Lebanese artists and curators offer contrasting responses to the country's conflicts.

This weekend 's Financial Times contains an interesting feature about current Lebanese artists and their contrasting responses to the country's conflicts.

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It profiles two artists in particular, Walid Raad and Pascal Hachem, both of whom have exhibitions opening in London this month.

Pascal Hachem "Bring the boys back home" at Selma Feriani Gallery, London, October 14th - November 27th 2010; Also: Ninar Esber, December 2010; Ziad Antar, March 2011;
Exhibition details here

Walid Raad "Miraculous Beginnings" at Whitechapel Art Gallery October 30th - January 2nd 2011
Exhibition details here
 
The article can be viewed here (for a limited period). After it moves behind the FT's paywall you can read it on the Access World News database by clicking here and using your SOAS login.

DSC South Asian Literature Festival 15-25 Oct.

The 15th of October sees the opening of the UK’s first major literature festival showcasing the rich and varied cultures of the South Asian subcontinent, from India and Pakistan through to Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal. Across London and the UK the Festival will present this rich storytelling heritage in all its forms – debate, discussion and spoken word, poetry, live music, performance theatre and story craft workshops for children. 

The festival is hosting names such as prize-winning novelist Romesh Gunesekera; from  two great political dynasties, Fatima Bhutto and Nayantara Sahgal; historian Michael Wood, acclaimed writer and musician Amit Chaudhuri, Pakistan’s rising-star author Moniza Alvi, jazz musician Cleveland Watkiss and well-known broadcasters Mihir Bose and Hardeep Singh Kohli.

More than 30 events are confirmed for the festival which will take place across the capital in venues including King's Place, the Free Word Centre, the Rich Mix, the British Library, British Museum and bookshops from 15-25th October and then at cities around the UK from 26th-31st October.

The shortlist for the US$ 50,000 DSC Prize for South Asian Literature will be announced at the festival, the winner being declared at the DSC Jaipur Literature Festival in January 2011. 

Co-directors Jon Slack and Bhavit Mehta of Amphora Arts said of the festival: "The thriving literary and publishing scene in South Asia was the impetus for us bringing a literary festival devoted to South Asian writing to the UK."

Find further details and listings here.