Artists Hadeyah Badri, Fayçal Baghriche, Zeinab Al Hashimi, Magdi Mostafa, Nasir Nasrallah, and Deniz Uster have been selected for the three-month residency in the lead-up to Art Week, the Gulf-wide programme of fairs, museum shows, exhibitions, performances and projects that coincides with Art Dubai each March. The 2012 curator-in-residence is Alexandra MacGilp.

As part of their residency, Fayçal Baghriche, Magdi Mostafa, and Deniz Uster are commissioned to make site-specific works for Art Dubai Projects, a programme of new works and performances that explore the fabric and economy of an art fair, embracing the theatrical nature of such an event.

All six artists will be exhibiting as part of an Open Studios programme included in Sikka Art Fair during Art Week 2012.

The artists — three from Asia and the Middle East, three from the UAE– were selected by representatives of the partner organisations plus guest curator November Paynter, Associate Director of Research and Programs at SALT, Istanbul and Director of the Artist Pension Trust, Dubai. The curator-in-residence was selected by A.i.R. Dubai selection panel, with critic HG Master of ArtAsiaPacific, following an open call. The curator’s residency is in collaboration with ArtAsiaPacific.

Artists-in-residence

Hadeyeh Badri studied Visual Communications and Design at the American University of Sharjah. She is the co-founder of Möbius Design Studio, a collective engaged in experimental processes, and conceptual and formal investigations. Her work is an exploration of typography, photography and other media.

Fayçal Baghriche lives and works in Paris. A collector of narratives and traces and an assembler of objects and films, he proposes images that thwart the identification reflex. Recent international exhibitions include ‘Architecture of survival’, Outpost for Contemporary Art, Los Angeles (2008); ‘Second Hand’, the Museum of Modern Art, Paris (2010); and ‘The Future of a Promise’ at the 54th Venice Biennial (2011).

Zeinab Al Hashemi is a young visual artist based in Dubai, who specializes in multi-media design and sources her ideas from elements of popular culture. She is also the creator of Dibs & Dips, the first Emirati pop art modern bakery concept.

Magdi Mostafa is a Cairo-based artist who works primarily with site-specific, research-driven sound projects, multimedia installations and experimental music. Exhibitions include ‘Invisible Presence’, Malawian museum, Cairo (2009); ‘The One & the Multiple’, La Capella de Barcelona (2010); ‘Sound Cells (Fridays’) ‘, Cairo Opera House (2010).

Nasir Nasrallah is a Sharjah-based visual artist. His practice is driven by the need to experiment with new concepts and methodologies and to transform raw materials into art.

Nasrallah’s first solo exhibition was held at the Sharjah Art Museum (2009). Other international exhibitions include The Fine Arts Creative Gulf Artists, Kuwait (2009) and Sana’a International Forum for Plastic Arts (2009). Nasrallah is vice chairman of the Emirates Fine Arts Society.

Deniz Uster is based in Glasgow and Istanbul. Her work often implies processes of transmutation, and draws upon the language of alchemy. Uster’s work has been featured in ‘Light Courses’, Elgiz Contemporary Art Museum, Istanbul (2010); ‘Encrypting Signs on the Fabric of a Rhizome’, La Giarina Gallery, Verona (2011); ‘Confessions of Dangerous Minds, Contemporary Art from Turkey’, Saatchi Gallery, London (2011).

Curator-in-Residence

Based in London, Alexandra MacGilp is interested in film, video, performance and installation practices and working with archive materials. MacGlip has curated multi-media exhibitions with accompanying talks and performance programmes in London, Hamburg and Kabul, often working as part of a curatorial collective with Cassandra Needham. She contributes regularly to EXIT Express and artvehicle.com, which she co-founded in 2006.

The prestigious €25,000 Lacoste Elysée Prize is awarded by the Swiss Musée de l’Elysée with sponsorship from Lacoste, the clothing brand.

