, max. 3,000 characters) along with a brief CV including your institutional affiliation and contact details by September 12, 2025, to the direction of the section, with a CC to the organizing office of the 6th Swiss Congress for Art History:
CALL FOR PAPERS
The Archive as Imperative: Methods and Approaches in the History of Art and Architecture in the Middle East and North Africa
6th Swiss Congress for Art History
7–9.9.26, University of Geneva, Uni Mail
How do fragmented, dispersed, or destroyed archives shape the writing of art and architectural histories in the Middle East and North Africa?
Manazir invites contributions exploring the multiple dimensions of archives in MENA region studies—from material preservation to curatorial practice, from research methodology to artistic intervention.
Key Questions We're Exploring:
- How can we map complex archival trajectories across the region?
- What methodologies help us understand the narratives crystallized within fragmented collections?
- How do archives function as critical concepts for contemporary artistic and architectural practices?
- What potentials do archives reveal within exhibition spaces?
Inspired by Recent Work:
From Walid Raad's performance-visits at Kunsthaus Zürich to the Atlas Group's fictional research center, from Samia Henni's "Performing Colonial Toxicity" installation - artists, architects, and researchers are revealing unexpected connections that challenge established historical narratives.
We Welcome:
- Specific case studies
- Theoretical reflections on methodologies
- Decolonial approaches to MENA circulations
- Perspectives on collections and archive accessibility
Special focus on: Contemporary conflicts highlighting the urgency of preserving multiple narratives through research and artistic/spatial practices.
Organised by: Manazir platform
Session Directors: Laura Hindelang (Universität Bern), Silvia Naef (Université de Genève/Universität Basel), Nadia Radwan (HEAD – Genève)