Even as world headlines from the Middle East focus on upheaval and violence, the region's culture continues to thrive. Here's our look at some groups and individuals making their mark on arts and culture in the region, in no particular order.
Kutlug Ataman, Turkey
Kutlug Ataman is a world-renowned contemporary artist and filmmaker from Turkey. Ataman's early work is described as pondering people's creation of identity through self-expression and his later period as concentrating on history and geography as “man-made constructs.” There's been a retrospective exhibit of his work and a documentary about him, but he's not done yet. Ataman is aiming for production of his next feature film project, South Facing Wall, this fall.
(Photo: Reuters )
By Nafeesa Syeed. Did we leave someone out? Let us know at @AlMonitor and look out for more lists.