UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

Transcription

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
across the canvas
across the canvas
dubai. until 24 may. 1x1 art gallery. chittrovanu mazumdar.
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
ABU DHABI
until 28 july
gallery one, emirates palace
‘a story of islamic embroidery in
nomadic and urban traditions’
DUBAI
until 10 may
courtyard gallery
‘retrospective’
sami burhan
The rich tradition of Islamic embroidery, from
Pakistan and Morocco to the West, is presented
under the patronage of HH General Sheikh
Mohammed Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, Crown
Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme
Commander of the UAE Armed Forces. A
Story of Islamic Embroidery in Nomadic and
Urban Traditions brings together more than
200 rare textiles. These works, with their
kaleidoscope of motifs and colours, testify
to the role of women in creating an artistic
tradition of great significance and beauty.
Born in Syria in 1929, Sami Burhan is one of
the first Arab artists to explore the aesthetics
of Arabic calligraphy as a creative art form.
He began studying the subject at 13 and now
masters the practice. This exhibition is an
overview of his ouevre and sheds light on his
impressive artistic career, which has led to more
than 50 exhibitions of his works, from Austria to
Syria and the USA. His works can be found in
public and private collections around the world.
Tourism Development and Investment Company
Abu Dhabi, UAE
Tel: +971 24061400
www.tdic.ae
ABU DHABI
20 may–4 june
al-arjun art gallery
‘spring exhibitions’
ABU DHABI
until 12 may
abu dhabi national theatre
‘heart safari’
leon k l chew
Striking a binary balance between traditional
art practices and Contemporary art processes,
Dr Leon K L Chew’s artworks are unique
and innovative in combining calligraphy
and painting, integrating science and art,
and blending East and West. The surface of
until 12 may
abu dhabi national theatre
‘heart safari’
leon k l chew
1 canvasguide
Courtyard Gallery
Dubai, UAE
Tel: +971 43479090
www.courtyardgallerydubai.com
DUBAI
until 15 may
mojo gallery
‘unintentional’
ali azarmi
DUBAI
until 24 may
1x1 art gallery
chittrovanu mazumdar
ABU DHABI
abu dhabi classics
Indian artist Chittrovanu Mazumdar draws
from an ever-shifting sea of eclectic sources.
In his paintings, contours of anatomy
can be seen slipping into and emerging
from non-representative fields of colour.
Figuration gives way to a highly charged,
potent movement towards Abstraction as
Mazumdar revels in creating exciting spaces
rife with private codes charged with stimuli.
DUBAI
until 28 may
thejamjar
‘i’ll be back someday’
lantian xie
14 may
abu dhabi theatre
‘listen - the world’s foremost solo
percussionist’
Evelyn Glennie is the first person in musical
history to have successfully created and
sustained a full-time career as a solo
percussionist. Her irrepressible energy and
bounding enthusiasm make her one of the
most eclectic and innovative musicians
on the scene today. This exciting and
energizing concert will not only entertain, but
teach us how to listen.
15 may
emirates palace auditorium
‘the best of british gala’
Music lovers can enjoy London’s BBC
Concert Orchestra in a traditional evening
of stirring and beautiful classics from the
British Isles, including Edward Elgar’s
famous Pomp and Circumstance March as
well as Rule, Britannia! recreating the unique
atmosphere of this thrilling BBC event at
London’s vast Royal Albert Hall, broadcast
to millions of appreciative listeners all over
the world.
Abu Dhabi Classics
Abu Dhabi, UAE
Tel: +971 43910248
www.abudhabi-classics.ae
1x1 Art Gallery
Dubai, UAE
Tel: +971 43483873
www.1x1artgallery.com
his paintings is a virtual platform on which
diverse entities converge and then diverge to
make a picture. Chew endeavours to pursue
a state between Figurative Naturalism and
Abstract Intellectualism, between ‘likeness’
and ‘unlikeness’, seeking a harmony of
form and spirit, past and present.
Under the patronage of Harib Al-Dahiry, Head
of the Authors and Writers Association, this
exhibition includes works by artists from the
UAE, UK, USA, Lebanon, Iraq and Syria.
Participants include Ibraheem Al-Zaabi, who
focuses on heritage and Taha Al-Hiti, who
uses gold, crystal, silver, handmade paper and
original Arabic ink. Other artists include Emirati
Mariam Al-Kuwaiti, Hassan Alameddine from
Lebanon and Mark Sellers from the USA.
Iranian Ali Azarmi explores the spirit of the
unintentional. From the power of evocation
brought about by chance to the serendipity
of the arbitrary, abrasions and blemishes are
combined with poetic hues of corrosion to
create abstractions that express spontaneity
and passion, yet remain tantalisingly elusive
and unfathomable. This painterly fusion
creates a chemistry of aesthetics that, despite
their brooding cohesiveness, questions the
very nature of their own artistic existence.
I’ll Be Back Someday is a time-based
installation by UAE-based artist Lantian
Xie which employs specific time/space
relationships to mimic the physiological and
aesthetic experience of departure. Viewers
encounter a systematically demarcated space
riddled with obstructions and are encouraged
to activate the work by passing through a
recollection of borders, airport terminals and
missed connections. The culmination of the
work is a meal, prepared anew each day for
the duration of the exhibition, featuring a New
Orleans-inspired gumbo served over rice.
Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage
Abu Dhabi, UAE
Tel: +971 26215300
www.adach.ae
Al-Arjun Art Gallery
Abu Dhabi, UAE
Tel: +971 26422850
www.alarjun.com
The Mojo Gallery
Dubai, UAE
Tel: +971 43477388
www.themojogallery.com
thejamjar
Dubai, UAE
Tel: +971 43417303
www.thejamjardubai.com
until 28 july
gallery one, emirates palace
‘a story of islamic embroidery in
nomadic and urban traditions’
20 may–4 june
al-arjun art gallery
‘spring exhibitions’
until 10 may
courtyard gallery
‘retrospective’
sami burhan
until 15 may
mojo gallery
‘unintentional’
ali azarmi
canvasguide 2
across the canvas
across the canvas
DUBAI
1–16 may
gallery 76, dubai international art centre
‘motion’
beatrijs tavernier
DUBAI
until 31 may
showcase antiques, art & frames
amartey golding
This exhibition is a reflection of Amartey
Golding’s interactions with people and his
subconscious. Constantly evolving, the
artist integrates his philosophy of life into his
drawings, large charcoal portraits and grand
paintings. An exciting addition to this show are
his montages, a combination of past portraits
with photography. Golding uses traditional
techniques to communicate in a contemporary
context, paying his respect to the articulation
and presence of artists before his time, to
express himself in an honest manner.
Showcase Antiques Art & Frames
Dubai, UAE
Tel: +971 43488797
www.showcasedubai.com
DUBAI
until 15 june
the farjam collection
‘iran inside out’
In this exhibition, Belgian Dubai-based artist
Beatrijs Tavernier presents her latest paintings.
By only working with red and blue, she
succeeds in framing the essence of both ‘a
motion’ and ‘an emotion’. Working in a vivid
and impulsive manner, Tavernier captures
the energy and dynamism of unsettled oilpaint. Motion shows a dramatic change of
style vis-à-vis her earlier work, and with this
new series she reinvents herself, with each
painting representing a human sentiment,
from passion to fear and sympathy.
