Friday 22 September 2006, 14.00–17.00

Photographic images of the Middle East often portray a misconstrued, stereotypic and monolithic view of the region, tainted by exotic reveries of uncertainty and revolt.

This discussion provides a more fluid insight into the use of photography by contemporary artists from the region and its diaspora who actively disrupt ideas concerning the notion of the ‘orient’ that are readily presented and fuelled by the global news media.

Internationally acclaimed artists Lida Abdul, Mitra Tabrizian, Rula Halawani and Fouad Elkoury consider some of the debates associated with regional and dogmatic representations of the Middle East in a session chaired by Jack Persekian, artistic director, curator of the Sharjah Biennial, Al Ma'mal Foundation for Contemporary Art, Jerusalem.

Tate Modern  Starr Auditorium
£8 (£6 concessions), booking required
There is a discount of £5 if you book tickets for five talks in the Global Photography Now series and a £10 discount if you book tickets for all nine talks.