MORE THAN 500 ARTISTS AT FIFTH EDITION OF ART DUBAI
March 17, Dubai: Under the patronage of UAE Vice-President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Art Dubai’s fifth edition hosts a weekend full of activities for families including creative presentations from the UAE’s emerging talent, workshops and artist-led tours in addition to contemporary work by more than 500 artists showing at 81 galleries for collectors and art enthusiasts.
“From 12noon on Friday and Saturday, Art Dubai will become the must-visit destination for anyone remotely interested in the visual arts. From workshops and tours to family activities to the chance to meet and learn from artists, curators and gallerists, Art Dubai is filling every opening hour with an opportunity to understand and enjoy the current developments in the world of contemporary art,” said Antonia Carver, Fair Director of Art Dubai.
Friday, 18 March sees the topic of changing audiences explored in depth at the Global Art Forum_5, the region’s leading platform for dialogue about art. Artists, curators and writers will all discuss the evolving role that audiences play, while the 2011 Abraaj Capital Art Prize winners -- Hamra Abbas, Jananne Al-Ani, Shezad Dawood, Nadia Kaabi-Linke and Timo Nasseri with guest curator Sharmini Perreira – will also share insight to their works created through the world’s most generous art prize and displayed onsite at the Madinat Jumeirah.
At 4pm, artist Stephen E. Meakin will oversee a children’s workshop on the ancient art of geometry and pattern making held in the START lounge, which also showcases works by Sacha Jafri aimed at generating funds for START’s year-round art programmes for disadvantaged children in the Arab world. From 5.30pm on Friday, join some of the UAE’s most promising young artists and designers at Art Dubai’s Art Park for THE BIG IDEA, as they present their upcoming projects and debate the future of the cultural scene in the Gulf. Guests can also take a tour with with up-and-coming Egyptian artist Malak Helmy who will be singing her way round the fair from 5pm or join Makan – participant of the dynamic new MARKER section – for light refreshments and engaging conversation at 5pm
Saturday, 19 March is the final day of Art Dubai and the last chance to attend the broad range of book launches, workshops and performances in 2011. Footnote to a Project* is a specially commissioned book project conceived by the 2011 ACAP curator Sharmini Pereira and design studio OK-RM, which focuses on the work of the five winning artists, launching from 11.30am with an artists’ signing. From 2.30pm, the Art Park hosts a workshop, Writing About Art, organised by Bidoun and featuring presentations and discussion led by visiting critics. Families are welcome at 3pm for an arts workshop organised by START. Finally, art lovers will have their last look at works from 81 regional and international galleries just before 5.30pm, when Art Dubai’s fifth edition officially draws to a close.
As a new initiative, 2011 sees the launch of Art Dubai Live, an extension of Art Dubai’s programming that will act as a research tool for the documentation of arts and culture in the Middle East and enable an even wider and more diverse group of curators, collectors, critics and visitors to participate in the fair. Art Dubai Live is an ongoing initiative developed in association with Xische & Co. It will develop and commissioning material throughout the year in order to build an invaluable resource of curated content from the region.
“From 12noon on Friday and Saturday, Art Dubai will become the must-visit destination for anyone remotely interested in the visual arts. From workshops and tours to family activities to the chance to meet and learn from artists, curators and gallerists, Art Dubai is filling every opening hour with an opportunity to understand and enjoy the current developments in the world of contemporary art,” said Antonia Carver, Fair Director of Art Dubai.
Friday, 18 March sees the topic of changing audiences explored in depth at the Global Art Forum_5, the region’s leading platform for dialogue about art. Artists, curators and writers will all discuss the evolving role that audiences play, while the 2011 Abraaj Capital Art Prize winners -- Hamra Abbas, Jananne Al-Ani, Shezad Dawood, Nadia Kaabi-Linke and Timo Nasseri with guest curator Sharmini Perreira – will also share insight to their works created through the world’s most generous art prize and displayed onsite at the Madinat Jumeirah.
At 4pm, artist Stephen E. Meakin will oversee a children’s workshop on the ancient art of geometry and pattern making held in the START lounge, which also showcases works by Sacha Jafri aimed at generating funds for START’s year-round art programmes for disadvantaged children in the Arab world. From 5.30pm on Friday, join some of the UAE’s most promising young artists and designers at Art Dubai’s Art Park for THE BIG IDEA, as they present their upcoming projects and debate the future of the cultural scene in the Gulf. Guests can also take a tour with with up-and-coming Egyptian artist Malak Helmy who will be singing her way round the fair from 5pm or join Makan – participant of the dynamic new MARKER section – for light refreshments and engaging conversation at 5pm
Saturday, 19 March is the final day of Art Dubai and the last chance to attend the broad range of book launches, workshops and performances in 2011. Footnote to a Project* is a specially commissioned book project conceived by the 2011 ACAP curator Sharmini Pereira and design studio OK-RM, which focuses on the work of the five winning artists, launching from 11.30am with an artists’ signing. From 2.30pm, the Art Park hosts a workshop, Writing About Art, organised by Bidoun and featuring presentations and discussion led by visiting critics. Families are welcome at 3pm for an arts workshop organised by START. Finally, art lovers will have their last look at works from 81 regional and international galleries just before 5.30pm, when Art Dubai’s fifth edition officially draws to a close.
As a new initiative, 2011 sees the launch of Art Dubai Live, an extension of Art Dubai’s programming that will act as a research tool for the documentation of arts and culture in the Middle East and enable an even wider and more diverse group of curators, collectors, critics and visitors to participate in the fair. Art Dubai Live is an ongoing initiative developed in association with Xische & Co. It will develop and commissioning material throughout the year in order to build an invaluable resource of curated content from the region.