Gallery 76, Dubai International Art Centre
Dubai, UAE
Tel: +971 43444398
www.artdubai.com
Exhi
revie bition
we
Canv d in
as
DUBAI
1–20 may
the majlis gallery
‘watercolours’
DUBAI
2 may–20 june
art couture
‘art for all’
Art for All is a new concept which seeks to
introduce art from different international
artists every week throughout May and
June. The project aims to provide artists with
a platform through which to display their
creativity. The artistic diversity featured each
week will create a colourful medley of styles,
concepts and themes for the discerning
viewer. Art for All is also a chance for art
lovers to purchase works from the gallery at
enviable prices for a limited period only.
Art Couture
Dubai, UAE
Tel: +971 43994331
www.artcoutureuae.com
DUBAI
2 may–20 june
art couture
‘blooming artitudes’
cynthia reta richards
Iran Inside Out showed at The Chelsea Art
Museum in New York before travelling to
DePaul University Museum in Chicago. For its
Dubai edition, this show features highlights
from the New York show alongside some
of the finest examples of Contemporary
Iranian art from Dr Farjam’s private collection.
Around 50 artworks are exhibited, including
paintings, sculptures and photography. The
result is a rich portrait of 27 artists challenging
conventional perceptions of Iran and its art.
This is a group exhibition featuring works by
Spencer Tart, Trevor Waugh, Alan Hepburn and
John Harris. The pieces on display have been
inspired by these four artists’ travels throughout
Arabia over the past 30 years and serve as a
testament to the beauty of the region’s history
during this crucial era. Tart’s watercolour
style, for example, continues to be admired
wherever he exhibits and his images can be
found in private collections around the world.
Blooming Artitudes showcases works that
capture the beauty of a nature that overwhelms
our senses. Having spent the major part
of her life in Canada and the Middle East,
Richards’s appreciation of varied cultures
and religions is inherent in her work. The
colours, hues and pastel shades utilised
in these pieces strike both visually and
intellectually. The artist’s technique combines
delicate and transparent lines, as well as
vivid and animated colours on canvas.
The Farjam Collection
Dubai, UAE
Tel: +971 43230303
www.farjamcollection.com
The Majlis Gallery
Dubai, UAE
Tel: +971 43536233
www.themajlisgallery.com
Art Couture
Dubai, UAE
Tel: +971 43994331
www.artcoutureuae.com
DUBAI
3 may–10 june
gallery isabelle van den eynde
‘diary of the future’
lara baladi
Ar
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In Diary of the Future, Lara Baladi documents
the final seven months of her father’s life
through conciliatory coffees; coffees drank in
times of worry, and, finally, over condolences
between family. The artist has meticulously
photographed each coffee and, when arranged
into a vast installation, the forms created by
the Turkish coffee residue take on the shape
of lace or stained glass. The series hints at
fortune-telling, through the dregs in each coffee
cup, and the search for understanding that we
all seek in the face of mortality. Large digital
collages are accompanied by a sound piece.
Gallery Isabelle Van Den Eynde
Dubai, UAE
Tel: +971 43235052
www.ivde.net
DUBAI
5–31 may
portfolio gallery
‘résurrection des mannequins’
sertac tasdelen
Curated by Janet Belloto, works from Sertac
Tasdelen’s Résurrection des Mannequins
are given a twist in a special art-charity
collaboration. Figures such as Brownbook’s
Ahmed and Rashid Bin Shabib, Cuadro Gallery
of Fine Art’s Bashar Al-Shroogi, Emirati artists
Lamya Gargash, Lateefa Bint Maktoum,
Iranian artist Gita Meh, Asmaa Al-Shabibi,
Sultan Sooud Al-Qassimi, Rami Farook
and Sonia Brewin of START, among others,
have added their own artistic touches to the
photographs. Raising awareness on social
responsibility, all proceeds will go to charity
organisations supported by the collaborators.
Portfolio Gallery
Dubai, UAE
Tel: +971 43232395
www.portfolio-uae.com
until 15 june
the farjam collection
‘iran inside out’
3 canvasguide
3 may–10 june
gallery isabelle van den eynde
‘diary of the future’
lara baladi
5 may–17 june
the third line
‘islands’
abbas akhavan
DUBAI
5 may–3 june
tashkeel
‘under a thousand masks’
jalal luqman
Almost three years in the making, the
exhibition Under A Thousand Masks takes us
on another journey of self-discovery in which
we are confronted by the many layers of daily
life as depicted by a series of metaphorical
− and sometimes physical − masks. The
artist also introduces a major non-digital
piece that marks an exciting evolution in
his work as well as 3D sculpture, the result
of many hours of physical hardship and
work. Luqman endured intense physical
and emotional weariness in the creation and
completion of these large-scale pieces.
DUBAI
8 may–15 june
green art gallery
‘connecting heavens’
Tashkeel
Dubai, UAE
Tel: +971 43363313
www.tashkeel.org
DUBAI
5 may–17 june
the third line
‘islands’
abbas akhavan
For his first solo show in the region, Abbas
Akhavan has created a special site-specific
map of Dubai highlighting important features
and recognisable imagery associated with
the city. The work is put together through
specifically selected visuals which are then
outlined in faux-gold leaf, implementing
subtle humour and taking the viewer beyond
a simple and literal ‘map’. The embellished
gold wall is then divided, much like
sectioning a city into parts where collectors
are transformed to landowners. Mirroring
a mock landowner transaction, this buyer/
audience participation lends itself to the
constantly changing landscape of Dubai.
The Third Line
Dubai, UAE
Tel: +971 43411367
www.thethirdline.com
DUBAI
8 may–6 june
art sawa
‘recent works (2008–2010)’
mohammed rawas
evolution of human creativity. Rawas invites
us to interrogate our experiences of the world
across time and cultures, through juxtaposed
images and icons that shimmer with the
contingency of the moment.
Art Sawa
Dubai, UAE
Tel: +971 43408660
www.artsawa.com
Ar
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For his first solo exhibition in the UAE,
Lebanese Mohammed Rawas presents
meticulous 3-D structures and mixed media
works which offer a complex visual and
conceptual experience – simultaneously
compelling, enigmatic and challenging. Rawas
draws on images from European art, as well
as from his Middle Eastern roots, which are
then set in new contexts to remind us of the
Connecting Heavens is a group exhibition
featuring works by some of the most exciting
artists working in Lebanon today. Each
of these artists brings a new and unique
element to the show. Ayman Baalbaki’s
artistic practice reflects the realities of the
Lebanese civil war, while his cousin, Oussama
Baalbaki’s paintings explore the emotive
effects of inanimate objects. Similarly, Tagreed
Darghouth’s hard-hitting works deal with
controversial social issues suh as plastic
surgery. Also featured are Shawki Youssef
and Abdul-Rahman Katanani, among others.
