Mona Khazindar
Mona Khazindar (Arabic: منى خزندار; born 1959)[1] is a Saudi-American art historian and curator. She was the Director General of the Institut du Monde Arabe from 2011 to 2014.[2]
Early life and education
[edit]Khazindar was born in the United States.[3] Her father, Abed Khazindar, was an author studying in the country at the time, and her mother, Shams al-Husseini Khazindar, was a journalist.[3][4]
Khazindar studied comparative literature at the American University of Paris, and modern history at Sorbonne University.[3]
Career
[edit]Khazindar began working at the Institut du Monde Arabe in 1986 as the head of the Department of Contemporary Art and Photography,[4] and as an overseer of the institute's permanent art collection.[3]
In 2011, Khazindar was made Director General of the Institut du Monde Arabe, making her the first women and first Saudi to hold the position.[3] That same year, she co-curated the Saudi pavilion at the 54th Venice Bienniale, the first time Saudi Arabia had such a pavilion.[3] In 2012, the French Minister of Culture appointed Khazindar to the Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilisations as a permanent member.[2]
Khazindar has also been involved with Saudi organizations; from 2014 to 2015, she was a cultural advisor to the Saudi Ministry of Tourism,[4] and in 2018 she was appointed to the Saudi Cultural Authority by royal decree.[2][4][5] She is also a member of the advisory board of the King Abdulaziz Center of World Culture, and the Saudi Shoura Council.[4] As part of her role with the King Adulaziz Center, Khazindar has toured in the United States to discuss the history of Saudi Arabia through art.[6]
Khazindar has founded Al Mansouria Foundation for Culture and Creativity, which promotes Arab contemporary art.[5]
Khazindar has published two books: View from the Inside: Contemporary Arab Photography, Video and Mixed Media Art (2014), and Visions from Abroad: Historical and Contemporary Representations of Saudi Arabia (2019).[3][4] She has also edited books on Saudi and Arab artists, such as Abdulrahman Alsoliman and Adam Henein.[7]
Awards
[edit]Personal life
[edit]Khazindar is fluent in Arabic, French, and English.[3] As of 2017, she was living in Riyadh.[6]
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Mona Khazindar honored". Arab News. 2012-02-08. Retrieved 2023-09-10.
- ^ a b c "Mona Khazindar". www.arabculturefund.org. Retrieved 2023-09-10.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Mona Khazindar: The First Female (and First Saudi) Director of the Arab World Institute in Paris". About Her. 2018-10-27. Retrieved 2023-09-10.
- ^ a b c d e f Aldaej, Nourah (March 8, 2023). "The Culture Diplomat: Mona Khazindar On Her Book Visions from Abroad And Her Contributions To Arab Art And Culture". Harper's Bazaar Arabia. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
- ^ a b "Three Saudi women appointed in newly formed General Authority for Culture". Al Arabiya English. 2018-04-06. Retrieved 2023-09-10.
- ^ a b Anania, Billy. "Saudi scholar traces visual history of her homeland". Asbury Park Press. Retrieved 2023-09-10.
- ^ Gronlund, Melissa (2021-06-24). "Misk launches The Art Library to support art scholarship: 'The idea is to give opportunities'". The National. Retrieved 2023-09-10.