The Art Persists Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

In Part 2 of the Season 6 finale of The Art Persists Podcast, we continue our conversation with journalist, filmmaker and writer, Dr Myriam François.

Myriam chats to us about the rise of Islamophobia today and why she thinks it is often considered an acceptable form of racism within society. We chat about having hope in youth and why she thinks current student protests in America and beyond are widely misrepresented and misunderstood. We end on thinking about the role of the artist in solidarity movements.

The Art Persists Podcast is independently run by Bosla Arts' small team (Georgia & Faz). If you are enjoying the podcast, please support us via Patreon!

Learn more: https://www.boslaarts.com/tapp-myriam-francois

Follow Bosla Arts on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/boslaarts/

In the Season 6 finale of The Art Persists Podcast, we sit down with journalist, filmmaker and writer, Dr Myriam François.

We chat to Myriam about how she is dealing with the state of the world today amid Israel's bombardment of Gaza. She questions society's moral boundaries, emphasising the need for discomfort in addressing the conflict. We go on to explore the artist's role in solidarity and resistance. Myriam delves into her film, Finding Alaa, illustrating how grief can unite people across divides. We unpack her background and talk about the racism she faced after converting to Islam as a young woman.

The Art Persists Podcast is independently run by Bosla Arts' small team (Georgia & Faz). If you are enjoying the podcast, please support us via Patreon!

Learn more: https://www.boslaarts.com/tapp-myriam-francois

Follow Bosla Arts on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/boslaarts/

We are joined by Palestinian artist, activist, DJ, and producer Nour Palestina.

We chat to Nour about her project, Refugee Chronicles, where she interviews survivors of the 1948 Nakba which saw 700,000 Palestinians forcibly displaced and a further 15,000 killed. Nour talks about her project and its eerie parallels to Gaza today where over 1.8 million people have been internally displaced and at least 15,500 have been killed since 7 October 2023. She talks about media bias and the role of social media in unveiling the truth.

As always, if you are enjoying the Art Persists podcast please leave a review wherever you listen. Only with your help can these important stories be heard.

Learn more: https://www.boslaarts.com/tapp-nour-palestina

Follow Bosla Arts on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/boslaarts/

In this episode, we are joined by Kurdish poet and journalist Nedim Türfent.

The conversation focuses on Nedim’s recent release from prison in Turkey, where he spent 6 years and 7 months imprisoned for his journalism. We talk about his dedication to exposing Turkey’s brutal treatment of Kurdish communities which led to his arrest and subsequent imprisonment after an incredibly unfair trial.

Throughout the episode, Nedim talks about poetry as a form of resistance, something that kept him alive for all those years he was kept imprisoned and, for much of it, under solitary confinement. We are honoured to all hear Nedim recite two of his poems; Let My Heart Give Life, and Searching Trails of You, in English for the first time. Towards the end, poet Ege Dündar joins us to read the letter he sent Nedim on his release.

As always, if you are enjoying the Art Persists podcast please leave a review wherever you listen. Only with your help can these important stories be heard.

Learn more: https://www.boslaarts.com/tapp-nedim-turfent

Follow Bosla Arts on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/boslaarts/

In the episode we chat with Cuban artist and activist Tania Bruguera about her 30-year career as a pioneering artist advocating artistic freedom and human rights in Cuba and beyond. We discuss how she uses art as a tool of social change, transforming her audience into “citizens” to bring about real change. She coins the practice Arte Útil - art as a tool.

We go on to discuss the systematic oppression she has faced for her work at the hands of the Cuban state, beginning thirty years ago with the publication of a magazine to today where she lives in forced exile. We end with Bruguera discussing her complex relationship with institutions and the controversy surrounding her current exhibition at the Museo de la Solidaridad Salvador Allende in Chile.

As always, if you are enjoying the Art Persists podcast please leave a review wherever you listen. Only with your help can these important stories be heard.

Learn more: https://www.boslaarts.com/tapp-tania-bruguera

Follow Bosla Arts on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/boslaarts/

In this episode, we talk to Forensic Architecture, a research agency based at Goldsmiths, University of London, renowned for investigating human rights violations globally.

