Crossing Continents

Quarterly magazine Bidoun provides a refreshing insight into Middle Eastern arts and culture. It was founded two years ago by editor Lisa Farjam, who will host an official launch party this spring. Born in Iran, she moved to Dubai aged 13 and studied creative writing and literature at Bard College, upstate New York. While working at UNESCO in Paris, she came across artists whom she felt lacked proper representation-hence the name of her creation. "Bidoun means 'without' in Farsi and Arabic and, for me, the magazine is about the transition of nationality and universality of culture," she says. The magazine is created by seven editors-in a range of locations, from New York to Cairo-who assemble its content via the internet; all of them have day jobs. Each issue is themed and includes features that range from recipes to essays on cultural diplomacy. For Farjam, Bidoun is a vital tool in persuading the West to listen to the burgeoning creative forces striving to he heard amid the plethora of war reports. Check out Bidoun.com. FM