What do you think of the West? Conversations with Young People of the Arab World

What do You Think of the West? was the question that German journalist Julia Gerlach and German photographer Bärbel Möllmann asked young Arabs in Dubai in 2004. “What does the West think about us?” was the question asked back by the interviewees. The outcome is a photo installation portraying nine young Arabs living and working in Dubai and reactions of young Germans to these portraits on video and the internet. The questions, answers and statements going back and forth during these two years between Germany and the Gulf explore the similarities between young people here and there and undermine any simple East-West dichotomy.

Opening Ceremony Sharjah
7 November, 6:30 pm
Beit Shamsi, Sharjah Art Gallery, Art Area, Al Shuwaihiyyen, Sharjah
Until 18 November
Saturday to Thursday 9am to 1pm and 5 to 8pm, Friday 5 to 8pm

Opening Ceremony Abu Dhabi
With former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder
20 November, 6:30 pm
Marina Mall, Abu Dhabi
Until 26 November

What do You think of the West? is organized by the Goethe-Institut Liaison Office for the Gulf-Region in Abu Dhabi in cooperation with the Directorate of Art of the Sharjah Department of Culture & Information, the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture & Heritage and Marina Mall and is funded by the German Federal Foreign Office.

Dialogue through Culture? Arts, Politics and Conflict - a public podium discussion
22 November, 7:30 pm
Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture & Heritage, Room 4 Ibn Rushd, Abu Dhabi
With Julia Gerlach, Bärbel Möllmann, Alyazya Al Suweidi (photographer), Khalil Abdulwahid (videoinstallation), Ahmed Amin (Graphic Designer, Dubai). Moderation: Dr Sonja Hegasy, (Center for Modern Oriental Studies Berlin).
In English and Arabic with simultaneous translation.