How did this grant contribute to the realization of your project in regard to artistic exchange, local cultural development and/or the promotion of cultural diversity?
EHDENYA is the name of the project I'm participating in. The Maltese residency is finalized to the production of video and photo material which will be used to implement the project. It is a multidisciplinary project (visual and performing art) involving artists from West and Middle East to exchange ideas and create artistic productions and events. The project focuses on wastelands as abandoned spaces which are alive and contain memories. Both countries, Lebanon and Malta, are part of the Mediterranean and they both have been crossing by migrants and wars. The project starts a reflections on visual representations of war from the past through the present till the future. During my stay I could meet a lot of people, in particular scholars and artists from Malta and Italy. These exchanges can be a start for cooperations in Italy.
How does exchange, networking and international contacts contribute to the development of your artistic and cultural project?
With the current situation of war in Syria and security problems in Lebanon, not many artists, especially foreign ones, are coming to Beirut anymore. Also, there has been a bit of a decline in the art production and scene in Beirut, consequently. I believe that our project will be a sort of necessary addition and expansion to the landscape in Lebanon.
Can you elaborate on the learning and knowledge you have gained and shared throughout this experience?
The residency is an experience increasing my competences and skills. In particular, during this time I could experiment new video techniques by working with a performance artist instead of a commercial crew. Experimenting led me to discover new possibilities to work in collaboration with other arts, such as performance and photography. At the same time, working with them led me to be more flexible and to find compromises in favour of the outcomes.