27 artists from 12 different countries experience art through disappearance of human ego

Sharjah, March 5th, 2011:  Maraya Art Centre, one of the UAE’s most spectacular venues for contemporary visual arts will host a unique exhibition titled ‘Al GHAIB, Aesthetics of the disappearance’ featuring 27 emerging and established artists from 12 different countries. Running from March 14th – June 1st, the exhibition will highlight the concept of working with different media with a focus on the theme of disappearance.

The International exhibition is curated by Gaia Serena Simionati and will see the participation of artists from Algeria, France, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Palestine, Senegal, Turkey, Switzerland and the United States of America. The artists will work with different media such as performances, videos, sculptures, installations, photography, paintings and drawings, but will be mainly unseen. This unique concept defines the sole of the exhibition which focuses on exploring artworks and removing the artists’ ego.

The interesting theme of the disappearance of the artists’ ego generates the real intellectual and visual value and so the true divine of the artwork appears. The 27 artists are called to reflect interwoven and different themes such as the lack of spirituality, the decrease of the standard and the accepted identity, the loss of knowledge, deepness, contact and respect between human beings and planet earth which all create a general loss of awareness, love and sympathy.

‘Al GHAIB, Aesthetics of the disappearance’ is one of several cutting-edge exhibits from across the globe being featured at Maraya Art Centre. For more information about the exhibition, you can visit Al Qasba website: www.alqasba.ae

From downtown Paris to the streets of Palestine, nine exceptional artists ponder revolutions, migrations and factional histories through video design

Sharjah, November 3rd , 2010:  Behind a panel of dark curtains and mirrored walls, an extraordinary group of multimedia artists from across the Arab world have joined together to investigate the region’s foremost social movements of the past several decades within this month’s CAVE (Contemporary Arab Video Encounter) exhibition at the Maraya Art Centre, Sharjah.

The exhibition, which will run until December 11th, was inaugurated yesterday in the presence of Sheikh Khalid Bin Saqr Al Qassimi, Chairman of Directorate of Public Works; ; H.E. Marwan Jassim Al Sakral, CEO of Al Qasba Development Authority; Sheikh Sultan Sooud Al-Qassemi, Founder of Barjeel Art Foundation; H.E. Abdulla Al Owais, General Manager of Department of Culture and Information in Sharjah; Hisham Al-Mazloum, Director of Arts Directorate of the Department of Culture and Information in Sharjah;  Ms. Manal Attaya, Director General of Sharjah Museum Department.

Through intricate video sampling and daring social parodies, each of the nine participating artists is primed to bring their individual cultures to the flat screen.  The works featured—some created over many years—involve a complex analysis of psychological and social aspects of the artist’s personal life-stories.  Hailing from countries such as Egypt, Iraq and Palestine, the artists involved in CAVE have all spent extensive time travelling the region, many having also showcased their work in nouveau capitals such as Paris, New York and Barcelona.  

Giuseppe Moscatello, Arts & Culture Organizer at Al Qasba and Curator of Maraya Art Centre said, “It is an honour to welcome so many outstanding artists from the region to participate in this collective exhibition.  Maraya Art Centre is dedicated to supporting contemporary art in the Arab world, and we look forward to future collaborations of this kind.”

Aida Eltorie, curator of the CAVE exhibit, declares the theme of the exhibition to truly be the medium itself, with inspiration left to the artist’s own individual connection to the region’s dynamic social landscape.   Eltorie has worked in many such exhibits as an independent cultural producer and director of grassroots organization FindingProjects.Org, and through a myriad of gallery & museum shows across the globe.

“I really wanted to create a support structure for the artistic community while offering the public a unique chance to realize new and unconventional video projects from across the Middle East,” says Eltorie.   “As a regional collective, the pieces in CAVE embody modern society’s rules and regulations on the idea of a ‘homeland’; the dynamic nature of shelters which carry both physical and emotional attachments.  Not only do these structures define who we are, they demonstrate the interconnectivity of all cultures the world over.”

