The Book of Optics, written by the Arab scholar Ibn al Haytham in 1021 AD, formed the conceptual framework of the Public Art Program of EXPO 2020 in Dubai. Eleven renowned artists were invited to create newly commissioned, permanent artworks in public space to explore this central work of medieval science. The publication presents the works together with numerous text contributions. They explore the philosophical definitions of vision, cognition, and the importance of imagination in constructing a coherent picture of reality. With over 190 countries participating, EXPO 2020 in Dubai brought together numerous cultural and artistic initiatives to build bridges between people, communities and nations.

Rewiring Narratives: New Media Art from the Arab World rethinks the positioning of artistic and media practices from the Arab world in the grander discourse of New Media Art; not through the mere filling of representational gaps, but through a rethinking of the field as a whole. Emphasizing localized histories, cultural frameworks, political contexts, and technological conditions, this volume maps a dispersed yet interconnected terrain of Arab artists, institutions, and works that challenge linear notions of modernity and authorship. The editorial essay by Haytham Nawar and Ala Younis calls for a methodological shift; situating Arab media art through its own material and social conditions, from early cinema and state infrastructures to post-2011 digital practices, positioning it as dynamic rather than derivative. Contributions by artists and scholars range from essays on media’s historical roots, code-based painting, and video art flows, to studies of Egyptian cinema, Moroccan media, gaming, archives, and digital glitches. Published following Maknana: An Archaeology of New Media Art from the Arab World (Diriyah Art Futures, 2025), the book foregrounds Arab media art as a site of original experimentation, innovation, and global dialogue.

Rewiring Narratives - New Media Art from the Arab WorldRewiring Narratives is the first comprehensive book on New Media Art from the Arab world, offering a groundbreaking perspective on contemporary art, digital art, media culture, and technological innovation across the Middle East and North Africa. Bringing together leading artists, curators, and scholars, this richly illustrated volume explores the history and evolution of Arab media art through essays on cinema, video art, gaming, digital archives, code-based art, and emerging media practices. Rather than positioning Arab artists within established Western narratives, the book examines the unique cultural, political, and technological conditions that have shaped artistic production across the region. By connecting historical developments with contemporary digital practices, Rewiring Narratives highlights Arab New Media Art as an influential field of artistic experimentation, innovation, and global dialogue. Key Features- First comprehensive publication on New Media Art from the Arab world. - Essays on digital art, cinema, gaming, video art, archives, and media culture. - A fresh perspective on contemporary Arab art within global art history. Ideal for: art historians, curators, artists, students, researchers, and readers interested in contemporary art, digital culture, media studies, Middle Eastern art, visual culture, and the history of New Media Art.

Rewiring Narratives - New Media Art from the Arab WorldRewiring Narratives is the first comprehensive book on New Media Art from the Arab world, offering a groundbreaking perspective on contemporary art, digital art, media culture, and technological innovation across the Middle East and North Africa. Bringing together leading artists, curators, and scholars, this richly illustrated volume explores the history and evolution of Arab media art through essays on cinema, video art, gaming, digital archives, code-based art, and emerging media practices. Rather than positioning Arab artists within established Western narratives, the book examines the unique cultural, political, and technological conditions that have shaped artistic production across the region. By connecting historical developments with contemporary digital practices, Rewiring Narratives highlights Arab New Media Art as an influential field of artistic experimentation, innovation, and global dialogue. Key Features- First comprehensive publication on New Media Art from the Arab world. - Essays on digital art, cinema, gaming, video art, archives, and media culture. - A fresh perspective on contemporary Arab art within global art history. Ideal for: art historians, curators, artists, students, researchers, and readers interested in contemporary art, digital culture, media studies, Middle Eastern art, visual culture, and the history of New Media Art.

The Arabic-language edition of Rewiring Narratives is the first comprehensive book on New Media Art from the Arab world, offering a groundbreaking perspective on contemporary art, digital art, media culture, and technological innovation across the Middle East and North Africa.Bringing together leading artists, curators, and scholars, this richly illustrated volume explores the history and evolution of Arab media art through essays on cinema, video art, gaming, digital archives, code-based art, and emerging media practices. Rather than positioning Arab artists within established Western narratives, the book examines the unique cultural, political, and technological conditions that have shaped artistic production across the region.By connecting historical developments with contemporary digital practices, Rewiring Narratives highlights Arab New Media Art as an influential field of artistic experimentation, innovation, and global dialogue.

Rewiring Narratives: New Media Art from the Arab World rethinks the positioning of artistic and media practices from the Arab world in the grander discourse of New Media Art; not through the mere filling of representational gaps, but through a rethinking of the field as a whole. Emphasizing localized histories, cultural frameworks, political contexts, and technological conditions, this volume maps a dispersed yet interconnected terrain of Arab artists, institutions, and works that challenge linear notions of modernity and authorship. The editorial essay by Haytham Nawar and Ala Younis calls for a methodological shift; situating Arab media art through its own material and social conditions, from early cinema and state infrastructures to post-2011 digital practices, positioning it as dynamic rather than derivative. Contributions by artists and scholars range from essays on media''s historical roots, code-based painting, and video art flows, to studies of Egyptian cinema, Moroccan media, gaming, archives, and digital glitches. Published following Maknana: An Archaeology of New Media Art from the Arab World (Diriyah Art Futures, 2025), the book foregrounds Arab media art as a site of original experimentation, innovation, and global dialogue.