Green Art Gallery
Dubai, UAE
Tel: +971 43449888
www.gagallery.com
DUBAI
8 may–30 june
ayyam gallery dubai
‘shabab uprising’
This show highlights 10 of the Middle
East’s promising emerging artists, including
painters Thaier Helal and Kais Salman and
photographer/filmmaker Ammar Al-Beik. As
part of the Shabab Ayyam programme, an
incubator for rising talent launched in 2007,
young artists work closely with the gallery,
having their portfolio nurtured as they build
their oeuvre. This year’s members hail from
Lebanon, Syria and Palestine and are based
throughout the Middle East. Critics and art
lovers both have responded with overwhelming
enthusiasm and Shabab artists are fast
becoming stars of the local art scene. Ayyam Gallery Dubai
Dubai, UAE
Tel: +971 43236242
www.ayyamgallery.com
canvasguide 4
across the canvas
across the canvas
DUBAI
13 may
the royal mirage dubai
‘bonhams orientalist pictures
and works of art sale’
DUBAI
9 may–9 june
xva gallery
‘a trio of exhibitions’
anoma wijewardene, julia townsend
and suzanne kanatsiz
American artist Julia Townsend returns with
her distinctive caricature paintings while
making their debut are Turkish-American
Suzanne Kanatsiz and Sri Lankan Anoma
Wijewardene. Kanatsiz’s meticulous works on
paper incorporate classical Arabic letters while
Wijewardene presents a group of vivid paintings
imbued with a deep understanding of Mother
Nature. Together, these three artists present
an exciting trio of exhibitions at XVA Gallery.
XVA Gallery
Dubai, UAE
Tel: +971 43535383
www.xvagallery.com
AUCT
ION!
The Bonhams annual auction of Orientalist
Pictures and Works of Art in Dubai includes
selected works from an important private
collection. Highlights include major paintings
by the masters of 19th-century Orientalist
painting, including Arthur von Ferraris, Rudolph
Ernst, Frederick Arthur Bridgman, Edwin
Lord Weeks, Fabio Fabbi, Ludwig Deutsch,
Adolf Scheyer and Georges Washington.
Previewing on 11 and 12 May, this is a rare
and unique opportunity to acquire works of
museum quality for connoisseurs of the genre.
DUBAI
19 may–2 june
gallery 76, dubai international art centre
‘visions’
abdulla al-jassem
DUBAI
26 may–26 june
art sawa
‘mass movement’
zena assi
Abdulla Al-Jassem has received critical acclaim
for his ability to create complex textures through
painterly layering. His focus on Abstract art
using oil paints provides him with the flexibility
to create pieces with no boundaries. Natural
colours imbue the Syrian artist’s work with a
genuine yet forlorn feel. Previous exhibitions
include Space at the Arab Educational Centre
in Damascus and the Fine Arts Exhibition in Deir
Ezzor’s Ministry of Knowledge, among many
others. Visions is his first exhibition in Dubai.
The core of Freud’s ‘crowd behaviour’ theory
is that people who are around others act
differently than those thinking individually. The
minds of the group merge and one becomes
less aware of the true nature of one’s actions.
This exhibition is an attempt to portray
the psychology of the crowd. Habitat and
society are both subject to an accumulation
factor, forming a certain mass that has its
own thoughts and behaviour, requirements
and regulations. It is a collective effort and
energy to be simply and passively common.
Gallery 76, Dubai International Art Centre
Dubai, UAE
Tel: +971 43444398
www.artdubai.com
Bonhams
London, UK
Tel: +44 2074688213
www.bonhams.com
DUBAI
10–30 may
total arts
‘vast vistas’
niki karimi
DUBAI
14 may & 11 june
times square centre
‘arte soukh’
DUBAI
24 may
total arts gallery
‘off-road in the emirates’
dariush zandi
Photography has become part of Niki Karimi’s
career, since she started criss-crossing Iran,
from Kurdistan to Bushehr, to performing the
leading roles in many of the movies she has
acted in, for the past 20 years. What dominates
Karimi’s photos convey minimalism and
quietness as well as a sense of solitude. The
photographs on show in Vast Vistas are black
and white and, according to Niki, focus on the
composition rather than the subject matter.
ARTE Soukh is the place to visit for unique
handcrafted goods made by expatriates living
in the UAE. It was founded in 2005 by Miriam
Walsh and Paul Townsend, both long-term
residents of Dubai and experienced artisans
regularly featured at the fairs in Dubai. The
ARTE Soukhs are now a regular haunt for
over 100 different vendors and continue to
offer a relaxed family atmosphere with plenty
of hands-on workshops for all visitors.
The book and exhibition Off-Road in the
Emirates and Off Road in the Emirates II portrays
the natural beauty and thrill of adventure in the
region. These guides include detailed maps of
each route. As a professional photographer,
Dariush Zandi has included striking
photographs capturing the essence of each
voyage, giving the off-roader a sense of the
destination in a user-friendly format, ensuring
the reader has a safe and enjoyable journey.
Total Arts
Dubai, UAE
Tel: +971 43475050
www.courtyard-uae.com
Artisans of the Emirates
Dubai, UAE
Tel: +971 504567481
www.arte.ae
Total Arts Gallery
Dubai, UAE
Tel: +971 43475050
www.courtyard-uae.com
Art Sawa
Dubai, UAE
Tel: +971 43408660
www.artsawa.com
DUBAI
5–24 june
the majlis gallery
‘ceramics’
This group exhibition features new works by
three ceramicists, Tone Von Kroog, Linda
Styles and Peter Collis. Styles’s work has
been exhibited alongside and compared
to Pablo Picasso, Joan Miró and Howard
Hodgkin. Von Kroog’s design pieces are
influenced by the Scandinavian coastal
environment, whereas Peter Collis’s work is
inspired by shape and surface. Collis utilises
glazes, lustres, Egyptian paste and crystalline
effects; like many New Zealand artisans,
most of his work pays tribute to the Pacific
Ocean’s varying colours and patterns.
The Majlis Gallery
Dubai, UAE
Tel: +971 43536233
www.themajlisgallery.com
DUBAI
9 june–16 september
tashkeel
‘made in tashkeel 2010’
10–30 may
total arts
‘vast vistas’
niki karimi
5 canvasguide
19 may–2 june
gallery 76, dubai international art centre
‘visions’
abdulla al-jassem
until 13 may
sharjah art museum
‘a retrospective: works from 2003–2010’
tarek al-ghoussein
Made in Tashkeel 2010 will include works by
a number of artists who have been actively
involved with the gallery for the past 12
months. The artworks on show cover an
eclectic range of media and subject matters,
reflecting Tashkeel’s multi-disciplinary
facilities, the variety of workshops offered
and the diverse interests of its members. The
exhibition will include selected pieces from
recent printmaking, photography and drawing
workshops, in addition to installation works,
experimental photography and paintings
produced by members in the studios. Tashkeel
Dubai, UAE
Tel: +971 43363313
www.tashkeel.org
DUBAI
14 june–15 august
gallery isabelle van den eynde
‘set me free from my chains’
zoulikha bouabdellah
Ar
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Canv ue of
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Marking her first show at Gallery Isabelle
van den Eynde, refreshingly original and
quirky Algerian artist Zoulikha Bouabdellah
creates a large-scale work in neon that
uses Arabic lettering, spelling hobb (‘love’
in Arabic), evoking the movements of
the body. Producing a simple yet distinct
animation as three entwined lights flash
on and off, this motion creates an aura of
sensuality while the neon glow works that
reference the culture of the greater Middle
East, personified in singer Umm Kulthum.
