Shubbak, the UK’s largest festival of contemporary Arab cultures, returns to London next month, running 23rd May until 15th June 2025, bringing new and unexpected voices alongside established artists to audiences across the capital.
Returning this year with an insistence on art in the face of crisis, Shubbak Festival includes the “Enter the Mulberry Tree and Fly Free” comic art exhibition, running Tuesday 27th May – Monday 9th June 2025 at Grand Junction, Rowington Close.
Curated by George Khoury and originally presented by the Lakes International Comic Arts Festival, this striking exhibition showcases the works of twelve Palestinian comic artists. Part of LICAF’s ongoing exploration of the fascinating world of Arab comics, after its debut installation at last year’s Festival in Bowness-on-Windermere, the exhibition went on to tour in Leeds and Manchester.
Now making its way to London, “Enter the Mulberry Tree and Fly Free” presents the unique creativity of Palestinian comic artists. revealing these otherwise-obscured artists and their remarkable perspectives on themes from the personal to the geopolitical.
The exhibition features the work of, in alphabetical order by given name, Abdelrazaq Leila, Al-Nakhala Amal, Al-Shamali Shahd, Amer Shomali, Ata Iasmin Omar (also known as Delta), Dabaie Marguerite, Harb Samir, Hifaoui Nour, Jabareen Michael, Jarada Khaled, Sabaaneh Mohammad, and Yamani Fuad.
Shubbak supports and champions the diversity of Arab artists’ creativity and innovation through its professional and engagement programmes, national touring and a biennial multi-artform London festival.
• Full details of Shubbak 2025 at shubbak.co.uk/festival-2025 | Follow and connect with Shubbak on: Instagram | Facebook | YouTube
• “Enter the Mulberry Tree and Fly Free” 10.00am – 6.00pm, Tuesday 27th May – Monday 9th June 2025 (Closed 1st and 8th June), Grand Junction, Rowington Close London W2 5TF | Web: grandjunction.org.uk | Plan your visit | Tickets: Free | Suitable for ages 6+ | All access information can be found here
• More information about the LICAF “Enter the Mulberry Tree and Fly Free” exhibition project on Comics Can Change the World
Curated by George Khoury. Originally presented by the Lakes International Comic Arts Festival. Generously supported by British Council, Galilee Foundation and Arts Council England
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John is the founder of downthetubes, launched in 1998. He is a comics and magazine editor, writer, and Press Officer for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He also runs Crucible Comic Press.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine and Overkill for Marvel UK, Babylon 5 Magazine, Star Trek Magazine, and its successor, Star Trek Explorer, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics; and has edited several comic collections and graphic novels, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”, and Hancock: The Lad Himself, by Stephen Walsh and Keith Page.
He’s the writer of comics such as Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs”, with Dave Hailwood.
Categories: Comic Art, Comics, Creating Comics, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News, Events, Exhibitions, Other Worlds
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