Larissa Sansour was among the eight artists shortlisted for the 2011 prize. In December 2011, Lacoste demanded that her nomination be revoked. Lacoste stated their refusal to support Sansour’s work, labelling it ‘too pro-Palestinian’. A special jury will convene in January 2012 to select the winner.

As a nominee, Sansour was awarded a bursary of €4,000 and given carte blanche to produce a portfolio of images for the final judging. In November 2011, three photos for Sansour’s Nation Estate project were accepted, and she was congratulated by the prize administrators on her work and professionalism. Sansour’s name was included on all the literature relating to the prize and on the website as an official nominee. Her name has since been removed, just as her project has been withdrawn from an upcoming issue of contemporary art magazine ArtReview introducing the nominated artists.

In an attempt to mask the reasons for her dismissal, Sansour was asked to approve a statement saying that she withdrew from her nomination ‘in order to pursue other opportunities’. Sansour has refused.

Sansour says: “I am very sad and shocked by this development. This year Palestine was officially admitted to UNESCO, yet we are still being silenced. As a politically involved artist I am no stranger to opposition, but never before have I been censored by the very same people who nominated me in the first place. Lacoste’s prejudice and censorship puts a major dent in the idea of corporate involvement in the arts. It is deeply worrying.”

Sansour’s shortlisted work, Nation Estate, is conceived in the wake of the Palestinian bid for UN membership. Nation Estate depicts a science fiction-style Palestinian state in the form of a single skyscraper housing the entire Palestinian population. Inside this new Nation Estate, the residents have recreated their lost cities on separate floors: Jerusalem on 3, Ramallah on 4, Sansour’s own hometown of Bethlehem on 5, etc.

Regretting Lacoste’s decision to censor Sansour’s work, Musée de l’Elysée has offered to exhibit the Nation Estate project outside of the confines of the Lacoste sponsorship. Musée de l’Elysée is based in Lausanne, Switzerland. The Lacoste Elysée Prize 2011 is the award’s second edition.

Under the leadership of Laure d’Hauteville, Pascal Odille and Jean-Marc Decrop, BEIRUT ART FAIR 2012 expects to welcome 40 modern and contemporary art galleries representing creations of the ME.NA.SA (Middle East, North Africa, South Asia) region, with an aim to provide an exchange platform entirely dedicated to the region’s artistic community.

After a promising inaugural edition in 2010, last year, the fair brought together 25 international galleries and proposed a number of cultural exhibitions appreciated by more than 10,000 visitors – collectors, journalists, artists, amateurs and professionals of the art

The participating galleries of the two last editions of the fair allowed collectors, international professionals, and amateurs to discover the artistic wealth of an emerging market, that hasn’t stopped growing over the last three years. In 2011, artworks worth US $ 1 million were sold during the five days of the event.

“The region ‘ME.NA.SA.’ that stretches from Morocco to Indonesia is booming artistically and economically.  In the field of contemporary art, there are 60 museums, 6 biennales, 8 fairs, over 30 foundations, and more than 200 galleries… not to mention the number of emerging artists of high caliber, which we are happy to provide a forum of expression in Beirut at the heart of the “fertile crescent,” states Laure d’Hauteville, Director, BEIRUT ART FAIR 2012.

Pascal Odille, Expert and Artistic Director of BEIRUT ART FAIR for the Middle East and North Africa further commented: “If there is not always a common art to these three regions that are the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia, there are ties, common approaches, particularly through artistic practices, such as in the calligraphy, video, and photography, for example. Other artists affirm this notion as witnesses of their time and express through their art the way they perceive the changes that cross the ME.NA.SA. world.”

For its third edition, BEIRUT ART FAIR is set to break new ground through a rich program of conferences and workshops, a VIP round through the city, meetings between collectors and galleries, happenings, cultural exhibitions, open spaces and off events.

“Lebanon has always been and will remain the special place for dialogue between cultures, a melting pot where different intellectual currents come together to create a great cultural mosaic,” says Laure d’Hauteville. “BEIRUT ART FAIR intends to reaffirm the role of Beirut as the cultural capital of the Arab world and Iran, at the crossroads between East and West,” she concluded.