Art Dubai 2011 opens today
March 16, Dubai: Presented Under the Patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE, Ruler of Dubai
Welcoming a total of 81 galleries from 34 countries—with one-third of the participants based in the Middle East, one-third in Europe and one-third in the United States and Asia—the latest edition of Art Dubai will be presented from Wednesday, 16 March through Saturday, 19 March 2011, under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice- President and Prime Minister of the UAE, Ruler of Dubai. This year’s Art Dubai, the first organised under the leadership of Fair Director Antonia Carver, is also the most diverse and forward-looking to date for the Middle East’s largest contemporary art event.
“Dubai has been a trading post and meeting point for South Asia, Iran, the Arab world and Africa for hundreds of years,” said Antonia Carver. “Over the past decade, Dubai has become the commercial art centre of the region and a city of ideas and entrepreneurship, providing homegrown support for artists, exhibitions and galleries. Through the fair and our platforms for dialogue, Art Dubai has been an integral part of this development and while rooted in the region, we are committed to looking to the future and continuing our role as a catalyst linking Asia and the Middle East with the rest of the world.”
Antonia Carver continued, “We aim for Art Dubai to be a fair of discovery – for the international collectors, curators, artists, gallerists and museum groups that attend the fair aiming to catch up on all that’s happening in the Middle East and South Asia, and for those based in the region to engage with the most dynamic of international galleries. At Art Dubai, these audiences will be able to discover the work of more than 500 artists, as presented in booths, installations, performances, dispatches, talks and screenings.”
Showcasing paintings, sculpture, photography, works on paper and video installations from a host of first-timers as well as returning galleries, the fifth edition of Art Dubai features exciting work from emerging artists and museum-quality masterworks. The fair features an ambitious range of galleries, with more than a dozen significant, curatorially focused galleries exhibiting in the Middle East for the first time; an increased number of single-artist gallery shows, allowing viewers to delve into an artist’s practice in depth; and the strongest showing of galleries from Turkey and South Asia to date.
This year also sees the debut of MARKER, a new platform for experimental art spaces from Asia and the Middle East showcasing projects by emerging artists. Curated by Nav Haq, this section includes five dynamic project spaces: Alexandria Contemporary Arts Forum (Alexandria, Egypt), GREY NOISE (Lahore, Pakistan), Liu Ding’s Store (Beijing, China), Makan (Amman, Jordan) and Ruangrupa (Jakarta, Indonesia). Each organisation will present new projects that have been conceived specifically for Art Dubai and that bridge the gap between the commercial and curatorial components of the art fair.
Programming for the fair includes Global Art Forum_5, a four-day series of discussions curated by a committee chaired by Shumon Basar, which explores how a changed world has changed audiences for contemporary art, how expectations have affected artists and their work, and how art and fashion collide. The result of a dynamic partnership between Dubai Culture & Arts Authority (Dubai Culture), Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art in Doha, Qatar, Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture & Heritage (ADACH), Ministry of Culture, Kingdom of Bahrain, this year’s forum is the most collaborative yet. Speakers include: Hans Ulrich Olbrist, Co-Director, Exhibitions and Programmes, and Director of International Projects, Serpentine Gallery, London; Francesco Vezzoli, artist; Germano Celant, Director, Fondazione Prada; Sultan Sooud Al Qassemi, Founder, Barjeel Art Foundation; Wassan Al Khudhairi, Director, Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art; and Vasif Kortun,Director of Research and Programs, SALT, Istanbul; Curator, UAE Pavilion for the Venice Biennale 2011. Natascha Sadr Haghighian, this year’s Global Art Forum Artist-in- Residence, responds to the discussions through a bibliographic journey hosted on this website. 2011 also marks the launch of Forum Fellows, a programme that offers a group of young curators and artists from Abu Dhabi, Antakya, Dhaka, Karachi, Jerusalem and Tehran the opportunity to engage with all aspects of the fair.
In addition to the Global Art Forum, Art Dubai hosts a series of talks including On Collecting, focusing on arts patronage; Art Park Talks, which include performances, conversations and practical workshops; and THE BIG IDEA, a dynamic forum for UAE-based artists and designers, organised by Bidoun Projects.
Art Dubai Projects takes an observational, almost anthropological approach to the gallery metropolis created by Art Dubai. The rich programme of new works and performances includes painters Ali Chitsaz and Mounira Al Sohl in collaboration with Bassam Ramlawi taking on the theme of ‘labour’ in a live mural; the commissioning of Oraib Toukan to create a new work within the grounds of the fair while Hrair Sarkissian has adapted an existing work that – in its new state – plays with the façade of Madinat Jumeirah; works created by Abbas Akhavan and Shaikha Al Mazrou during the Delfina Foundation’s eight-week residency programme in Bastakiya, with the support of Dubai Culture & Arts Authority (Dubai Culture) and Tashkeel; performative tours of the fair by Malak Helmy and Abhishek Hazra; a bank of radio dispatches from artists’ studios curated by The Island (Victoria Brooks and Andrew Bonacina); and Art Park, a series of films, talks and projects curated by Bidoun Projects that features retrospectives of video artists Wael Shawky and Sherif El-Azma.
Visitors to the fair will be the first in the world to see the completed works of the five recipients of the third annual Abraaj Capital Art Prize (ACAP). Winners of this year’s prize include Hamra Abbas, Jananne Al-Ani, Shezad Dawood, Nadia Kaabi-Linke and Timo Nasseri with guest curator Sharmini Perreira. Footnotes to a Project*, a specially commissioned book project tracing the process of production for each artist’s work for ACAP 2011 and launches on the fair’s closing day.