The Book of Optics, written by the Arab scholar Ibn al Haytham in 1021 AD, formed the conceptual framework of the Public Art Program of EXPO 2020 in Dubai. Eleven renowned artists were invited to create newly commissioned, permanent artworks in public space to explore this central work of medieval science. The publication presents the works together with numerous text contributions. They explore the philosophical definitions of vision, cognition, and the importance of imagination in constructing a coherent picture of reality. With over 190 countries participating, EXPO 2020 in Dubai brought together numerous cultural and artistic initiatives to build bridges between people, communities and nations.

Rewiring Narratives: New Media Art from the Arab World rethinks the positioning of artistic and media practices from the Arab world in the grander discourse of New Media Art; not through the mere filling of representational gaps, but through a rethinking of the field as a whole. Emphasizing localized histories, cultural frameworks, political contexts, and technological conditions, this volume maps a dispersed yet interconnected terrain of Arab artists, institutions, and works that challenge linear notions of modernity and authorship. The editorial essay by Haytham Nawar and Ala Younis calls for a methodological shift; situating Arab media art through its own material and social conditions, from early cinema and state infrastructures to post-2011 digital practices, positioning it as dynamic rather than derivative. Contributions by artists and scholars range from essays on media’s historical roots, code-based painting, and video art flows, to studies of Egyptian cinema, Moroccan media, gaming, archives, and digital glitches. Published following Maknana: An Archaeology of New Media Art from the Arab World (Diriyah Art Futures, 2025), the book foregrounds Arab media art as a site of original experimentation, innovation, and global dialogue.

Rewiring Narratives - New Media Art from the Arab WorldRewiring Narratives is the first comprehensive book on New Media Art from the Arab world, offering a groundbreaking perspective on contemporary art, digital art, media culture, and technological innovation across the Middle East and North Africa. Bringing together leading artists, curators, and scholars, this richly illustrated volume explores the history and evolution of Arab media art through essays on cinema, video art, gaming, digital archives, code-based art, and emerging media practices. Rather than positioning Arab artists within established Western narratives, the book examines the unique cultural, political, and technological conditions that have shaped artistic production across the region. By connecting historical developments with contemporary digital practices, Rewiring Narratives highlights Arab New Media Art as an influential field of artistic experimentation, innovation, and global dialogue. Key Features- First comprehensive publication on New Media Art from the Arab world. - Essays on digital art, cinema, gaming, video art, archives, and media culture. - A fresh perspective on contemporary Arab art within global art history. Ideal for: art historians, curators, artists, students, researchers, and readers interested in contemporary art, digital culture, media studies, Middle Eastern art, visual culture, and the history of New Media Art.

Rewiring Narratives - New Media Art from the Arab WorldRewiring Narratives is the first comprehensive book on New Media Art from the Arab world, offering a groundbreaking perspective on contemporary art, digital art, media culture, and technological innovation across the Middle East and North Africa. Bringing together leading artists, curators, and scholars, this richly illustrated volume explores the history and evolution of Arab media art through essays on cinema, video art, gaming, digital archives, code-based art, and emerging media practices. Rather than positioning Arab artists within established Western narratives, the book examines the unique cultural, political, and technological conditions that have shaped artistic production across the region. By connecting historical developments with contemporary digital practices, Rewiring Narratives highlights Arab New Media Art as an influential field of artistic experimentation, innovation, and global dialogue. Key Features- First comprehensive publication on New Media Art from the Arab world. - Essays on digital art, cinema, gaming, video art, archives, and media culture. - A fresh perspective on contemporary Arab art within global art history. Ideal for: art historians, curators, artists, students, researchers, and readers interested in contemporary art, digital culture, media studies, Middle Eastern art, visual culture, and the history of New Media Art.

The Arabic-language edition of Rewiring Narratives is the first comprehensive book on New Media Art from the Arab world, offering a groundbreaking perspective on contemporary art, digital art, media culture, and technological innovation across the Middle East and North Africa.Bringing together leading artists, curators, and scholars, this richly illustrated volume explores the history and evolution of Arab media art through essays on cinema, video art, gaming, digital archives, code-based art, and emerging media practices. Rather than positioning Arab artists within established Western narratives, the book examines the unique cultural, political, and technological conditions that have shaped artistic production across the region.By connecting historical developments with contemporary digital practices, Rewiring Narratives highlights Arab New Media Art as an influential field of artistic experimentation, innovation, and global dialogue.

Rewiring Narratives: New Media Art from the Arab World rethinks the positioning of artistic and media practices from the Arab world in the grander discourse of New Media Art; not through the mere filling of representational gaps, but through a rethinking of the field as a whole. Emphasizing localized histories, cultural frameworks, political contexts, and technological conditions, this volume maps a dispersed yet interconnected terrain of Arab artists, institutions, and works that challenge linear notions of modernity and authorship. The editorial essay by Haytham Nawar and Ala Younis calls for a methodological shift; situating Arab media art through its own material and social conditions, from early cinema and state infrastructures to post-2011 digital practices, positioning it as dynamic rather than derivative. Contributions by artists and scholars range from essays on media''s historical roots, code-based painting, and video art flows, to studies of Egyptian cinema, Moroccan media, gaming, archives, and digital glitches. Published following Maknana: An Archaeology of New Media Art from the Arab World (Diriyah Art Futures, 2025), the book foregrounds Arab media art as a site of original experimentation, innovation, and global dialogue.