Leeza Ahmady (New York)
On Kings, Films & Astral Nomads
Opening Thought
Synopsis: To follow her own curatorial direction for FIELD MEETING as an innovative and experimental space for all, Leeza Ahmady narrates an original text written for a future imaginary exhibition. As prompted by the artist Rashid Rana for the 15 year anniversary of Asia Art Archive, this original story features the early 20th century king Amanullah Khan who is evaluated by a variety of historical figures, ranging from Alexander the Great to the prophet Mohamad’s wife Bibi Khadija, in order to enter a special plane of “Astral Nomads”.
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Bio: Born and raised in Afghanistan, Leeza Ahmady is an independent curator and has been the director of Asia Contemporary Art Week (ACAW) since 2005. She has connected New York and Asia’s leading institutions in citywide exhibitions and public programs with over 2,000 artists presented in 9 editions of ACAW in New York. Since 2014, she has staged the significant activities of 200 creative minds in 5 iterations of ACAW FIELD MEETING- signature forum for arts professionals presented at The Metropolitan Museum, Asia Society, Performa, Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, and SVA Theatre. Ahmady was an Agent for DOCUMENTA (13) exhibitions in Kassel, Germany and Kabul, Afghanistan (2010-2013) and has presented numerous exhibitions, workshops and public programs at local and international venues, including: Museum of Modern Art, Independent Curators International, Queens Museum, Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art Cornell University, Venice Biennial and Istanbul Biennial amongst many others.