In addition, visitors to Art Dubai can enter the fantasy world created in the Van Cleef & Arpels exhibition Les Voyages Extraordinaires, inspired by four stories by the French writer Jules Verne: Five Weeks in a Balloon, Journey to the Centre of the Earth, From the Earth to the Moon and Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Sea.
This year, Art Dubai also launches Art Week, an initiative showcasing the broad programme of cultural events taking place across the UAE and Qatar in March.
Tickets to Art Dubai are available at the door for AED 50 each and entry for children 12 and under is free. Visit www.artdubai.ae
Chinese art sales takes 2nd place in the world
March 15, London: The rise of China as an economic power has given a boost to the Middle Kingdom’s art market in a big way. According to a new study from the British Art Market Federation, China has emerged as the second largest art market in the world, overtaking the United Kingdom.
With the Chinese organised art market, including the sales in gallery and auctions, constituting nearly a fourth of the world’s art sales, at 23 per cent, or US$8.3 billion, the Middle Kingdom is second only to the US, which is the number one global market with a share of 34. The UK lags behind China with a 22 per cent share, dropping from 27 per cent in 2006.
The Chinese market is dominated by traditional and imperial-era art. However, contemporary art is finding gradual prominence, while the taste for western art is also growing.
With the Chinese organised art market, including the sales in gallery and auctions, constituting nearly a fourth of the world’s art sales, at 23 per cent, or US$8.3 billion, the Middle Kingdom is second only to the US, which is the number one global market with a share of 34. The UK lags behind China with a 22 per cent share, dropping from 27 per cent in 2006.
The Chinese market is dominated by traditional and imperial-era art. However, contemporary art is finding gradual prominence, while the taste for western art is also growing.
An introduction to Madhubani painting
Hindu women who live in villages near the market town of Madhubani, in northern India, maintain old traditions, passing them to their daughters. Painting is one of the traditional skills that are passed down from generation to generation in the families of some of the women. They paint figures from nature and myth on household and village walls to mark the seasonal festivals of the religious year, for special events of the life-cycle, and when marriages are arranged they prepare intricately designed wedding proposals.
Even though women in the villages around Madhubani have been practicing their folk art, for centuries, the world at large has come to know about these women, considering them as "artists", only in the last thirty years. Even now, most of their work remains anonymous. The women, some of them illiterate, are in any case reluctant to consider themselves individual producers of "works of art" and, only a few of them sign their names in their own paintings.
Among the first modern outsiders to document the tradition of Madhubani painting were William Archer. He was a British civil servant assigned to the district during the colonial era. Archer obtained some drawings on paper that the women painters. Works that Archer collected went to the India Records Office in London (now part of the British Library) where a small number of specialists could study them as creative instances of India's folk art.
What led women painters to share their work with the larger world was a major ecological and economic crisis, resulting from a prolonged drought during 1966-68 that struck Madhubani and the surrounding region of Mithila. In order to create a new source of non-agricultural income, the All-India Handicrafts Board encouraged the women artists to produce their traditional paintings on handmade paper for commercial sale. Since then, painting has become a primary source of income for scores of families.
Production and initial marketing have been regulated by regional craft guilds, the state government of Bihar, and the Government of India. But the continuing market in this art throughout the world is a tribute to the resourcefulness of the women of Mithila who have successfully transferred their techniques of bhitti chitra or wall-painting to the medium of paper, and have resisted the temptation to adapt their traditional designs too freely in pursuit of unpredictable public tastes.
The paper itself is handmade and treated with cow’s dung and the colours used are extracted from vegetables. People of Mithila have their own language and a sense of regional identity that goes back more than 2500 years. Among the most celebrated figures, believed to have been born in the region are Mahavira (a great spiritual hero of the Jain religion), Siddhartha Gautama (better known to the world as the Buddha), and Sita (the legendary wife of Prince Rama and herself a central figure in the world's epic the Ramayana).
For the Region of Mithila, which lies near the India-Nepal Border, commercialization of the folk art has been a mixed blessing. It has been regulated by governmental bureaucracies, has generated a multi-levelled distribution system, and has put a premium on productivity per se - independent of any meaningful connection to the traditional cycles of village life and the rhythms of the religious year. But it also has allowed people around the world to discover a style of art with a long heritage linked to the lives of women, and that retains evident signs of its rootedness in a vital folk tradition. And, more to the point, it has created a new source of gainful employment in rural India for women and their families.
The above article originally appeared in Exotic India. It has been slightly edited to adapt to this website. The link to origninal article is http://www.exoticindiaart.com/article/madhubanipaintings/
Even though women in the villages around Madhubani have been practicing their folk art, for centuries, the world at large has come to know about these women, considering them as "artists", only in the last thirty years. Even now, most of their work remains anonymous. The women, some of them illiterate, are in any case reluctant to consider themselves individual producers of "works of art" and, only a few of them sign their names in their own paintings.
Among the first modern outsiders to document the tradition of Madhubani painting were William Archer. He was a British civil servant assigned to the district during the colonial era. Archer obtained some drawings on paper that the women painters. Works that Archer collected went to the India Records Office in London (now part of the British Library) where a small number of specialists could study them as creative instances of India's folk art.
What led women painters to share their work with the larger world was a major ecological and economic crisis, resulting from a prolonged drought during 1966-68 that struck Madhubani and the surrounding region of Mithila. In order to create a new source of non-agricultural income, the All-India Handicrafts Board encouraged the women artists to produce their traditional paintings on handmade paper for commercial sale. Since then, painting has become a primary source of income for scores of families.