Contributors to this year’s event include: Adel Abidin (Iraq), Kader Attia (Algiers), Mohammed Kazem (UAE), Mounir Fatmi (Algiers), Faisal Samra (Bahrain), Khaled Hafez (Egypt), Larissa Sansour (Palestine), Mounira Al Solh (Lebanon), and Abdul Nasser Gharem (KSA).

Maisoon Al Saleh’s paintings of bones and skulls reveal stories of Emirati life and history

Sharjah, September 26, 2010:  Maraya Art Centre, one of the UAE’s most spectacular venues for contemporary visual arts will host a unique exhibition titled ‘The Bright Side of the Bones’ by local artist Maisoon Al Saleh, announced officials at Al Qasba. The exhibition, which will be inaugurated on Tuesday September 28 at 7:00 pm, will feature paintings of bones and skulls revealing different aspects of Emirati life and history.

Taking place in the 3rd floor of Maraya Art Centre, known as ‘The Contemporary Art Gallery’, the exhibition is expected to draw a lot of attention to Sharjah’s growing contemporary arts. The exhibition focuses on visualizing human life and incidents from diseases, diets, religious believes, genetic connections, class structure and an array of conflicts that we face in our daily lives.

“Throughout the years, the image of a skull was related only to poison and danger,” said Maisoon Al Saleh. “Through my paintings, I want the community to see the bright side of the bones, the side of educating and spreading the knowledge about death, where people can learn from others’ experiences and cherish the value of life.”

Commenting on the exhibition, Hazem Sawaf, Sales and Marketing Director at Al Qasba Development Authority said, “Through her unique exhibition, Maisoon Al Saleh brings people back to life with her brush strokes in each and every painting. In her work, the bones and the remains tell a story far beyond age and gender. They carry the whole life of the person which man can’t see with his naked eye and reflect imperceptible colours that reveal life out of the domination of the black and white colours in the painting.”

Open to the public from September 28 till October 28, ‘The Bright Side of the Bones’ is one of several cutting-edge exhibits from across the globe being featured at Maraya Art Centre. Recent Exhibitions included ‘Life in Ramadan’, ‘Bauhaus’ and ‘Experiment’ attracting visitors and arts’ lovers from all over the UAE.

Cooperative exhibition features creative works for 13 photographers

Sharjah, August 23, 2010:  Bringing colourful insights into life of UAE residents during the Holy Month of Ramadan, ‘Life in Ramadan’ photography exhibition was inaugurated yesterday (August 22), 10:00 pm at Maraya Art Centre in Al Qasba. The exhibition which is held in collaboration with the Emirates Photography Society will run from August 22nd – September 18th showcasing photographic works of UAE’s talented photographers. The exhibition was inaugurated in the presence of H.E. Marwan Jassim Al Sarkal, CEO of Al Qasba; H.E. Saeed Al Nabouda, Acting General Director at Dubai Culture and Arts Authority and Mr. Peter Jackson, Architect Advisor, HH The Ruler’s Office along with other distinguished guests.

Featuring the works of 13 photographers, 10 of which hold the UAE nationality, the ‘Life in Ramadan’ exhibit gives visitors the chance to discover a local perspective on the many unique traditions and customs that characterize this very special time of the Islamic year.  With predominantly local photographers, organizers say that they are also working to promote photography within the UAE while strengthening the connection between art foundations and local communities.

Open to the public at large, Life in Ramadan is one of several cutting-edge exhibits from across the globe being featured at Maraya Art Centre. Recent projects have included partnerships with institutions like the Sharjah Art Foundation and award-winning pieces on display from the 2009 Abraaj Capital Art prize.

Cooperative exhibition to reveal joyful spirit of “Life in Ramadan” from across the UAE with features from over 20 local photographers

Maraya Art Centre

Sharjah, July 28, 2010:  Bringing colourful insights into life of UAE residents during the Holy Month of Ramadan, the Maraya Art Centre is proud to announce a new alliance with the Emirates Photography Society for an upcoming art exhibition titled Life in Ramadan, running from August 22 – September 18 at Al Qasba. 

