Hot Air is the first comprehensive book surveying the work of Egyptian-born, Naarm/Melbourne-based artist Raafat Ishak. Rethinking the linearity of the monographic format, Hot Air navigates Ishak’s practice through a sequence of themes and motifs that occupy his art: NUDITY/ SQUARE/ LANGUAGE/ AIR/ SUN/ BLACK/ PAINTING/ ARCHITECTURE. The final chapter, HEIDE, is dedicated to the artist’s major solo exhibition in the celebrated modernist building at Heide Museum of Modern Art — on view until 3 September 2023.

The publication is richly illustrated with artwork images and reference material alongside newly commissioned essays in English and Arabic.

This project was supported by Heide Museum of Modern Art, Naarm/Melbourne, Barjeel Art Foundation, Sharjah, the University of Melbourne and the Australian Government through the Australia Council, its arts funding and advisory body.

Sonntag Press gratefully acknowledges the assistance of the Australian Cultural Fund, an initiative of Creative Partnerships Australia.

With thanks to Sultan Sooud Al-Qassemi, Adrian Bertoli, Hugo Blomley, Peter Braithwaite, Nicholas Glenning and Jenny Proimos, Salma Harland, James Hayes, Melissa Keys, Liz Moriarty, Ezz Monem, Azza Zein, Lisa Radford, Katarina Paseta, Robert Schubert, Lisa Sullivan, Masato Takasaka, Kati Rule, and Stephen Zagala and anonymous contributors.