Production and initial marketing have been regulated by regional craft guilds, the state government of Bihar, and the Government of India. But the continuing market in this art throughout the world is a tribute to the resourcefulness of the women of Mithila who have successfully transferred their techniques of bhitti chitra or wall-painting to the medium of paper, and have resisted the temptation to adapt their traditional designs too freely in pursuit of unpredictable public tastes.
The paper itself is handmade and treated with cow’s dung and the colours used are extracted from vegetables. People of Mithila have their own language and a sense of regional identity that goes back more than 2500 years. Among the most celebrated figures, believed to have been born in the region are Mahavira (a great spiritual hero of the Jain religion), Siddhartha Gautama (better known to the world as the Buddha), and Sita (the legendary wife of Prince Rama and herself a central figure in the world's epic the Ramayana).
For the Region of Mithila, which lies near the India-Nepal Border, commercialization of the folk art has been a mixed blessing. It has been regulated by governmental bureaucracies, has generated a multi-levelled distribution system, and has put a premium on productivity per se - independent of any meaningful connection to the traditional cycles of village life and the rhythms of the religious year. But it also has allowed people around the world to discover a style of art with a long heritage linked to the lives of women, and that retains evident signs of its rootedness in a vital folk tradition. And, more to the point, it has created a new source of gainful employment in rural India for women and their families.
The above article originally appeared in Exotic India. It has been slightly edited to adapt to this website. The link to origninal article is http://www.exoticindiaart.com/article/madhubanipaintings/
Art Dubai 2011 growing ever larger
March 13, Dubai: Art Dubai 2011 today said that a total of 81 art galleries will be represented in the fair, when the fifth edition of event opens to public on March 16 and continues till March 19. Established as the leading platform for artists in the Middle East, Art Dubai 2011 will bring together artists, gallerists, curators and collectors from around the region to experience new works presented by the galleries, featuring ten new participants from the region. In new and returning galleries and a number of pioneering projects, visitors to the fair can take advantage of solo exhibitions, installations, performances, talks, screenings and more that speak to the region’s thriving cultural development and diversity.
Artists from the United Arab Emirates are set to make a strong showing at this year’s fair, with The Third Line (Dubai) exhibiting pieces by Ebtisam Abdul Aziz and Hunar Gallery (Dubai) highlighting works from Abdul Qader Al Rais, Abdul Rahim Salim, Dr. Najat Makki, Fatma Lootah and Mattar Bin Lahej. Works by seminal artist Hassan Sharif will be on display with Salwa Zeidan Gallery (Abu Dhabi), while the artist’s first national retrospective -- Hassan Sharif: Experiments & Objects (1979-2001), curated by Catherine David and Mohammed Kazem, and organised by the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture & Heritage– is set to open on Thursday, 17 March at Qasr Al Hosn in Abu Dhabi. Fatema Al Mazrouie’s works will also be exhibited at the Salwa Zeidan Gallery, while young artist Shaikha Al Mazrou – represented by Traffic (Dubai) - is creating a commissioned artwork using electronic waste for Art Dubai’s non-commercial projects. The work was created during the Delfina Foundation’s 8-week residency at Bastakiya, in collaboration with the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority and Tashkeel, with the support of the British Council.
In addition to a proliferation of Saudi Arabian artists’ works being exhibited by international galleries, Jeddah’s Athr Gallery returns to Art Dubai for the third time. Since its establishment in 2009, Athr Gallery’s participation in the fair has become a key avenue through which rising artists within Saudi Arabia enhance their profile on the international arts stage. Athr will showcase works by artists including Jowhara Al Saud, Eyad Maghazil, Maha Malluh and Nasser Al Salem, while Traffic is also bringing to Art Dubai pieces by Saudi artists including Abdulnasser Gharem, Ahmed Mater and Faisal Samra. As part of Art Week, Edge of Arabia presents Terminal (14 March – 15 April 2011) at DIFC, The Gate Village, exhibiting new and commissioned works by artists also from Saudi Arabia.
As one of Art Dubai 2011’s artists to watch, Omaniartist Hassan Meer, identified by his exploration of the spiritual traditions and beliefs of his home country, will be showcased by Bait Muzna Gallery, Muscat, as well as Switzerland’s AB Gallery. Bait Muzna will also exhibit pieces by Omani artist Budoor Al Riyami, who works in video installation as well as painting and sculpture.
Bahrain’s Albareh Art Gallery returns to Art Dubai with new works by Bahraini artists Khalil Al Hashimi and Mohammed Al Mahdi. Al Mahdi’s works include figurative works on canvas, while Al Hashimi’s works for Art Dubai 2011 will feature new sculptural pieces.
The evolution of the vibrant and flourishing Jordanian arts scene can be seen in a number of innovative projects at Art Dubai 2011, namely in the launch of MARKER - a new platform for experimental art spaces curated by Nav Haq. This newest addition to the fair’s diverse range of popular programming will feature the iconic Makan Gallery, Amman, in a project that will explore the kinship and cooperative spirit that is held in the inherent traditions of Jordan itself.
The Alexandria Contemporary Arts Forum from Egypt will similarly partake in this newest offering from Art Dubai, affirming its position as one of the region’s most progressive institutions. Presenting the second installment of its long-term text project The ARPANET Dialogues, the project will offer a unique insight with an archive of rare conversations dating back to 1975, articulating deep-seated contemporary social, political and cultural concerns.