Supported by a variety of both young and experienced photographers living in UAE, the Life in Ramadan exhibition gives visitors the chance to discover a local perspective on the many unique traditions and customs that characterize this very special time of the Islamic year.  With predominantly local photographers, organizers say that they are also working to promote photography within the UAE while strengthening the connection between art foundations and local communities.

“The treasured moments shared between family and friends during the Holy Month of Ramadan are fantastic memories to capture as part of our modern Emirati history,” says Ammar Al Attar, Manager of Emirates Photography Society. “It is the hope of Maraya Art Centre that this will be the first of many collaborations with Emirates Photography Society as our two organisations share mutual ambitions for supporting artistic creativity in the Emirate of Sharjah.” 

Open to the public at large, Life in Ramadan is one of several cutting-edge exhibits from across the globe being featured at Maraya Art Centre. Recent projects have included partnerships with institutions like the Sharjah Art Foundation and award-winning pieces on display from the 2009 Abraaj Capital Art prize.

Sharjah - July 18, 2010:   Al Qasba recently welcomed a diplomatic delegation from Malaysia to explore the latest collection of Emirati art within the Barjeel Art Foundation exhibit, located at Maraya Art Centre.  The tour included Malaysian Ambassador Dato’ Yahaya Abdul Jabar, President of the Malaysian Business Council Abdul Hakim bin Asmuan, and Senior Trade Commissioner Dato’Dzulkifli. 

The group enjoyed a personalized guide of the exhibition from Marwan Al Sarkal, CEO of Al Qasba, Sultan Saoud Al-Qassemi, founder of Barjeel Art Foundation, Giuseppe Moscatello, gallery manager of Maraya Art Centre, Mandy Merzaban, showroom manager at Barjeel Art Foundation, and Wasel Safwan, artist & architect at Barjeel Art Foundation.

Maraya Art Centre has partnered with Barjeel Art Foundation to build a stage for nourishing creative talent in UAE and to serve as a testament to the region’s extraordinary artistic genius.

HE Justin H. Siberell explores around the Centre’s three floors viewing the latest art works showcased

Sharjah - June 30, 2010:  HE Justin H. Siberell, Consul General of the United States of America in Dubai, recently made a visit to explore the local UAE art pieces being featured at the Maraya Art Centre in Al Qasba—one of the leading galleries located in the Emirate of Sharjah. The visit by the Consul General coincided with a newly opened exposition titled ‘Peripheral Vision’, a series of masterpieces held by the Barjeel Art Foundation and featuring artwork from Barjeel’s founder, Sultan Sooud Al-Qassemi’s personal collection. 

Following his tour of the Barjeel Art Foundation collection, HE Siberell also visited the Experiment exhibition—a set of works coming from five young Emirati artists.   Spread over the entire third floor of Maraya Art Centre, the artists and curators of Experiment were in attendance to guide HE Siberell through the various features of each floor and the origin and symbolism of the art pieces.

Some of the attendees present during the Consul General’s visit included co-curator of Maraya Art Centre Mr. Giuseppe Moscatello, founder of The Shelter arts centre Mr. Ahmed Bin Shabib, and gallery manager at Barjeel Art Foundation Ms. Mandy Merzaban.

New display celebrates the lasting influence of one of Europe’s leading institutions in forming 20th century Modernist architecture and design

Sharjah, June 1st, 2010 – It’s a far distance from the shores of UAE, but the contributions of Bauhaus University—one of Europe’s leading institutions for visual design—can be seen  in museum halls and city skylines the world over.  This month from May 16th – June 16th at ‘The Shelter’ in Maraya Art Centre in Al Qasba - Sharjah, the Bauhaus legacy will be uncovered through a celebration of the life and times of one of the institution’s greatest leaders, Gyula Pap (1899 - 1983). 

Pap was an extraordinarily influential figure in Europe’s 20th century Modernist movement, personifying every aspect of the Bauhaus style through his black and white photographs, stunning paintings and large multimedia sculptures.  The Hungarian national was both a longtime student and teacher at Bauhaus, leaving a lasting impact on an entire generation of pupils seeking to blend aspects of Modernist architecture and graphic design.