Gallery Isabelle Van Den Eynde
Dubai, UAE
Tel: +971 43235052
www.ivde.net
DUBAI
23 june–29 july
the third line
‘i. u. [heart]’
Curated by Memali Shafahi, this show tackles
the relationship between Iran and the USA, as
well as Iranians living in both. A group of artists
portray their individual responses towards
the politics of their country and the policies
that dominate the world’s perception of it. I.
U. [Heart] investigates the broader and more
complex interactions between artists, history
and identity, inviting the audience to identify
how Iran’s political ideology has submersed
itself into the international arena, overshadowing
the more complex reality of its people.
The Third Line
Dubai, UAE
Tel: +971 43411367
www.thethirdline.com
DUBAI
24 june–24 july
art sawa
‘shrouded memories’
wael darwish
Wael Darwish has been inspired by American
Colour Field painting and French Lyrical
Abstraction, where flat solid colour colonises
the canvas to create a homogenous flat picture
plane. He uses his experience as a painter
and interdisciplinary artist to use photography
as a base for his brush, eliminating the use of
backgrounds, creating an alternative reality for
the figures that filled the initial photograph.
Art Sawa
Dubai, UAE
Tel: +971 43408660
www.artsawa.com
RAS AL-KHAIMAH
until 31 august
rak hospital
‘tracking the emirates’
Under the patronage of HH Sheikh Saud
Bin Saqr Al-Qassimi and HE Gerhard
Bruegger, Consul General of Switzerland,
this fantastic group show aims to support
the local and regional art scene. Featuring
18 artists, it features a variety of artworks,
from prints, paintings and installations to
sculptures, video art and photography.
Swiss Art Gate UAE
Ras Al-Khaimah, UAE
Tel: +971 502251783
www.swissartgateuae.com
Artis
featu t
SHARJAH
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until 13 may
as
sharjah art museum
‘a retrospective: works from 2003–2010’
tarek al-ghoussein
With the support of the Directorate of Arts,
Department of Culture and Information,
Government of Sharjah, the Sharjah Art
Foundation and Sharjah Art Museum
have organised a retrospective of Tarek
Al-Ghoussein. Curated by Sharjah Art
Foundation Director, Jack Persekian, the
show features work from 2003–2010.
Sharjah Art Museum
Sharjah, UAE
Tel: +971 65688222
www.sharjahmuseums.ae
canvasguide 6
across the canvas
across the canvas
amman. 2 june-2 july. jordan national gallery of fine arts. ‘a retrospective’. tag elsir ahmed.
MIDDLE EAST
AMMAN
until 12 may
nabad art gallery
‘in the forest of love’
himat
AMMAN
8 may–30 june
lama hourani showroom
lama hourani 10 year anniversary and launch
of summer 2010 jewellery collection
This exhibition presents paintings and art books
by Paris-based Iraqi Himat, including works by
his late mentor, one of Iraq’s most influential
painters, Shaker Hassan Al-Said. Himat’s
motifs evoke nature and the richness of oriental
textiles, while stylised letters and symbols
create movement. Hassan’s Sufi-inspired work
balances between Arab and Western traditions,
while for Al-Said, contemplative art was a form
of worship. The book Story of the Unseen in
Painting will also launch during the exhibition.
Influenced by various places she has visited,
Lama Hourani’s collections are inspired by
primitive etchings and drawings adorning
walls and caves throughout Jordan’s desert
landscape and rich archaeological relics all
over the world. These symbols are a universal
language that conveys free self-expression,
peace and unity without any ethnic, cultural
or religious barriers. Each design is either a
‘masterpiece’ or part of a limited edition; fusing
hand-selected precious and semi-precious
stones with gold, silver, brass and copper they
combine the power of contrast and harmony. Nabad Art Gallery
Amman, Jordan
Tel: +962 64655084
www.nabadartgallery.com
AMMAN
4–31 may
jacaranda images
‘vocabulary of shape and colour’
saleh abu shindi
AMMAN
until 12 may
jordan national gallery of fine arts
‘from bosnia with love’
safet zec
as a source of inspiration. From Bosnia
with Love will include his latest series of
50 etchings in different sizes. Viewers can
expect intriguing pieces reminiscent of the
artist’s historicity and personal trajectory.
Saleh Abu Shindi has explored a range of
styles over an artistic career that has spanned
50 years. In work from 2006–8, he embraces
colour, intense bursts of energy, celebrating
the sensuous qualities of the paint and a subtle
building of forms. Although the works are a
break from Abu Shindi’s more recognisable
landscapes and spiritual explorations, these
show a continuation of his journey through
individual and intuitive expressions.
Safet Zec was born in Bosnia-Herzegovina,
in 1943. A painter and printmaker, he is
influenced by his experiences and, like most
artists, relies on his origins and birthplace
Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts
Amman, Jordan
Tel: +962 64630128
www.nationalgallery.org
Jacaranda Images
Amman, Jordan
Tel: +962 64644050
www.jacarandaimages.com
Lama Hourani Showroom
Amman, Jordan
Tel: +962 65560080
www.lamahourani.com
AMMAN
17 may–30 june
nabad art gallery
‘contemplations’
Contemplations features a collection of
paintings by award-winning Jordanian artist
Khalid Khreis. His paintings represent a
continuation of his contemplations on the
human spirit, nature and the cosmos. These
new works are the result of many years of
asceticism and meditation into ‘al-zahir walbatin (the esoteric and the exoteric)’. His rich
artistic and professional career spans over
30 years. Khreis holds a PhD in the History of
Art from Barcelona University, and is currently
the Director General of the Jordan National
Gallery of Fine Arts, which is celebrating its 30th
anniversary. This is his 14th solo exhibition.
Nabad Art Gallery
Amman, Jordan
Tel: +962 64655084
www.nabadartgallery.com
AMMAN
18 may–22 july
darat al-funun
jananne al-ani
until 12 may
jordan national gallery of fine arts
‘from bosnia with love’
safet zec
7 canvasguide
8 may–30 june
lama hourani showroom
lama hourani 10 year anniversary and
launch of summer 2010 jewellery collection
until 22 may
beirut art center
home works v: a forum on cultural
practices, exhibitions
Ar
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Jananne Al-Ani’s photographic retrospective
focuses on intimate narration and memory.
She explores the disappearance of the body
found within a landscape. This exhibition
includes The Visit, The Muse and Echo, in which
four women’s sensitive relationship with an
absent figure becomes incomprehensible as
their chatter overlaps. Other works on display
include The Gulf War Series, an earlier work
in which Al-Ani reacts to the lack of effort by
the Western media in placing the conflict in an
informed historic context while overlooking a
civilisation found within a landscape. Darat Al-Funun
Amman, Jordan
Tel: +962 64643253
www.daratalfunun.org
AMMAN
2 june–2 july
jordan national gallery of fine arts
‘a retrospective’
tag elsir ahmed
Sudanese Tag Elsir Ahmed is a painter, graphic
artist and designer. His artistic style veers
towards Abstract Expressionism with some
inclinations towards Figurative techniques
with landscape representations. Apart from
his one-man exhibitions of engravings
and paintings, Ahmed has participated in
various shows, including London Group and
The Young Contemporary, among many
others. He was once an art and architecture
teacher in Uganda, Kenya and Saudi Arabia
before moving to Jordan in 1994, where he
taught at the Applied Science University
and later at the University of Petra.
Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts
Amman, Jordan
Tel: +962 64630128
www.nationalgallery.org
AMMAN
7 june–10 july
foresight32 art gallery
‘hello, salut, hallo, hola’
This exhibition showcases works by emerging
artists. Viewers have an array of intriguing
pieces at hand, from games of destruction and
conservation by German artist Markus Haub
to vibrant portraits with penetrating eyes by
Dutch artist Monique Van. Presenting urban
culture and rock’n’roll is French Stephane
Moscato, while in the works of Spanish
Albert Coma Bau, there is a celebration of
the creation of a universe full of life, or fun
monsters inspired by childhood in the works of
American artist Matt Sesow. Other participating
artists include Irene Bou and Viviane Michel.
Foresight32 Art Gallery
Amman, Jordan
Tel: +962 65560080
www.foresightartgallery.com
BEIRUT
until 15 may
maqam gallery
‘noble forms’
saloua raouda choucair
Ar
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This exhibition by sculptor Saloua Raouda
Choucair focuses on the first decade of her
career when she was developing her style
through paintings and gouaches. Showcasing
works completed between 1946–56, it
visually traces the birth of a great artist. In
these groundbreaking pieces, she emerges
as a pioneer in the Arab world. Contrary
to most Abstract artists, Choucair relied
exclusively on her knowledge of mathematics
and physics to create unique compositions
based on modules and/or dovetailing
irregular polygonal shapes, thus abolishing
the distinction between figure and ground.
Maqam Gallery
Beirut, Lebanon
Tel: +961 1991212
www.maqamart.com
BEIRUT
until 22 may
beirut art center
homeworks v: a forum on cultural
practices, exhibitions
Beirut Art Center will be hosting an exhibition
within the framework of Home Works V, a
multidisciplinary platform organised by Ashkal
Alwan which takes place approximately
every other year for research and exchange
on artistic and cultural practices. Artists,
cultural practitioners, writers and thinkers
gather for 10 days in order to share their
work which addresses a common set of
urgent, timely questions. The exhibitions,
which continue well after Home Works ends,
continuing the many debates and issues
brought up during the intense think-tank
of the main show, will concurrently take
place at Ashkal Alwan for Contemporary
Arts and the Home Works Academy.
Ashkal Alwan, The Lebanese
Association for Plastic Arts
Beirut, Lebanon
Tel: +961 1360251
www.ashkalalwan.org
canvasguide 8
across the canvas
across the canvas
Syrian artist Khaled Takreti’s works project a
particular visual sensibility, with a loud palette
and glamorous yet demure subjects that are
repeatedly placed in front of flat backgrounds
composed of solid colour fields. Training
originally as an architect, Takreti often relies
on the careful use of lines to define his
compositions. He creates an ambiguous setting
that places the viewer’s attention on his elegant
models while harking back to the projection of
sophistication found in mid 20th-century Arab
cinema and the Avant-garde cool of French
new wave giants such as Jean Luc Godard.
Ayyam Gallery, Beirut
Beirut, Lebanon
Tel: +961 70535301
www.ayyamgallery.com
BEIRUT
until 29 may
the running horse contemporary art space
‘counting thoughts’
Curated by Mayssa Fattouh, Counting Thoughts
is an interdisciplinary show transcending simple
notions of gender. Works such as Alexandra
Hopf’s video Or Should This be an Unknown
Wall? reveal her hopes and dreams with
various superimposed archival images that
follow the dramaturgy of a lucid dream. Artist
Nastia Bolchakova deals with the subject of
daily survival by offering casts of parts of her
body for sale, resulting in the engagement of
the public. Participating artists include Marcela
Astroga, Veronica Brovall, Sirine Fattouh,
Rasha Kahil, Emi Miyashita and Iz Oztat.
The Running Horse Contemporary Art Space
Beirut, Lebanon
Tel: +961 1562778
www.therunninghorseart.com
BEIRUT
5–29 may
galerie janine rubeiz
khosrow hassanzadeh
Ar
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Khosrow Hassanzadeh is one of the most
prominent representatives of the Iranian
art scene today. His fascinating, versatile
oeuvre spans a wide range of media from
screen printing, painting and drawing to
9 canvasguide
collages and assemblage. His Lebanese
exhibition will include work from his series
Ya Ali Madad where screen-printing and
painting combine to produce powerful and
complex compositions with human figures as
the focal point. Also included are artworks of
Umm Kulthum, the greatest oriental singer.
Galerie Janine Rubeiz
Beirut, Lebanon
Tel: +961 1868290
www.galeriejaninerubeiz.com
BEIRUT
6–28 may
villa audi
‘the works of paul wakim in the bank
audi collection ,1985–2009’
Artist Paul Wakim is one of the most wellrepresented and recognisable artists in
Bank Audi’s collection, with 50 artworks
showcased to date. The colours and forms
in his paintings reflect the vitality and energy
present in the Lebanese culture. “The work
of Paul Wakim is like a star with numerous
corners. Each of these corners is driven
by a specific project, be it as ample as
complex, perfectly spiritual and material
at the same time,” explains the President
of the Audi Foundation, Raymond Audi.
Mouna Nehme
Beirut, Lebanon
Tel: +961 1331600
mounaneh@hotmail.com
BEIRUT
20–26 may
agial art gallery
‘homage to helen el-khal’
Ar
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Agial Art Gallery pays homage to pioneer artist
Helen El-Khal on the first anniversary of her
passing as a tribute to a great painter and
art critic. An American of Lebanese descent,
Helen El-Khal was born in Pennsylvania,
USA and began painting at the age of 21.
In 1946, she moved to Lebanon and lived
there for 25 years. She studied at the Arts
Students League in New York and in 1963
established and directed Lebanon’s first
permanent art gallery, Gallery One.
Agial Art Gallery
Beirut, Lebanon
Tel: +961 1345213
www.agialart.com
BEIRUT
27 may–26 june
agial art gallery
‘journey home and back again’
helen zughaib
BEIRUT
10 june–5 august
ayyam gallery beirut
‘liberated spatiality’
thaier helal
Helen Zughaib and her family left Lebanon
in December 1975, and this is her first return
to the country. These paintings address the
emotions experienced during the journey,
from the bittersweet stories her father told
her of the family’s life before their passage
out of Lebanon, and her own feelings upon
returning. The works presented here employ
her signature style, progressing from the richly
illustrated Stories series, to a more graphic
abstract style reflecting her life in the USA. Known for his large canvases, abstract
compositions of colour and texture, Syrian
Thaier Helal presents a new body of work that
delves into the energy of people, places and
time. Although he continues his experiments
in depth, surface and palette seen in previous
work, the execution is freer. By creating images
that are derived from both internal and external
sources, his is a way of seeing that relies on
the sensations of rhythm and movement.