Galerie Nathalie Obadia (Paris/Brussels) and The Third Line will this year play host to the works of Egyptianartist and photographer Youssef Nabil at Art Dubai, set to attract both regional and international supporters of contemporary Middle Eastern art. The 2011 Bidoun Art Park, renowned for its dynamic underground project space for film, video and talks will feature the retrospectives of two pivotal Egyptian artists, Wael Shawky and Sherif El-Azma, curated by Bidoun’s Kaelen Wilson-Goldie and Sarah Rifky of the Townhouse Gallery, respectively. Furthermore, Egyptian artist and photographer Malak Helmy, known for her fascination with language constructions and translation, will be leading a performative tour of the fair as one of Art Dubai’s most popular and entertaining attributes.
The 2011 edition of Art Dubai sees an unprecedented presence of Lebanese artists and exhibitors with over 20 artists’ works appearing at the fair. Famed for the biographical context of his works that hold an acute relevance to his home country, Beirut-based Ayman Balbaaki will be coming to the fair this year with the renowned Rose Issa Projects from London and the Agial Art Gallery. Housing the works of its native Lebanese artists in addition to those of Bahrain, Syria, Egypt, Iraq and further afield, Agial has acquired a distinguished reputation for raising international consciousness regarding regional contemporary art. Lebanon will additionally be represented through engaging exhibitions by Galerie Janine Rubeiz, Sfeir-Semler (Hamburg/Beirut), Galerie Tanit (Munich/Beirut) and Ayyam Gallery (Beirut/Cairo/Damascus/Dubai).
As one of the fair’s most stimulating and though-provoking attractions, the fifth edition of the Global Art Forum will be presented by the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority in partnership with Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art, Doha, Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture & Heritage and the Ministry of Culture, Kingdom of Bahrain, illustrating an unmatched regional partnership that seeks to further the development of the Middle East’s ever-growing arts scene through cultural debate and discussion.
“We are delighted to host such a strong regional representation of artists in this year’s fair. From the 500-plus artists represented at Art Dubai 2011, we are pleased to see such a significant percentage hailing from the region, demonstrating a steadily increasing awareness of artistic production in the Middle East ,” said Antonia Carver, Fair Director of Art Dubai. “Annual events like Art Dubai provide a key meeting point for galleries, curators, collectors and artists that not only allows regional art professionals to reach new audiences and increase their visibility but importantly directs international focus towards the Middle Eastern arts community.”
Artists from the United Arab Emirates are set to make a strong showing at this year’s fair, with The Third Line (Dubai) exhibiting pieces by Ebtisam Abdul Aziz and Hunar Gallery (Dubai) highlighting works from Abdul Qader Al Rais, Abdul Rahim Salim, Dr. Najat Makki, Fatma Lootah and Mattar Bin Lahej. Works by seminal artist Hassan Sharif will be on display with Salwa Zeidan Gallery (Abu Dhabi), while the artist’s first national retrospective -- Hassan Sharif: Experiments & Objects (1979-2001), curated by Catherine David and Mohammed Kazem, and organised by the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture & Heritage– is set to open on Thursday, 17 March at Qasr Al Hosn in Abu Dhabi. Fatema Al Mazrouie’s works will also be exhibited at the Salwa Zeidan Gallery, while young artist Shaikha Al Mazrou – represented by Traffic (Dubai) - is creating a commissioned artwork using electronic waste for Art Dubai’s non-commercial projects. The work was created during the Delfina Foundation’s 8-week residency at Bastakiya, in collaboration with the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority and Tashkeel, with the support of the British Council.
In addition to a proliferation of Saudi Arabian artists’ works being exhibited by international galleries, Jeddah’s Athr Gallery returns to Art Dubai for the third time. Since its establishment in 2009, Athr Gallery’s participation in the fair has become a key avenue through which rising artists within Saudi Arabia enhance their profile on the international arts stage. Athr will showcase works by artists including Jowhara Al Saud, Eyad Maghazil, Maha Malluh and Nasser Al Salem, while Traffic is also bringing to Art Dubai pieces by Saudi artists including Abdulnasser Gharem, Ahmed Mater and Faisal Samra. As part of Art Week, Edge of Arabia presents Terminal (14 March – 15 April 2011) at DIFC, The Gate Village, exhibiting new and commissioned works by artists also from Saudi Arabia.
As one of Art Dubai 2011’s artists to watch, Omaniartist Hassan Meer, identified by his exploration of the spiritual traditions and beliefs of his home country, will be showcased by Bait Muzna Gallery, Muscat, as well as Switzerland’s AB Gallery. Bait Muzna will also exhibit pieces by Omani artist Budoor Al Riyami, who works in video installation as well as painting and sculpture.
Bahrain’s Albareh Art Gallery returns to Art Dubai with new works by Bahraini artists Khalil Al Hashimi and Mohammed Al Mahdi. Al Mahdi’s works include figurative works on canvas, while Al Hashimi’s works for Art Dubai 2011 will feature new sculptural pieces.
The evolution of the vibrant and flourishing Jordanian arts scene can be seen in a number of innovative projects at Art Dubai 2011, namely in the launch of MARKER - a new platform for experimental art spaces curated by Nav Haq. This newest addition to the fair’s diverse range of popular programming will feature the iconic Makan Gallery, Amman, in a project that will explore the kinship and cooperative spirit that is held in the inherent traditions of Jordan itself.
The Alexandria Contemporary Arts Forum from Egypt will similarly partake in this newest offering from Art Dubai, affirming its position as one of the region’s most progressive institutions. Presenting the second installment of its long-term text project The ARPANET Dialogues, the project will offer a unique insight with an archive of rare conversations dating back to 1975, articulating deep-seated contemporary social, political and cultural concerns.