Sharing his aspirations for the foundation, Al Qassemi hosted a guided tour of the collection’s fourth exhibition in the gallery since opening to the public in March 2010. With works from prominent Arab artists such as George Bahgory, Faisal Laibi Sahi, Shakir Hassan and contemporary artists Diana Al Hadid, Mohamad Said-Baalbaki, and Lara Baladi, the exhibition features several generations of artists from the Arab World. As part of a growing initiative to increase public awareness and appreciation for contemporary art, Al Qassemi emphasised the importance of hosting content driven exhibitions and creating a non-commercial space that invites the public to view and learn about art in a comfortable environment.

Following the tour of Caravan, guests proceeded to Maraya’s contemporary video art exhibition “Renditions”, curated by Aida Eltorie, curator of the Egyptian Pavilion in the 54th Venice Biennale held this year. Guided by Maraya curator Giuseppe Moscatello, the Ambassador and delegates explored exhibited videos by artists including Sama Alshaibi, Nermine Hammam, Karim Al Husseini.

The Islamic miniatures exhibition was opened by Ms Manal Ataya, Director General of the Sharjah Museums Department (SMD), and Hisham Al Madhloum, Director of the Arts Directorate at the Sharjah Department of Culture and Information, in the presence of VIPs with a particular interest in Islamic art.

Organised by the Sharjah Department of Culture and Information, the exhibition is being held in cooperation with the Juma Al Majid Centre for Culture and Heritage, and the Faculty of Fine Arts and Design at the University of Sharjah.

The exhibition features copies of some scientific and art manuscripts, as well as contemporary paintings by Fatima Al Zahra Hassan, and aims to highlight the art of Islamic miniatures.

The Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization is taking part in this exhibition as part of the 14th edition of the Islamic Arts Festival, which opened on 7 December at various venues around Sharjah.

The main theme of the festival is “Monamnamat”, meaning ‘miniatures’, which is one of the ancient Islamic arts which associated with Islamic manuscripts. Islamic miniatures encompass various patterns produced throughout the Islamic state from the beginning of the 4th Hijri century. The Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization will also be running a workshop entitled “The Art of Miniatures”, in collaboration with artist Fatima Al Zahra Hassan, on 17 December, on the sidelines of the exhibition.

Speaking about the exhibition, Ms Ataya, said, “The organisation of the miniature art exhibition is part of our support of this important festival, with the participation of the Department of Culture and Information in highlighting Islamic artworks. It is also held as part of activities carried out by the Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization throughout the year with the aim of emphasising the effective role of Sharjah’s museums in highlighting Islamic Civilization and raising public awareness about this rich and deeply-rooted civilization, thus enhancing Sharjah’s position as the Capital of Islamic Culture this year.”  

Ms Ataya explained that the exhibition provides a chance to convey the Islamic message and highlight the rich Islamic art treasures, while the festival offers an important platform for artists and talented people to pass on their creative works and contributions in the development of the Islamic art and cultural movement.

For his part, Hisham Al Madhloum said, “We are proud of Sharjah’s status as one of the most important destinations for Islamic art, culture and civilisation, and as one that gives great attention to these areas, and hence we are always keen to organise events and exhibitions that enhance the emirate’s distinctive cultural identity, in line with the directives of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohamed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah”.

Al Madhloum added that the art exhibition emphasises the leading position occupied by the UAE and Sharjah on the region’s art, intellectual and cultural stage, while the art festival highlights the importance of the UAE’s contributions to enhancing art and deeply-rooted culture, as such events help boost the country’s vast, rich elements and attractions that influence human knowledge.

Supported by Shoe Mart, Steve Madden, Dumond,  Ecco and Jumeirah Emirates Towers, Art Mantram showcases a journey of breathtaking hues at play by these 22 Mantram artists, promoting unique series of works by the artists which will contain master copies of the contemporary art “Place in the Sun” highlighting diversity and versatility of various themes, idioms and palettes of India.  

