Imperfect Chronology

Celebrating the Barjeel Art Foundation s expansive collection, this book maps a genealogy from modern to contemporary Arab art and offers one of the most extensive presentations of modern Arab art in print.

Based in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, the Barjeel Art Foundation was established to contribute to the development of the art scene in the Arab region by building a prominent, publicly accessible art collection in the UAE. Over time it has grown to become one of the largest and most holistic collections of Arab art, fostering critical dialogue around art practices both in the region and internationally. Coinciding with a major year long exhibition at the Whitechapel Gallery, London, this unique overview features many rarely seen works by artists from Algeria, Palestine, Egypt, Iraq and Lebanon, among others. Spanning a period from the 1920s to the present day, this book tells a striking visual story of artists who challenged notions of tradition, territory, and geography. The book includes more than 100 artists works along with essays by leading Arab scholars and curators such as Omar Kholeif, Rasha Salti, Nada Shabbout, Gilane Tawadros and Ted McDonald-Toone, Sultan Al Qassemi, alongside artist interviews. Published in association with Whitechapel Gallery, London.