Galerie Nathalie Obadia (Paris/Brussels) and The Third Line will this year play host to the works of Egyptianartist and photographer Youssef Nabil at Art Dubai, set to attract both regional and international supporters of contemporary Middle Eastern art. The 2011 Bidoun Art Park, renowned for its dynamic underground project space for film, video and talks will feature the retrospectives of two pivotal Egyptian artists, Wael Shawky and Sherif El-Azma, curated by Bidoun’s Kaelen Wilson-Goldie and Sarah Rifky of the Townhouse Gallery, respectively. Furthermore, Egyptian artist and photographer Malak Helmy, known for her fascination with language constructions and translation, will be leading a performative tour of the fair as one of Art Dubai’s most popular and entertaining attributes.
The 2011 edition of Art Dubai sees an unprecedented presence of Lebanese artists and exhibitors with over 20 artists’ works appearing at the fair. Famed for the biographical context of his works that hold an acute relevance to his home country, Beirut-based Ayman Balbaaki will be coming to the fair this year with the renowned Rose Issa Projects from London and the Agial Art Gallery. Housing the works of its native Lebanese artists in addition to those of Bahrain, Syria, Egypt, Iraq and further afield, Agial has acquired a distinguished reputation for raising international consciousness regarding regional contemporary art. Lebanon will additionally be represented through engaging exhibitions by Galerie Janine Rubeiz, Sfeir-Semler (Hamburg/Beirut), Galerie Tanit (Munich/Beirut) and Ayyam Gallery (Beirut/Cairo/Damascus/Dubai).
As one of the fair’s most stimulating and though-provoking attractions, the fifth edition of the Global Art Forum will be presented by the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority in partnership with Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art, Doha, Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture & Heritage and the Ministry of Culture, Kingdom of Bahrain, illustrating an unmatched regional partnership that seeks to further the development of the Middle East’s ever-growing arts scene through cultural debate and discussion.
“We are delighted to host such a strong regional representation of artists in this year’s fair. From the 500-plus artists represented at Art Dubai 2011, we are pleased to see such a significant percentage hailing from the region, demonstrating a steadily increasing awareness of artistic production in the Middle East ,” said Antonia Carver, Fair Director of Art Dubai. “Annual events like Art Dubai provide a key meeting point for galleries, curators, collectors and artists that not only allows regional art professionals to reach new audiences and increase their visibility but importantly directs international focus towards the Middle Eastern arts community.”
Capturing the Soul of Folk Art
By S Skye Vernon
When a folk artist captures the soul of a piece of folk art they are really just capturing a part of their own soul through their work. Some folk artists have the innate ability to do this with little time and effort but most strive to achieve this through hard work and patience. For some it can take years of trial and error before they've honed their craft to the point where their genuine originality shines through. Do not be discouraged. If you have more than just a passing interest in creating beautiful and sometimes traditional works of folk art you do not need formal art training to become a thoughtful folk artist.
Generally folk art styles can be passed down from generation to generation. Through the years, families have handed down their techniques to loved ones to carry on the tradition of creating homemade items usually made with a specific purpose in mind like a wooden toy or ceramic dishes. This folk art was designed out of necessity where the artist or their family could use the piece from day to day. Other folk art is created out of pure enjoyment, made to decorate the family home or give as gifts to other families and friends.
Popular folk art usually expresses a joyful emotion. The piece may contain basic color schemes such as works done by Maud Lewis. While she lived she could only afford certain colors and her work always seemed to portray cheerful scenes cut from her life's experience such as oxen pulling a cart or people skating over a frozen pond in winter outside of a small village sprinkled with evergreens and local fauna. Since then her work has gained worldwide renown for its simple yet effective style. Maud Lewis really had the raw talent to capture the soul of her subject consistently. Over the years her output was prolific and that's part of the reason she's so celebrated today. It's because she just kept at it!
Many people have studied Maud Lewis and others like her to gain inspiration for producing their own art. Many artists have followed in their predecessors footsteps to recapture subjects using various forms and mediums. Some have even gained recognition in this field. Some names of note in the Nova Scotia area are Joe Balcom, Maureen Newman, Joe Norris, the Nauglers of Camperdown, and Joe Sleep.
To have a look at some of this author's delightful original compositions check out http://www.skyefolk.com. Or you can view and acquire customizable prints of work at http://www.zazzle.com/skyefolkstore. Happy trails in your quest to capture your own soul with folk art.
S Skye Vernon
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=S_Skye_Vernon
When a folk artist captures the soul of a piece of folk art they are really just capturing a part of their own soul through their work. Some folk artists have the innate ability to do this with little time and effort but most strive to achieve this through hard work and patience. For some it can take years of trial and error before they've honed their craft to the point where their genuine originality shines through. Do not be discouraged. If you have more than just a passing interest in creating beautiful and sometimes traditional works of folk art you do not need formal art training to become a thoughtful folk artist.
Generally folk art styles can be passed down from generation to generation. Through the years, families have handed down their techniques to loved ones to carry on the tradition of creating homemade items usually made with a specific purpose in mind like a wooden toy or ceramic dishes. This folk art was designed out of necessity where the artist or their family could use the piece from day to day. Other folk art is created out of pure enjoyment, made to decorate the family home or give as gifts to other families and friends.
Popular folk art usually expresses a joyful emotion. The piece may contain basic color schemes such as works done by Maud Lewis. While she lived she could only afford certain colors and her work always seemed to portray cheerful scenes cut from her life's experience such as oxen pulling a cart or people skating over a frozen pond in winter outside of a small village sprinkled with evergreens and local fauna. Since then her work has gained worldwide renown for its simple yet effective style. Maud Lewis really had the raw talent to capture the soul of her subject consistently. Over the years her output was prolific and that's part of the reason she's so celebrated today. It's because she just kept at it!