“Place in the Sun” will feature works with a common thread of anticipation and joy in the journey of life. Structures, figures, abstracts, forms and lines, which hark, back at mythology or gaze at modern life and the world around us. While the artists selected are known for the mysteries of the soul of the universe in their chosen medium of work, the works presented for the display are a myriad of emotions, faith, hope and happiness in composition, the hues and the energy.

“An artist’s inspiration is derived from infinite sources, unwinding its way through the mind, juxtaposing with various levels of the conscious, subconscious and the unconscious.  Like the skeins of silk which are woven into a tapestry, or the hues which are combined to form a ray of ‘colour’, the art unfolds across a canvas is often unpredictable, intuitive and divergent. Indians in the present day milieu are exposed to cross cultural ideas and mystical serenity. It is interesting that the works our artists produce are often experimental, straddling cultures, influenced by civilization beliefs, eclectic dialogues, language, habits, emotions of fears, anger, hope and desire” said Raji Narayan, Curator of this show.

The exhibition presents an ocean of paintings derived from the nucleus of the Artists’ eye. 22 artists showcasing 50 pieces of artworks from Arpana’s concern for the battered woman to Doddamani’s canvases which embody many textures portraying peace, joy, love and compassion. Simple everyday lifestyle in Gandhi’s paintings while Ganapati’s fine lines, exuberant colors create a mosaic on canvas while Jija’s abstracts embody spiritual energy with a startling intensity and Manash’s portrayal of the woman, rich in detail and color, depicts a new vigor.  All artists dive into mystery of interpreting their subject matter into an intense representation of art. The installation represents a mixture of respected and reputed artists as well as emerging talent that unites with one goal.

“We are pleased to welcome Art Mantram to Dubai and are honoured by their presence here. It is these types of exhibitions that allow us an opportunity for cultural exchange and understanding. The UAE and Indian enjoy a long standing relationship and share similarities in values and cultural diversity . Bringing such a significant program to Dubai will further enhance the platform of exchange between the two societies” said His Highness Sheikh Maktoum bin Hasher, Chairman of SHUAA Capital and CEO & President of Al Fajer properties.

“It is such a pleasure to host the debut exhibition for Art Mantram and witness artworks of such diverse group of artists. Art Select believes in harnessing talents and providing a platform for local and international artists to showcase their masterpieces and our partnership with Art Mantram is a testament and commitment to giving emerging artists a venue to grow and flourish” said Kanika Subberwal of Art Select.

The exhibition will continue to 12th December 2011 at Art Select, Jumeirah Emirates Towers, 10th Floor; and it is open to the general public and art lovers. For more information please email artselect@eim.ae or call Cecibel on 050 8644370.

In his past works Sahmarani has drawn inspiration from the great masters of Italian painting, and in this series he continues in this spirit. Taking as sources the Dondi Tondo of Michelangelo, where the figure of St. Joseph is shown in the background, figuratively and metaphorically taking a back seat to the Madonna and Child, and the Virgin and Child with St Anne of Leonardo, Sahmarani creates works which are not mere family portraits but studies of the tension which lies beneath the surface of any family group.

Marwan Sahmarani is among the most skilled and diverse of painters working in the Middle East today.   His technical mastery of the various media of painting, drawing, printmaking and sculpture is breathtaking. He brings the same vitality and drama to each work whether it be a small work on paper or a large work on canvas.  His work cannot be dismissed by easy categorization: for each new series Sahmarani develops an aesthetic appropriate both to the subject and to the medium. No two works from the same series are repetitive and he is unafraid to mix childlike scribbling with keenly observed detail within the same picture. Sahmarani thus has the ability to constantly reinvent and surprise through his work.

Supported by Shoe Mart, Steve Madden, Dumond,  Ecco and Jumeirah Emirates Towers, Art Mantram will showcase this blistering journey of breathtaking hues at play by these 22 Mantram artists, promoting unique series of works by the artists which will contain master copies of the contemporary art “Place in the Sun” highlighting diversity and versatility of various themes, idioms and palettes of India.