BEIRUT
30 june–15 august
espace kettaneh kunigk
‘ou ali mama3ou khabar’
zena el-khalil
Ar
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Ayyam Gallery
Beirut, Lebanon
Tel: +961 1374450
www.ayyamgallery.com
Agial Art Gallery
Beirut, Lebanon
Tel: +961 1345213
www.agialart.com
BEIRUT
10 june–9 september
beirut art center
‘witness’
mona hatoum
BEIRUT
9 june–24 july
the running horse contemporary art space
‘embodyment’
rasha shammas
Rasha Shammas takes photographs of ‘an
alternate Lebanon’. Through her sharp lens
and black-and-white nude photographs, she
captures a common denominator between
fragments of the Lebanese people: the tattoo.
Often associated with rebellion, the tattoo
has become a modern way of expressing
one’s personality through various designs.
Shammas portrays this unusual art form
beautifully and tenderly. The emBODYment
series will be compiled in a book, with a
signing on 9 June at The Running Horse.
The Running Horse Contemporary Art Space
Beirut, Lebanon
Tel: +961 1562778
www.therunninghorseart.com
beirut. until 29 may. the running horse contemporary art
space. ‘counting thoughts’.
BEIRUT
until 27 may
ayyam gallery, beirut
khaled takreti
Ar
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CAIRO
until 5 may
zamalek art gallery
‘the sea at anfoushi’
rabab nemr
This exhibition deals with the summer 2006
war in Lebanon, when the Israeli army dropped
thousands of propaganda flyers all over
Beirut. While some were warnings to civilians
to evacuate their homes, while others were
political caricatures. Artist Zena El-Khalil
found herself collecting these flyers and
doodling on them. Ou Ali Mama3ou Khabar
is a Lebanese saying which literally means
‘And Ali Had No Idea’, and is the artist’s
cynical take on these propaganda flyers.
Rabab Nemr’s works have a musical quality
that fills the viewer with wonder. The artist
attains a level of mastery with her style of
Cubism. The forms in her pieces superimpose
themselves on one another, moulding colour
and movement in a way that is impressively
assertive. Nemr draws her inspirational genius
from Alexandria with its heady sea breeze,
which imbues her works with freshness
similar to that of a fisherman’s freshly caught
catch, symbolising plenitude and renewal.
Espace Kettaneh Kunigk
Beirut, Lebanon
Tel: +961 1738706
espacekettanehkunigk@cyberia.net.lb
Zamalek Art Gallery
Cairo, Egypt
Tel: +202 27351240
www.zamalekartgallery.com
BEITEDDINE
26 june–13 august
beiteddine palace
‘jameel prize 2009’
CAIRO
until 21 may
al-masar gallery of contemporary art
‘inspirations of moments’
omar el-nagdi
Exhi
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Ar
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Witness is the first solo exhibition in Lebanon
by Palestinian/British artist Mona Hatoum. She
has moved towards large-scale installations
and sculptures that aim to engage the viewer in
conflicting emotions of desire and revulsion or
fear and fascination. Hatoum’s work addresses
notions of displacement, uncertainty and
conflict through domestic objects transformed
into foreign and sometimes threatening
sculptures. Witness features new works and
follows a five-week residency in Beirut.
This is a touring exhibition of Contemporary
art and design inspired by Islamic tradition,
featuring works by Hamra Abbas, Reza Abedini,
Afruz Amighi, Sevan Bıçakçı, Hassan Hajjaj,
Khosrow Hassanzadeh, Susan Hefuna, Seher
Shah and Camille Zakharia, the nine finalists
for the Jameel Prize 2009. The inaugural prize
was won by New York-based Iranian-born
Amighi for 1001 Pages. These works reflect the
richness and diversity of the Islamic traditions
that have inspired each of these artists.
Born in 1931, Omar El-Nagdi is a pioneer
of 20th-century Egyptian Modern art. His
technique relies on symbolic design and colour.
He has absorbed the decorative traditions of
the Near East, from traditional Egyptian lines
to rich harmonies of Persian colour. El-Nagdi’s
work also has a mystic and symbolic aura to it,
making it aesthetically pleasing and timeless.
Below the surface, each piece of art by ElNagdi possesses a deeper spiritual meaning.
Beirut Art Center
Beirut, Lebanon
Tel: +961 1397018
www.beirutartcenter.org
V&A
London, UK
Tel: +44 2079422000
www.vam.ac.uk
Al-Masar Gallery of Contemporary Art
Cairo, Egypt
Tel: +201 22161115
www.almasargallery.com
20–26 may
agial art gallery
‘homage to helen el-khal’
30 june–15 august
espace kettaneh kunigk
‘ou ali mama3ou khabar’
zena el-khalil
until 5 may
zamalek art gallery
‘the sea at anfoushi’
rabab nemr
canvasguide 10
across the canvas
across the canvas
CAIRO
until 26 may
karim francis contemporary art gallery
‘intuited happiness’
islam zaher
Cairo-based Islam Zaher’s new exhibition
features drawings and paintings demonstrating
the artist’s unique sense of painterly style.
Zaher probes the concept of happiness,
which is surpassed in ambiguity only by
the existing literature on how to attain and
retain it. Additionally perplexing for the artist
is the manner in which these formulae or
lectures are comprehended by and in turn
manifested in the collective consciousness.
CAIRO
3–27 may
safarkhan gallery
mostafa el-razzaz
CAIRO
23 may–20 june
townhouse gallery of contemporary art
‘on how to appear invisible’
CAIRO
DAMASCUS
until 8 may
rafia gallery
said baalbaki
In the work of Mostafa El-Razzaz, one
recognises the metaphysical and symbolic
expressions that are related to the theme of
the fisherman in the Nile. This theme has been
treated by many artists from the region since
the Ancient Egyptians. El-Razzaz has made
a special emphasis on fishermen’s daily lives
by focusing on representing their expectation
of finding a new catch, giving viewers a
unique insight into this traditional practice.
On How to Appear Invisible is an exhibition,
choir, party, series of ‘non-events’,
performances, readings and talks, marking
a return to the more casual and introspective
approach to art and performance practices.
The project includes two exhibitions: Invisible
Publics will feature acts, works, questions,
stories and interruptions by Dora Garcia,
Carey Young, Sharon Hayes, Ahmed Sabry,
Ceal Floyer, Dan Perjovschi, Johanna Billing,
among many more. Reading Acts investigates
the exhibition as a space which produces the
myths and realities of artistic collaboration.
10–12 may
the gerhart theatre
theatre
‘senior directing projects’
Figures are excluded from Said Baalbaki’s
paintings and things reside: left to its own
devices, a coat hangs upon its stand or
lunges out. Yet, these objects do not appear
personified, but remain crucial elements
of Baalbaki’s pictorial treatment. The true
strength of his work gains expression through
its very capacity to allow others to share past,
current and yet undermined experiences.
Safarkhan Gallery
Cairo, Egypt
Tel: +2010 5446611
www.safarkhan.com
Karim Francis Gallery
Cairo, Egypt
Tel: +2010 6674823
www.karimfrancis.com
Limited Access II, a video, sound and
performance project, reconnects artists from
all disciplines with their emerging audience.
It illustrates the belief that what is labelled as
Iranian Contemporary art to the world is quite
accessible despite all the propaganda. Curated
by Amirali Ghasemi and Rozita Sharfjahan,
it includes Jazire-ye Sargardani (The Wander
Island), a video screening combined with
interactive installations and sound; 8513 Hours
in Helsinki and Whoever I Like Turns out to
be a Weirdo (or Performative Narrations).
