Abdullah Qureshi's Open Encounters: exhibition opening and talk series

In collaboration with Thx Again, Refuge Worldwide will broadcast a series of talks and discussions led by artist Abdullah Qureshi as part of the exhibition OPEN ENCOUNTERS opening on the 10th of March.

Through painting, filmmaking, and cultural production, Toronto-based artist Abdullah Qureshi deals with personal and collective histories, traumatic pasts, and sexuality. Drawing on autobiography, as well as curatorial and collaborative approaches, Qureshi's recent work examines formations of queer identity and resistance in Muslim migratory contexts. OPEN ENCOUNTERS takes the artist's work and ongoing research as a starting point for a visual dialogue with other artists, theorists and cultural producers invited to participate.

The exhibition, which runs from the 10th of March until the 23rd of April at Frobenstr. 1, 10783 Berlin, will begin with opening event soundtracked by Khadija. It will include works by Abdullah Qureshi, Gloria Zein, Syowia Kyambi, Sara Khan, Natasha Jozi and Tasnim Baghdadi. In the weeks following the opening, Abdullah will hold a series of conversations with old and recent companions to discuss engaged collaborations, representation and collective memories, which will be broadcast on Refuge Worldwide.

Head over to Thx Again to read more about the event, and see the full program below:

10.03. | 18:00 - Opening featuring music by Khadija.

11.03. | 18:00 - ‘MEETING KASPALE’: Abdullah Qureshi x Syowia Kyambi

13.03. | 16:00 - ‘THE POLITICS OF THE HUMAN TOUCH’: Abdullah Qureshi x Natasha Jozi

13.03. | 17:00 - ‘THE IDENTITY OF SCULPTURES’: Abdullah Qureshi x Gloria Zein

17.03. | 18:00 - ‘BLACKING OUT THE CANON’: Abdullah Qureshi x Tasnim Baghdadi

19.03. | 18:00 - ‘ON MAGICAL REALISM’: Abdullah Qureshi x Sara Khan

Image: The heat in Lahore, Abdullah Qureshi (2021)