What are the genealogies of performance art in North Africa and the Middle East?

In 2012 London based artist Lawrence Abu Hamdan had two solo shows featuring new commissioned work The Freedom Of Speech Itself at The Showroom, London and The Whole Truth at CASCO, Utrecht. His ongoing project Aural Contract has been recently exhibited at Arnolfini, Bristol (2013) and Tate Modern (2013). Other works include his collaboration as one member of Model Court presented at Gasworks, London (2013) and Marches for Artangel, London (2008). His hybridized practice means that he has written for Cabinet Magazine and the 10th Sharjah Biennial and is part of the group running the arts space Batroun Projects in north Lebanon. Abu Hamdan is a part of the research team for Forensic Architecture at Goldsmiths College where he is also a Phd candidate and lecturer.