CAIRO
16 may–13 june
mashrabia gallery of contemporary art
‘what’s on television’
karim bakry
Television has become one of our biggest
entertainment systems as well as one of the
biggest addictions in the world. The concept
behind this show is to capture the images of
what we view on television, such as the
barrage of numerous advertisements, shows,
movies, news and so on. These images
aim to demonstrate the daily repetition and
redundancy of this machine. The objective
of this production is to represent the
content of television as it is often stored in
our minds and helps shape our ideas.
Townhouse Gallery of Contemporary Art
Cairo, Egypt
Tel: +202 25768086
www.thetownhousegallery.com
Mashrabia Gallery of Contemporary Art
Cairo, Egypt
Tel: +202 5784494
www.mashrabiagallery.com
CAIRO
1–31 may
townhouse gallery of contemporary art
‘limited access ii’
Townhouse Gallery of Contemporary Art
Cairo, Egypt
Tel: +202 25768086
www.thetownhousegallery.com
CAIRO
7–28 june
safarkhan gallery
mennah hafez
Mennah Hafez utilises sharp edges to define
the structure and subject of her canvas.
The artist fills the entire space with dynamic
forms and structures inspired by nature or
sequences from everyday life. Hafez’s artistic
media includes oil, ink, watercolour and
photography. Hafez has various exhibitions
under her belt, including the 2007 AUC
Photography Exhibition in Cairo and a show
at the AUC Falaky Gallery in the same year.
Safarkhan Gallery
Cairo, Egypt
Tel: +2010 5446611
www.safarkhan.com
until 29 june
american university in cairo
11 may
malak gabr arts theatre
film
‘auc first annual student film festival’
12 may
ewart memorial hall
music concert
‘cairo choral society’
john baboukis, conductor
13 may
all saints cathedral, zamalek
music concert
‘cairo choral society’
john baboukis, conductor
16 may
malak gabr arts theatre
music concert
‘cairo choral society’
john baboukis, conductor
16 may–29 june
sharjah art gallery
art exhibition
‘student capstone’
18 may
malak gabr arts theatre
music concert
‘arab music ensemble’
wael el-mahallawy, director
20 may
malak gabr arts theatre
music concert
‘auc chamber singers’
john baboukis, director
22 may
malak gabr arts theatre
music concert
‘student showcase’
7–28 june
safarkhan gallery
mennah hafez
11 canvasguide
12 may–17 june
rafia gallery
‘calligraphic innovations’
15 may–19 june
ayyam gallery, damascus
‘abstract what’
mouteea murad
American University in Cairo
Cairo, Egypt
Tel: +202 26151000
www.aucegypt.edu
Al-Shaarani, Sudanese artist Taj El-Ser
Hassan, Egyptian calligraphist Issam Abdul
Alfattah and Iraqi designer Wissam Shawkat.
Rafia Gallery
Damascus, Syria
Tel: +963 113310803
www.rafiagallery.com
DAMASCUS
until 19 may
national museum, damascus
‘jameel prize 2009’
Exhi
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This is a touring exhibition of Contemporary art
and design inspired by Islamic tradition and
featuring works by the artists and designers
short-listed for the Jameel Prize 2009. The
nine finalists are Hamra Abbas, Reza Abedini,
Afruz Amighi, Sevan Bıçakçı, Hassan Hajjaj,
Khosrow Hassanzadeh, Susan Hefuna, Seher
Shah and Camille Zakharia. The inaugural
prize was won by New York-based Iranianborn artist Amighi for 1001 Pages. The works
reflect the richness and diversity of the
Islamic traditions that have inspired each of
these artists, and this exhibition will move
to Lebanon after its stint in Damascus.
V&A
London, UK
Tel: +44 2079422000
www.vam.ac.uk
DAMASCUS
12 may–17 june
rafia gallery
‘calligraphic innovations’
This group exhibition of Arabic calligraphy
showcases how it is an innovative and
sophisticated art form perfectly suited to
both tradition and modernity. Its practitioners
need to have a critical spirit, and a liberal
creative imagination that can transcend
this artistic style into new forms. Four
Arab calligraphers of various generations
participate: Syrian graphic designer Mounir
Rafia Gallery
Damascus, Syria
Tel: +963 113310803
www.rafiagallery.com
DAMASCUS
15 may–19 june
ayyam gallery, damascus
‘abstract what’
mouteea murad
Syrian artist Mouteea Murad’s works feature
complex interpretations of geometric
abstraction. Although his earlier works nod
at influential 20th-century painters, Murad’s
most recent mixed media paintings reflect
a feeling of independence and innovation.
Labelling the majority of these pieces as
Trials, Murad’s pieces stand as evidence
of his constantly-evolving creativity. With a
vivid palette at hand, he drafts symphonies
of colour and draws intricate designs. The
overall result is a fusion of various tones with
endless layering of thin lines and solid forms.
Ayyam Gallery, Damascus
Damascus, Syria
Tel: +963 116131088
www.ayyamgallery.com
DAMASCUS
21 june–14 july
rafia gallery
farzan sadjadi
Born in Tehran in 1977, Farzan Sadjadi’s
time spent in the military left a major impact
on him and has become a major source of
inspiration for his works. Sadjadi delivers
powerful compositions which serve to remind
us of the paradoxical world that we live in.
While tearing down the notion that the world
is pure, the canvas he works on in effect
provides evidence that the disenfranchised
are among us, whether behind prison walls,
or fighting for existence on the world’s cruel,
winter streets. Through Sadjadi’s harsh
vision, we find ourselves transported to a
world where beauty and violence continually
coexist, ever present, never hidden.
Rafia Gallery
Damascus, Syria
Tel: +963 113310803
www.rafiagallery.com
canvasguide 12
across the canvas
across the canvas
DOHA
until 20 august
virginia commonwealth university in qatar
‘the senior exhibition’
Work by senior students of VCUQatar’s fashion,
graphic and interior design departments will
be on display. This juried exhibition showcases
their final thesis projects plus a selection
of the most noteworthy work highlighting
their creativity and innovation. The range of
media used by students includes illustration,
photography, typography and publication.
Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar
Doha, Qatar
Tel: +974 4927200
www.islamicartdoha.org
ISTANBUL
until 16 may
istanbul museum of modern art
‘from traditional to contemporary: cultural
memory in modern turkish art’
This shows how artists employ history within
their construction of Modernism. Curated by
Istanbul Modern’s Levent Çalıkoglu, From
Traditional to Contemporary: Cultural Memory
in Modern Turkish Art features Modern and
Contemporary artists. These artists reinterpret
the traditional in the context of a new language
of expression, juxtaposing objects such as
calligraphies, miniatures, stained glass, textiles,
tombaks and carpets with the arts of painting,
sculpture, photography and installation.
If You Kill the Devil Inside Me You Will Also Kill
the Angel features sculptures, typography,
video and sound by Istanbul-based Horasan.
Born in 1965, he has exhibited locally and
internationally including Paristanbul at the
Grand Palais, Paris, Turkish Artists Exhibition in
New York, the Sharjah Biennial, UAE and at the
Istanbul Museum of Modern Art. His works are
in private and corporate collections worldwide.
