Disintegrator 37. Center (w/ Mohammad Salemy)
Sep 17, 2025
In this engaging discussion, Mohammad Salemy, organizer of the New Centre for Research and Practice, dives into the complexities of contemporary politics and identity. He critiques Western left responses to the Israel-Palestine conflict through a multi-layered political framework. Salemy explores identity as a fluid concept shaped by context, and advocates for viewing generative AI as a tool to facilitate creativity, not replace it. His charisma and insight into pedagogy make this conversation both thought-provoking and relevant.
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Form And Power From Childhood
- Mohammad Salemy grew up around his mother's politically connected fashion circle and absorbed the thrill of idea-formation firsthand.
- That childhood access shaped his sense that art and forms attract political actors and can enact power.
From Database To Grad School
- After art school Mohammad ran a space called Database combining art, technology, and fashion and built an early CMS sold like a precursor to WordPress.
- He later returned to grad school in curatorial studies, shaping his hybrid practice of tech and theory.
Institution As Strategic Form
- The New Centre began in 2014 as a camouflaged institutional form to legitimize and circulate heterodox ideas.
- Mohammad designed its neutral name and structure to attract diverse thinkers while avoiding explicit branding.