We speak to one of Forensic Architecture’s Lead Researchers (who will not be named), about the dire situation in Gaza since Israel’s siege began. They talk about the work they are doing to use evidence-based research to uncover the truth and document human rights abuses as the death toll of civilians reaches 10,000 people in one month.

The conversation continues to talk more about Forensic Architecture’s work in Gaza as well as the West Bank and Israel. The team have released preliminary analysis to cast doubt on Israel’s claim that they were not responsible for bombing of Al-Ahli Hospital on 17 October 2023. Using techniques including visual analysis, sound, testimonials, and more, Forensic Architecture were also able to provide evidence in the murder of Palestinian journalist Shireen Abu Akleh as well as uncover invisible tactics of occupation including the lost mass graves in Tantura from 1948, and the herbicidal warfare against Gaza.

As always, if you are enjoying the Art Persists podcast please leave a review wherever you listen. Only with your help can these important stories be heard.

Find links and more: https://www.boslaarts.com/tapp-forensic-architecture

Follow Bosla Arts on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/boslaarts/

In the Season 4 finale of the Art Persists podcast, we speak to multi & interdimensional artist Murugiah. We talk about his early life growing up in Wales, and his turn away from architecture to art. He discusses finding his unique style, combining bright, bold colours with surrealism and his Sri Lankan identity. We end talking about his wonderful commission for this year’s Refugee Week, and his exploration into public art. His upcoming 3D sculpture installation, Rangoli Mirrored Cosmos, will launch this month in Greenwich Peninsula.

As always, if you are enjoying the Art Persists podcast please leave a review wherever you listen. Only with your help can these important stories be heard.

Find out more: https://www.boslaarts.com/tapp-murugiah

Learn more about MURUGIAH’s work: https://murugiah.com/

Follow Bosla Arts on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/boslaarts/

In the latest episode of the Art Persists podcast, we speak to filmmaker, curator, and member of AVAH Collective, Parwana Haydar. We discuss Parwana’s work and the Afghan artists who have influenced her the most. We then talk about her participation in AVAH Collective, connecting Afghan artists around the world and working to recall the art history of Afghanistan. AVAH’s latest exhibition, CHILDHOOD(S) - of memories in art, is on at Haus Coburg until 10 September.

As always, if you are enjoying the Art Persists podcast please leave a review wherever you listen. Only with your help can these important stories be heard.

More information: https://www.boslaarts.com/tapp-avah-collective

Follow Bosla Arts on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/boslaarts/

Hong Kong artist Kacey Wong joins us for the latest episode of the Art Persists podcast. We chat about his early life growing up in Hong Kong, at the time still under the control of the British. He then talks about his participation in Hong Kong’s 2014 Umbrella Movement and 2019 Anti-extradition Law Movement, using his work to connect with fellow protestors and using humour to mock and ridicule the authorities. The conversation ends with Kacey talking about his difficult decision to leave Hong Kong forever, self-exiling to Taiwan.

As always, if you are enjoying Art Persists please leave a review wherever you listen. Only with your help can these important stories be heard.

Learn more about Kacey’s work: http://www.kaceywong.com/

Learn more about Bosla Arts: https://www.boslaarts.com/

In this episode, we speak to architect Sofia Karim about her work as an architect and also as an activist. She talks about her move into art-activism after the imprisonment of her uncle, the renowned photographer Shahidul Alam. Since that moment, Sofia has dedicated much of her career to art-activism, campaigning for the release of political prisoners worldwide.

As always, if you are enjoying Art Persists please leave a review wherever you listen. Only with your help can these important stories be heard.

Sofia Karim is an architect based in London. Her practice combines architecture, visual art and activism. She campaigns for the release of political prisoners across India and Bangladesh. Her work has been exhibited at venues including Tate Modern (London), V&A (London), Coventry Cathedral (UK), The Herbert Art Gallery and Museum (UK), CCLM (Chile), Museo Franklin Rawson (Argentina), Rubin Museum (NY), Wrightwood 659 (Chicago) and Documenta 15 (Steidl/ Kunsthaus Göttingen).

Learn more about Sofia’s work here.