Many people have studied Maud Lewis and others like her to gain inspiration for producing their own art. Many artists have followed in their predecessors footsteps to recapture subjects using various forms and mediums. Some have even gained recognition in this field. Some names of note in the Nova Scotia area are Joe Balcom, Maureen Newman, Joe Norris, the Nauglers of Camperdown, and Joe Sleep.
To have a look at some of this author's delightful original compositions check out http://www.skyefolk.com. Or you can view and acquire customizable prints of work at http://www.zazzle.com/skyefolkstore. Happy trails in your quest to capture your own soul with folk art.
S Skye Vernon
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=S_Skye_Vernon
Mitul ends her show with fanfare on Qanat Al Qasba
Mermaids of fantasy.
Sharjah, March 13: Mitul's two-day exhibition on Qanat Al Qasba ended in great fanfare, as friends, fans and visitors milled about around her work of art. She also was able to interact with visiting artists and exchange ideas with them.
The second of the event also had friends and well-wishers and visitors purchasing her art work and handicraft that she displayed to give an holistic look to the exhibition.
This was Mitul's second serious attempt at exhibiting her work of art in Sharjah. She will exhibiting regulary, taking advantage of the various platforms and opprotnuties that the UAE offers for upcoming artists.
"I will be displaying a lot of work on other mediums as well, including jewellery and fabric in the near future," she said.
The second of the event also had friends and well-wishers and visitors purchasing her art work and handicraft that she displayed to give an holistic look to the exhibition.
This was Mitul's second serious attempt at exhibiting her work of art in Sharjah. She will exhibiting regulary, taking advantage of the various platforms and opprotnuties that the UAE offers for upcoming artists.
"I will be displaying a lot of work on other mediums as well, including jewellery and fabric in the near future," she said.
Mitul's Al Qasba show draws good response on day 1
Mitul with some of her bottle and pebble work at Qanat Al Qasba on day 1 of her exhibits
Sharjah, March 11: The first day of the display of Mitul’s art at Qanat al Qasba in Sharjah passed off with a number of visitors showing interest in her art. Her bottle and pebble art were appreciated by connoisseurs. A number of her art works were sold during the evening, while some of the craft at the on display also found enthusiastic buyers. She also spent time creating awareness of the kind of work she does on various medium.
Art Dubai draws huge response
Dubai, March 10: The UAE’s importance as a global art destination is rising in leaps and bounds. Despite the violence and volatility in the Arab world, the UAE seems to be an island of tranquility. Art Dubai, which opens on March 16, will feature over 80 galleries from 34 countries and an extensive programme of collateral events. More
Display of Mitul's art in Qanat Al Qasba
Sharjah, March 9: Mitul will showcase some of her latest bottle and pebble art in Qanat Al Qasba on March 10 and 11. She will also display handicraft and jewellery in her stall on the canal. The exhibits will be open for sale and the timings are from 4 pm to 11 pm on both the days.
Qanat Al Qasba offers visitors a family environment. The venue is a great evening visit, and one can round off the evening with dinner in one of the many themed restaurants on the canal.
Qanat Al Qasba offers visitors a family environment. The venue is a great evening visit, and one can round off the evening with dinner in one of the many themed restaurants on the canal.
Sotheby’s to sell the Pearl Canopy of Baroda
New York, March 8: Sotheby’s New York will present The Pearl Canopy Of Baroda, one of the most luxuriant works of art ever created, on March 24, 2011. The bejeweled canopy, which will be offered in the Indian and Southeast Asian Works of Art auction, is one of the highlights of Sotheby’s Asia week series of auctions. The canopy is entirely embroidered with natural ‘Basra’ pearls and lush floral vines made up of coloured glass beads enhanced by diamonds, sapphires, rubies and emeralds. The number of ‘Basra’ pearls alone totals over 500,000. The work had been hidden from public view for over 100 years until it was included in the exhibition Maharaja: The Splendor of India’s Royal Courts at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London last year. It is estimated to fetch US$3/5 million.
The canopy was commissioned by the Maharaja of Baroda, Khande Rao Gaekwar and was made circa 1865-70. It was created as part of an ensemble which included the famed Pearl Carpet of Baroda which was sold at Sotheby’s Doha in March 2009. The suite was originally made up of four rectangular bejeweled carpets and this circular canopy. Of the five pieces, only these two survive. The Maharaja reputedly intended the group to be given as a gift to adorn the tomb of the Prophet Mohammad in Medina. The gift was never delivered, as the Maharaja died before the donation could be made. The carpet therefore remained in his family for over a century.
In another news, Sotheby’s announced that its annual Contemporary Turkish Art Auction in London on Thursday, 7th April, 2011 will this year feature an exceptional collection of paintings by the modern Turkish master, Mubin Orhon. This unique collection comes with impeccable provenance, having been amassed by Daniel Gervis, a French dealer, collector and patron of the arts since the 1960s. These four paintings, never before seen on the market, were purchased directly from the artist by Gervis and have remained in the same collection for almost 50 years. Combined, these four masterworks are estimated to realise in excess of GBP680,000.
The canopy was commissioned by the Maharaja of Baroda, Khande Rao Gaekwar and was made circa 1865-70. It was created as part of an ensemble which included the famed Pearl Carpet of Baroda which was sold at Sotheby’s Doha in March 2009. The suite was originally made up of four rectangular bejeweled carpets and this circular canopy. Of the five pieces, only these two survive. The Maharaja reputedly intended the group to be given as a gift to adorn the tomb of the Prophet Mohammad in Medina. The gift was never delivered, as the Maharaja died before the donation could be made. The carpet therefore remained in his family for over a century.
