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Seen through the work of eight leading artists, Axis of Light is a poignant and absorbing observation of the beauty and mystery of the Middle East which is often ignored, especially today where anger and violence demand center stage in our media and where stereotypes and prejudices distort our view of this region. Through the eyes of these artists, a human face--so often overshadowed by conflict and war--is revealed.
From Jannane Al Ani's beautiful yet haunting marked landscapes, to Ayman Baalbaki's large scale paintings of war affected buildings, to the wonderful shots of Mona Saudi lovingly watering her stone sculptures, or Rachid Koraïchi's true homage to years of human mark making, one is gently transported between history, politics and poetry. The histories unfolding are marked by war and exile yet as Baalbaki serenely expresses it, "It is difficult to put into words, but nonetheless [the destruction of war] is something which becomes very natural. It makes up a part of your life."
The eight artists featured in this documentary are:
Jananne Al-Ani (born in Kirkuk, Iraq, 1966): Photography, Film & Video
Ayman Baalbaki (born in Odiesse, Lebanon, 1975): Painter
Mona Saudi (born in Amman, Jordan, 1945): Sculptor
Mona Hatoum (born in Beirut, Lebanon, 1952): Artist in Different Media
Etel Adnan (born in Beirut, Lebanon, 1925): Poet, Writer, Painter
Youssef Nabil (born in Cairo, Egypt, 1972): Photography, Film & Video
Rachid Koraichi (born in Ain Beida, Algeria, 1947): Artist in All Media
Shirin Neshat (born in Qazvin, Iran, 1957): Photography, Film & Video
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