“Place in the Sun” that will be officially inaugurated by their excellences H.E. Mr. Lokesh M Kapaniah, the Ambassador of India to the UAE and H.E Mr. Sanjay Verma, Consul General of India, will feature works with a common thread of anticipation and joy in the journey of life. Structures, figures, abstracts, forms and lines, which hark, back at mythology or gaze at modern life and the world around us. While the artists selected are known for the mysteries of the soul of the universe in their chosen medium of work, the works presented for the display are a myriad of emotions, faith, hope and happiness in composition, the hues and the energy.

For over a decade, Mantram Art Foundation has been in pursuit to bring art to larger community.  Narrative art today is making bold statements, as diverse as the artists themselves.  Exemplifying the variety and richness of Indian art today, the works of the artists in this exhibition, “Place in the Sun” are unique and exemplary in their own ways.

“An artist’s inspiration is derived from infinite sources, unwinding its way through the mind, juxtaposing with various levels of the conscious, subconscious and the unconscious.  Like the skeins of silk which are woven into a tapestry, or the hues which are combined to form a ray of ‘colour’, the art unfolds across a canvas is often unpredictable, intuitive and divergent. Indians in the present day milieu are exposed to cross cultural ideas and mystical serenity. It is interesting that the works our artists produce are often experimental, straddling cultures, influenced by civilization beliefs, eclectic dialogues, language, habits, emotions of fears, anger, hope and desire” said Raji Narayan, Curator of this show.

The exhibition presents an ocean of paintings derived from the nucleus of the Artists’ eye. Arpana’s concern for the battered woman speaks through her work while Doddamani’s canvases have many textures portraying peace, joy, love and compassion. Simple everyday lifestyle in Gandhi’s paintings, silent sound of drumbeat, a sigh, painting is a place for him to combine colour and poetry. Ganapati’s fine lines and exuberant colors create a mosaic on canvas. Jija’s abstracts embody spiritual energy with a startling intensity through dramatic strokes. Manash’s portrayal of the woman, rich in detail and color, depicts a new vigor. JMS is very popular for his depiction of rural life in ‘Badami’ series. Meena specializes in oils and portraits of women using the realistic art form. Milind’s natural flow of colours depicts the glory of nature as he sees it. Mukund explores the figurative possibilities of representing nature and creation. Hazra is a storyteller, except that his stories are told on canvas celebrating the old traditions. Praveen shows the many moments of urban life and the city has an affinity for reflection on water. Purushotham’s paintings, is homage to the folk tradition of his region. Radhika mixes the old classical and modern contemporary approach with an overtone of surrealism. Baderia’s work is an interpretation of his spiritual experience and serenity in his works reflect it. Terdal’s post modern outlook and art practice are widely recognized. Salve’s canvases incorporate bold use of colour suggesting a virtual flight of fantasy. Rekha combines figurative art of Hebbar and abstract painting forms to create images. Sultana’s colours are a dynamic fusion of Parisian modernism and her feel of Indian elements and pattern. Vasudev’s philosophy of art is based on the organic unity of all material life, Vriksha being the sum total of the existence and consciousness of all beings. Vinod’s works dive into mystery to tell a psychic and mythological story. Yusuf plays with textural tones, dense shadows and unexpected brightness in all his work.

“Shoe Mart and its international franchise brands are happy to extend support to budding talent and art for the Festival of Art this year. The concept, which has taken shape over the years, reaches out to a large segment of society in the region. Through our association with A place in the Sun Dubai 2011 and Artmantram Foundation, Shoe Mart is proud to help elevate and showcase the myriad of budding and talented artists from India show casing their collection to art lovers in Dubai. We are exceedingly proud of this collaboration and wish the team all the success” said Mr. Manu Jeswani, CEO, Shoe Mart.