In another news, Sotheby’s announced that its annual Contemporary Turkish Art Auction in London on Thursday, 7th April, 2011 will this year feature an exceptional collection of paintings by the modern Turkish master, Mubin Orhon. This unique collection comes with impeccable provenance, having been amassed by Daniel Gervis, a French dealer, collector and patron of the arts since the 1960s. These four paintings, never before seen on the market, were purchased directly from the artist by Gervis and have remained in the same collection for almost 50 years. Combined, these four masterworks are estimated to realise in excess of GBP680,000.
Dunia announces its own art gallery
Dubai, March 8: Dunia Finance, a finance company in the UAE, is launching an exclusive art gallery. The opening ceremony of the new art gallery will take place onMarch 12 at 5 PM at Dunia' s Dubai Media City branch.
There will be a selection of art on display from prestigious artists around the world, including Mashkoor, Gulgee, Salvadore Dali, Jamil Naqsh, Sadequain, Owais Husain, Farrukh Shahab, Mansur Aye and many more. The exhibition will be opened by Mashkoor Raza, renowned Pakistani artist known for his amazing works. Leading artists Khalifa and Tanya Ashraf from the UAE will also be in attendance.
Dunia's Dubai Media City branch is located on the Ground Floor, Al Salam Tower Tower on Sheikh Zayed Road, opposite BBC World Services. Location map can be found at www.dunia.ae/locations
There will be a selection of art on display from prestigious artists around the world, including Mashkoor, Gulgee, Salvadore Dali, Jamil Naqsh, Sadequain, Owais Husain, Farrukh Shahab, Mansur Aye and many more. The exhibition will be opened by Mashkoor Raza, renowned Pakistani artist known for his amazing works. Leading artists Khalifa and Tanya Ashraf from the UAE will also be in attendance.
Dunia's Dubai Media City branch is located on the Ground Floor, Al Salam Tower Tower on Sheikh Zayed Road, opposite BBC World Services. Location map can be found at www.dunia.ae/locations
Meem's latest exhibitions announced
Dubai, March 7: Meem Gallery announced the fourth part of five exhibitions displaying contemporary Iraqi art this spring. Curated by Dia Al-Azzawi, Art in Iraq Today: Part IV will exhibit the recent work of Dia Al-Azzawi, Rafa Al-Nasiri (both founders of the New Vision Group in 1969) and Ali Talib. The exhibition, and its supporting catalogue, is dedicated to the memory of Jabra Ibrahim Jabra and his seminal essays on modern Iraqi art, titled ‘Art in Iraq Today.’
Dia Al-Azzawi and Ali Talib will be in attendance.
Part V (25 April – 31 May 2011), will exhibit the work of Ali Jabbar, Halim Al-Kareem, Sadik Kwaish and Mahmoud Obaidi. Part I, held in October 2010, exhibited the recent work of Modhir Ahmed, Nedim Kufi and Hanaa Malallah; Part II, which was held in November 2010, displayed the work of Ghassan Ghaib, Kareem Risan and Nazar Yahya; Part III, which opened in February, showcased the paintings of Himat M. Ali, Amar Dawod and Delair Shaker.
Dia Al-Azzawi and Ali Talib will be in attendance.
Part V (25 April – 31 May 2011), will exhibit the work of Ali Jabbar, Halim Al-Kareem, Sadik Kwaish and Mahmoud Obaidi. Part I, held in October 2010, exhibited the recent work of Modhir Ahmed, Nedim Kufi and Hanaa Malallah; Part II, which was held in November 2010, displayed the work of Ghassan Ghaib, Kareem Risan and Nazar Yahya; Part III, which opened in February, showcased the paintings of Himat M. Ali, Amar Dawod and Delair Shaker.
Karine Roche’s solo exhibition on Dubai
Karine Roche with her works on the background
Dubai, March 6: Art Sawa will be exhibiting Karine Roche’s works in its premises in Dubai for one month from March 12 to April 13, 2011. The solo exhibition will showcase Roche’s collection of works for the very first time focused on the city of Dubai.
Roche’s works are a mix of classicism and modernity, precision and spontaneity, excitement and stillness.
She loves nature and loves city, vegetation and architecture, urban flora and fauna. She uses the subject as vocabulary- a pretext to carry out her work, the real subject is painting. The city, its pollution and overcrowding, the need of still more, still the largest, bulimia of frivolity disperse the earth and sky…in the activity, travels, noises.
Dubai, with its ability to absorb and transform nature and men fascinates Roche, whose paintings are made of blends of fabrics and canvas mounted on wood frames more or less square.
“I do not wish to give any answer on the end of an era, neither on a rebellion of nature or an urban ecology. All I want is to introduce a formal and informal questioning on the chromatic and graphic dynamic,” She says.
Roche has already exhibited many times in Europe and received many prizes and awards.
Roche’s works are a mix of classicism and modernity, precision and spontaneity, excitement and stillness.
She loves nature and loves city, vegetation and architecture, urban flora and fauna. She uses the subject as vocabulary- a pretext to carry out her work, the real subject is painting. The city, its pollution and overcrowding, the need of still more, still the largest, bulimia of frivolity disperse the earth and sky…in the activity, travels, noises.
Dubai, with its ability to absorb and transform nature and men fascinates Roche, whose paintings are made of blends of fabrics and canvas mounted on wood frames more or less square.
“I do not wish to give any answer on the end of an era, neither on a rebellion of nature or an urban ecology. All I want is to introduce a formal and informal questioning on the chromatic and graphic dynamic,” She says.
Roche has already exhibited many times in Europe and received many prizes and awards.