Giuseppe Moscatello, Arts & Culture Organizer at Al Qasba and Curator of Maraya Art Centre, said that the exhibition is a unique opportunity for art lovers to uncover one of Europe’s exceptional architecture, graphic design and photography institutions. “Hosting Bauhaus exhibit in Maraya Art Centre is a true testament of our dedication to bring the world of art to Sharjah,” he said.

“The Bauhaus exhibit offers guests a unique chance to explore a time and place in history when Modernist art was truly coming into its own in Europe,” says Asma Saif, Manager of ‘The Shelter’ at Maraya Art Centre. “Understanding these trends and appreciating their international significance over the next 50 years not just a rewarding experience, but one that strengthens the cultural diversity and vibrancy of the Emirate as a whole.” 

The exhibit—whose curator Andrea Hassan is a former Bauhaus student—is located in The Shelter within Maraya Art Centre and is open to the public every day from 10 am – 10pm.

“Assembly” will feature multimedia works from contemporary Emirati artists and a series of pieces from the privately-owned Barjeel collection

Sharjah, March 18, 2010 – Maraya Art Centre is hosting its first external exhibition titled ‘Assembling’ at this week’s Bastakiya Art Fair (BAF), held from March 15-21 in the historic area of Bastakiya located by Dubai creek.  The exhibit showcases a variety of artworks from two young Emirati artists— Alaa Edris and Shayma Almadfa—who are presenting installation, video and painting projects.  The exhibit also features works from the privately-owned Barjeel art collection, a series of Arabian pieces assembled by Sultan Sooud al-Qassemi.

According to Giuseppe Moscatello, Arts & Culture Organizer at Al Qasba, Maraya seeks to create an authentic and meaningful art experience though collaborative projects with partners in the local and international art community.

BAF is an important platform that focuses international attention on Dubai’s art and cultural agenda, timed to coincide with and complement Art Dubai.  Commenting on Maraya’s participation at BAF, Hazem Sawaf, Sales and Marketing Director of the Al Qasba Development Authority, said that the festival is an exceptional opportunity to showcase Sharjah’s cultural diversity and vibrancy to a wide range of international audiences. 

“This collaborative effort has brought together people from all over the world, and as a relatively new Art Centre, we are honored and excited to be able to establish our name among the top facilities in the UAE,” added Sawaf. 

Maraya Art Centre, which was inaugurated recently by His Highness Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, will be a stage for creative experimentation and a testament to the region’s extraordinary artistic genius, hosting a panorama of the region’s finest compositions. The Centre is comprised of three levels which have a unique theme tying the pieces together in custom-built exhibition spaces.

The first level is known as “The Shelter”, a multimedia retreat for artists seeking to make an impact on the local scene and collaborate with others in the business.  The second floor of Maraya features a permanent exhibition titled The House of Arab Art, through which Maraya collaborated with The Barjeel Art Foundation, which was conceived by Sultan Bin Sooud Al-Qassemi with to create a space for Arab artwork to be displayed in an interactive and communal setting. The top floor of Maraya Art Centre is a Contemporary Art Gallery featuring dramatic and avant-garde pieces selected from some of the most promising names in the world of modern art with a global reach.

Organized by XVA Gallery, BAF 2010 showcases the best of emerging Middle Eastern contemporary art from galleries such as Maraya Art Centre in Sharjah, Gallery Isabelle Van Den Eynde in Dubai, Running Horse Gallery in Beirut, and The House of Art based in Doha.  A number of prominent figures from the European art community are also hosting seminars during this year’s BAF, including individuals like Dr. Venetia Porter, Curator at the British Museum, and Hans Ulrich Obrist, Director of the Serpentine Gallery in London.

The three-story, 1500 square meter art centre will host a range of art exhibitions, cultural events and educational activities throughout the year

Sharjah, March 14, 2010 – His Highness Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, inaugurated today (March 14, 2010) the newly revived Maraya Art Centre during a welcome ceremony held at the Al Qasba grounds. Following the recent upgrades and expansions, the Art Centre is set to be one of the UAE’s largest and most fashionable venues for contemporary visual arts. 

