ABOUT.

The West Asian and North African Women’s Art Library (WANAWAL), founded by artist and archivist Êvar Hussayni, is an alternative archival practice and library. This project challenges colonial methodologies of archiving, prioritising experimental and anti-colonial research methods and systems. Embracing the concept of 'slowness,' the WANAWAL resists capitalistic and hierarchical systems, aiming to create an open-source and publicly accessible library and archive that innovatively catalogs and preserves the creative contributions of practitioners from West Asia and North Africa. By questioning the dynamics of archiving, WANAWAL seeks to reshape narratives and dismantle the impact of colonial practices on collective memory.

To read the initial 2019 research on the fruition of the library, please visit our Journal and find “Archives And The Colonial Body”. 

The WANAWAL collects, records and exhibits artwork, curatorial projects, publications and general ephemera. We always welcome submissions - please email wanawalarchives@gmail.com for more information.