Edukacja artystyczna na Bliskim Wschodzie

Abstract

In Arab and Persian countries, the division into craftsmanship and art, characteristic for European art, has not taken place. Both of them infiltrated each other and went in the same direction. However, the time for change has come, and the Middle East has seen the development of contemporary art. On the one hand, it seems to be a continuation of the previous traditions, but at the same time it is highly involved in current problems of its society, touches upon the matters of gender, talks about military conflict, being a refugee, and modernity. It also takes advantage of the new media. The article is an attempt to reflect on how this transformation and the development of contemporary art in the Middle East occurred. It comprises an analysis of biographies of chosen Middle East artists aiming at following their paths of diversified education on each level. Special attention is dedicated to the way in which they refer to their education at universities in the East and West, as well as the importance they give to the creation of the increasingly number of galleries and museums of contemporary art in the region.