Curators say that the three-story art center will be a stage for creative experimentation and a testament to the region’s extraordinary artistic genius, hosting a panorama of the region’s finest compositions. Visitors are welcome to explore a new world of contemporary and traditional art, attend lectures led by featured artists, enroll in topic-specific workshops, and enjoy daily tours of the Centre’s three main levels. 

Commenting on the launch of Maraya, Marwan Jassim Al Sarkal, CEO of Al Qasba Development Authority, said that in an Emirate already known for its cultural diversity, liveliness and vibrancy, Al Qasba challenged itself to build something truly unique within the art community. “This collaboration involved people from a number of different social and academic backgrounds, and the result is a project that all of us take immense pride in sharing with the UAE society,” commented Al Sarkal during the press conference that was held prior to the opening.  “The ultimate goal is to nourish young talent and sustain a local platform for established artists to flourish within the region.”

Each of the Centre’s three levels has a unique theme tying the pieces together in custom-built exhibition spaces. The first level is known as “The Shelter”, a multimedia retreat for artists seeking to make an impact on the local scene and collaborate with others in the business.  Speaking at the press conference, Ahmed Bin Shabib, one of the Founders of ’The Shelter’, said that having a world-class venue like Maraya Art Centre in Sharjah will be a significant connecting point where traditional culture meets with contemporary innovation. “In the long run, this kind of interaction will add incredible value to Sharjah’s cultural development and create a new wave of creative thinking in the country,” added Shabib.

“Within a short period of time, The Shelter has changed the topography of the Dubai artistic community and encouraged the development of entrepreneurial thought,” added Rashed Bin Shabib, also a Founder of ‘The Shelter’.  “Given Sharjah’s robust academic institutions, The Shelter will act as an idea lab for talented individuals to propel their ideas forward.”

With a strong commitment to showcasing works by artists from the Arab world, the second floor of Maraya features a permanent exhibition titled The House of Arab Art. In order to bring in the best work from across the Middle East, Maraya has collaborated with The Barjeel Art Foundation, which was conceived by Sultan Bin Sooud Al-Qassemi with the vision of creating a space where Arab artwork can be displayed in an interactive and communal setting.

Sultan Sooud Al-Qassemi, whose Barjeel collection includes artwork from the Gulf region, Levant, Maghreb, Egypt, Iran and Iraq, is enthusiastic about the opening of Maraya. “My ambition is to create a space where the public can experience, enjoy and discuss Arab artwork as it gains greater prominence around the world,” says Al-Qassemi.  “Art of the Arab world is as nuanced as the nations that comprise the historically, politically, socially and geographically diverse region. It’s very exciting to see it exhibited in one interactive and accessible space.” 

The top floor of Maraya Art Centre is a Contemporary Art Gallery featuring dramatic and avant-garde pieces selected from some of the most promising names in the world of modern art with a global reach. For its inauguration, Maraya will showcase the extraordinary works of the first winners of the Abraaj Capital Art Prize from 2009. 

Announced in 2008, the annual Abraaj Capital Art Prize is considered the only art prize specifically for the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia that rewards proposals rather than completed works-of-art. The aim of the prize is to empower potential and give often under-represented, contemporary artists from the vibrant MENASA region the resources to further develop their talent. The prize reflects Abraaj Capital’s own investment philosophy, which is to take viable businesses with great potential, and create regional and global champions.

“Seeing these artworks displayed back in the UAE is truly rewarding. Strange Space by Kutlug Ataman (Turkey); Walk on the Sky: Pisces by Zoulikha Boubadellah (Algeria) and Rhyme & Reason by Nazgol Ansarinia (Iran) were unveiled at Art Dubai last March and subsequently went on exhibition at the Museum of Arts and Design in New York” commented Savita Apte, Chair of the Abraaj Capital Art Prize.  “We hope that aspiring artists will have the opportunity of visiting the exhibition and be inspired to apply for the annual prize.” 

In creating an authentic and meaningful art experience, Maraya has pursued a number of collaborative projects with partners in the local and international art community.  These alliances include working with organizations like UAE Art Archive, Sharjah Art Foundation and Sharjah Cultural Department to ensure that projects brought to Maraya are of the very highest calibre.