“Art Select has always believed in harnessing new talent and giving emerging artists a platform to grow and flourish.  By partnering with Mantram, who share our values and promise, we are certain that the diverse artworks of these talented artists will be well-received by Dubai’s art aficionados,” said Kanika Subberwal of Art Select.

The exhibition opens on 29th November 2011 to 12th December 2011 at Art Select, Jumeirah Emirates Towers, 10th Floor - the exhibition is open to the general public and art lovers. The event will be officially inaugurated by their excellences H.E. Mr. Lokesh M Kapaniah, the Ambassador of India to the UAE and H.E Mr. Sanjay Verma, Consul General of India at 7:30pm to 10pm. For more information please email artselect@eim.ae or call Cecibel on 050 8644370.

Over the years, Seema Kohli has created her own niche in the world of contemporary art. Born in 1960, residing and working in New Delhi, India, Seema’s creative repertoire is eclectic; encompassing a wide range of mediums ranging from painting, murals and films, sculptures and installation performances. Each is a unique expression of her style. Her rendition of ‘Ouroborus’ for the India Art Summit created a huge impact on viewers and critics alike. The Oroborous became an expression of the continuance of the cycle of birth, life and liberation. Fusing Indian and Greek philosophy, Seema created 84 paintings and 84 photographs as part of a performance installation. She has to her credit, three murals for the Ministry of Defense, and has recently completed a 10’ x 100’ mural at the Delhi International Airport. Seema received further acclaim for her creativity at the Florence Biennale,Italy, 2009 where she received a Gold Award for her video ‘Swayamsiddha-Myth, Mind and Movement’. She also received the Young FICC
I Ladies Organisation Women Achiever’s Award and the Lalit Kala National Award for Women in 2008.  Seema has held more than 20 solo shows, exhibited in various galleries and art fairs around the world. Her works adorn the walls of many public and private collections, including more recently the Rubin Museum in New York.

“Seema’s exhibition is certainly the most anticipated art event of the season. We are proud to be a part of a travelling exhibit from as important an art hub as New York.  Art lovers will have an opportunity to enjoy the unique series of her work and this time we have also created a talk prior to the exhibition with an  interactive lecture by Seema who will focus on her style of storytelling on canvases.  Her work is usually rooted as much in philosophy as in knowledge gained in modern times, a parable of tales both imagined and real,” said Sabina Sinha, Modula-conceptio.

This week-long exhibition will open doors on the 19th until the 25th November 2011 at the Modula-conceptio artistic solutions, on Jumeirah Beach Road. The exhibition is organized by Modula-conceptio and will display painting, sculptures and well as jewelry by artist Seema Kohli. Although the viewing of the exhibition is open to the general public, art lovers wishing to attend the lecture are required to RSVP prior to the event on Tel: + 9714 3943002.

Selma Gürbüz is one of Turkey’s leading contemporary artists and the month-long Mind’s Eye exhibition features large-scale canvases and small-scale ink-on-paper works that depict high Ottoman and traditional Turkish folk art and the formal qualities of 19th and 20th century European painting. 

Zurich, which provides art insurance to individual, corporate and institutional clients across the Middle East, recently launched a range of bespoke insurance products designed specifically for high net worth individuals. The art and valuables product includes a number of impressive features, such as complimentary cataloguing by Zurich’s in-house experts and, taking market appreciation into account, coverage for up to 150 per cent of the value of an artwork. Zurich clients also benefit from a range of ancillary services such as advice on storage and security arrangements, and provision of access to leading art valuation and restoration experts. 

Maroun Mourad, CEO of Zurich’s General Insurance business in the Middle East said: “At Zurich we understand that for art enthusiasts, the value of their collection is more than just its price tag. Our focus is not only on the protection of art, but also on providing support to those involved in developing the art market across the region. Selma Gürbüz is one of Turkey’s foremost contemporary artists, and we are proud to sponsor the first solo showcase of her work in the Gulf region.”

The Mind’s Eye exhibition runs from 26th October to 24th November at the Lawrie Shabibi Gallery in Dubai.