Jaou Tunis


Jaou Tunis is a bienniale held in Tunis, Tunisia, established in 2013 by the Kamel Lazaar Foundation. The event has become a prominent platform for contemporary art in North Africa, fostering dialogue among artists, curators, and researchers from the Global South and North. It is co-organized in partnership with the French Institute of Tunisia since 2022.

History

Jaou Tunis was established in 2013 by Lina Lazaar, vice president of the Kamel Lazaar Foundation, and daughter of a Tunisian-Swiss businessman and art collector Kamel Lazaar. The biennial was created to support contemporary art and critical discourse across the Middle East and North Africa. Launched in the aftermath of the Arab Spring, it seeks to reinforce the cultural and social role of art, fostering engagement with local and international audiences. Its name, “Jaou”, meaning atmosphere in Tunisian Arabic, reflects the festival’s immersive and participatory approach to contemporary artistic practice.

Editions

  • 2013: Inaugural Edition: Focused on redefining Arab identity in the post-Arab Spring context.
  • 2015: Memory and Heritage: Examined cultural memory and artistic preservation.
  • 2017: Boundaries and Mobility: Addressed migration, displacement, and the politics of borders.
  • 2018: Visual culture in the age of global conflict: Explored the definition of “heritage” in post-revolution Tunisia.
  • 2022: Art and Society: Explored art’s role in social reconstruction after the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • 2024: Art, Resistance, and the Reconstruction of Futures: Highlighted resistance as a creative and emotional force, featuring over sixty artists.

    2024 Edition

The seventh edition of Jaou Tunis took place from October 9 to November 9, 2024, under the theme “Art, Resistance, and the Reconstruction of Futures.” The biennial featured a month-long program of exhibitions, performances, and panel discussions, bringing together more than 60 artists from across the Global South. The 2024 edition addressed themes such as Palestine, migration, and collective resilience, highlighting the role of art in responding to contemporary social and political issues. Participating artists included Basel Abbas and Ruanne Abou-Rahme, Rima Hassan, and Gabrielle Goliath, with curatorial direction from Kenza Zouari, Taous Dahmani, and Camille Levy. Alongside visual art, the festival hosted performances by Mansur Brown, Deena Abdelwahed, Kamilya Jubran and Abdullah Miniawy Trio, as well as professional exchanges and symposiums such as “Re-building the Future.”

Rima Hassan’s Exhibition

“Fragment of a Refuge” by Rima Hassan, a Franco-Palestinian activist and Member of the European Parliament for La France Insoumise was a prominent feature of Jaou Tunis 2024. Part of her Nakba Survivor project, the installation presents paired portraits of six Palestinian refugees to explore themes of identity and displacement, accompanied by video and photographic material from camps in Lebanon, Syria and Jordan. Hassan’s participation also drew discussion within parts of the Tunisian Jewish community, reflecting the political sensitivity surrounding the Palestinian issue.

Reception and Significance

Jaou Tunis is recognized for advancing contemporary art in North Africa and for providing a platform for artists from the Arab world and Sub-Saharan Africa. It promotes cultural exchange, critical inquiry, and regional artistic visibility. Art critics and curators have noted its contribution to postcolonial discourse, transnational collaboration and the development of Tunisia’s cultural infrastructure.