The Archive as Imperative: Methods and Approaches in the History of Art and Architecture in the Middle East and North Africa
Call for Proposals for the Manazir panel at the 6th Swiss Congress for Art History 2026, University of Geneva
How do fragmented, dispersed, or destroyed archives shape the writing of art and architectural histories in the Middle East and North Africa? Manazir invites contributions exploring the multiple dimensions of archives in MENA region studies—from material preservation to curatorial practice, from research methodology to artistic intervention.
- How can we map complex archival trajectories across the region?
- What methodologies help us understand the narratives crystallized within fragmented collections?
- How do archives function as critical concepts for contemporary artistic and architectural practices?
- What potentials do archives reveal within exhibition spaces?
Please see the official CfP of the VKKS for details. Send your abstract (1 page, max. 3,000 characters) along with a brief CV including your institutional affiliation and contact details by September 12, 2025, to the organizers of the section, with a CC to the organizing office of the 6th Swiss Congress for Art History: vkks2026@unige.ch
