An Exploration of Contemporary Afghanistan : A Conversation with Feda Wardak and Marc Maillot | Oct 12, 2023

Join us for a conversation with Architect, Builder and Independent Researcher Feda Wardak, contributor to the 5th Chicago Architecture Biennial and 2023 Villa Albertine’s Resident; and Marc Maillot, Associate Director and Chief Curator of the Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures.

Feda Wardak is a Franco-Afghan architect interested in the models of organization of communities that build themselves independently from public authorities. In Afghanistan, he has been working for many years with local craftsmen whose knowledge and skills are threatened by imperialist and capitalist forces. His research embodies a variety of artistic media (including fine art, landscape installation, choreography, film, literary editing, and performance).

He will share this experience in conversation with Marc Maillot, Associate Director and Chief Curator of the Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures. Marc Maillot holds a Ph.D. from Sorbonne University and is now an associate member of the UMR 8167 “Orient et Méditerranée” (French National Research Center-CNRS). Mr. Maillot has conducted seminars on late antiquity urbanism and architecture at Paris-Sorbonne University and Shendi University in Sudan, and worked on various archaelogical sites abroad since 2007. His current research focuses on the Osirian cult practice in the Middle Nile Valley.

The one-hour discussion will be followed by a reception.

This event is part of Villa Albertine’s City/Cité conference series organized in partnership with ISAC – Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures during the Chicago Architecture Biennial.