Pi Artworks
Istanbul, Turkey
Tel: +90 2122937103
www.piartworks.com
Istanbul Modern
Istanbul, Turkey
Tel: +90 2123347300
www.istanbulmodern.org
ISTANBUL
until 15 may
soda
‘naked city spleen’
miru kim
ISTANBUL
until 26 may
pi artworks
‘if you kill the devil inside me you
will also kill the angel’
horasan
New York-based Miru Kim has explored urban
ruins and spaces such as abandoned subway
stations, tunnels, sewers, catacombs, factories,
rooftops and shipyards – expressed through
photographs, video and texts. For Naked
City Spleen, Kim has photographed herself in
Seoul, New York, Paris, Berlin, Philadelphia,
Montreal and London, and continued the
project in Istanbul for the last month. These
spaces, once within the city’s routine, are
now abandoned and left to seclusion.
They are given new memories through the
interpretations of Kim, who uses her own body
to animate and humanise these spaces.
ISTANBUL
until 16 may
istanbul museum of modern art
‘time within us’
ISTANBUL
until 29 may
artane
‘prints and photogravures of
david lynch in istanbul’
This intriguing exhibition features a selection of
works by photographers from Turkey, Russia
and Greece. A collaborative effort on the part
of three international museums, Time Within Us
is the first show of its kind opened jointly by the
three countries. The exhibition’s photographs
were selected by Engin Özendes, Curator of
Istanbul Modern Photography Exhibitions; Olga
Sviblova, Director of the Moscow House of
Photography and Vangelis Ioakimidis, Director
of the Thessaloniki Museum of Photography.
The predominant theme of David Lynch’s
artwork is that of “innocence trapped in a
corrupt world”. The strokes are fast and
smudged while the paint oozes and cracks.
His imagery often portrays a single figure,
such as a lone tree or a shoddy house. Lynch
is not a fan of slick things, he finds colour
too ‘real’ and sees the beauty in darker
elements. The artist prefers to make ‘creative’
mistakes while producing his works, inspired
by the peculiarities unique to humankind.
SODA
Istanbul, Turkey
Tel: +90 2122318988
www.sodaistanbul.com
Istanbul Modern
Istanbul, Turkey
Tel: +90 2123347300
www.istanbulmodern.org
Artane
Istanbul, Turkey
Tel: +90 2122492563
www.artane.org
ISTANBUL
until 26 june
rodeo gallery
‘place makers’
iman issa and can altay
This exhibition concerns cities we inhabit
and cities we imagine. Iman Issa’s works
are reconstructed settings that derive from
places she has discovered and the memories
and associations that these places have
created. By restaging those psychological
mechanisms, each work seems to contain a
hidden language. With the sculpture Deposit,
Can Altay comments on the history of a
whole region that is currently under change,
reflecting notions of desire and power.
Rodeo Gallery
Istanbul, Turkey
Tel: +90 2122935800
www.rodeo-gallery.com
ISTANBUL
until 4 september
proje4l/ elgiz museum of contemporary art
‘chaotic metamorphosis’
Chaotic Metamorphosis, curated by Burcu
Pelvanoglu, features a site-specific project
by Canan Dagdelen. The museum presents
a snapshot of the Turkish Contemporary art
scene and the dynamic culture of the city
from the perspective of a young curator. The
exhibition refers both to the transformation
of the art environment of Turkey and to
the rapid development of Istanbul. As an
assemblage of artworks of diverse media
from Turkish Contemporary artists, this show
reflects the effect of various layers of these
simultaneous, ongoing transfigurations
on artistic production of the day.
Proje4L/Elgiz Museum of Contemporary Art
Istanbul, Turkey
Tel: +90 2122902525
www.elgizmuseum.org
ISTANBUL
5 may–19 june
hayaka arti
‘recent works’
argun okumusoglu
until 15 may
soda
‘naked city spleen’
miru kim
13 canvasguide
until 16 may
istanbul museum of modern art
‘time within us’
6–29 may
cda projects gallery
‘in between’
julia fullerton-batten
Argun Okumusoglu has had numerous
solo and group exhibitions nationally and
internationally. His recent works feature an
intriguing frottage technique with a magnificent
array of colours and forms. Cuban art critic
and curator Professor Antonio Fernandez
Seoane describes Okumusoglu as “the
poet of the light, the colours, the lines, the
surfaces and the dramatic atmospheres”
and his artwork as “fresh, erotic and vibrant
expressionism with many references to the
Contemporary artists [who have had a]
major role in the last century’s art history”.
Hayaka Arti
Istanbul, Turkey
Tel: +90 2122847411
www.hayakaarti.com
ISTANBUL
6–29 may
cda projects gallery
‘in between’
julia fullerton-batten
Julia Fullerton-Batten explores the transition
from adolescent to woman. Here, however,
the girls are not stationary, but floating. This
represents an upward momentum towards
maturity, manifest with awkwardness. This
concept is evident in each image: there is the
confidence present in a violinist’s upward stare,
but then there is a kicked-over glass of milk.
These scenes symbolise that the transition
to womanhood has progressed, but, at the
same time, is far from being accomplished.
CDA Projects
Istanbul, Turkey
Tel: +90 2122511214
www.cda-projects.com
ISTANBUL
6–29 may
casa dell’arte
mustafa sekban
Mustafa Sekban focuses on nature and the
human figure. For him, this is one of the
fundamental elements of the continuous and
basic nature around us. For this exhibition,
he chose Istanbul as his indispensable
muse. The passion he has for this coastal
city has paved the way for him to convey
fishermen in his pieces. With this, Sekban
shows the viewers rarely seen sceneries
and lifestyles. His paintings serve as
documents for the future, a form of aesthetical
reminders which will live on forever.
Casa Dell’Arte Gallery
Istanbul, Turkey
Tel: +90 2122511214
www.casadellartegallery.com
ISTANBUL
23–24 may
garajistanbul
‘istanbul dance theatre, slippery surface dreams’
Nourished by Anatolia’s rich history, Geyvan
McMillen, Dilara Akay, Sernaz Demirel and Tan
Temel founded the Istanbul Dance Theatre
(IDT) to search for and pursue their artistic
expressions. Slippery Surface Dreams is in
the programme for the 17th International
Istanbul Theatre Festival and depicts our
journey to the end of the road through
dreams portraying the uncertainty of life, an
emotional and thought-provoking voyage.
Istanbul Dance Theatre
Istanbul, Turkey
Tel: +90 2122847411
www.istanbuldanstiyatrosu.com
ISTANBUL
29 may–26 june
pi artworks
‘crash’
horasan
Crash features a collection of oil paintings, with
Paul McCarthy, Jan Fabre, Otto Muehl and
Maurizio Cattelan just some of the international
names that Horasan has included in this series.
This exhibition shows how the artist perceives
the works of these renowned art personas.
Through these pieces, Horasan mirrors his
own self, and sees his own artistic reflection.
Pi Artworks
Istanbul, Turkey
Tel: +90 2122937103
www.piartworks.com
ISTANBUL
4–30 june
cda projects gallery
‘young/new/different’
The aim of the project Young/New/Different is
to support and showcase new representatives
of Turkish Contemporary art. Works in different
themes and styles from different disciplines
come together in one show. The artist
selection was made by juror Tomur Atagök,
a prominent artist and professor of museum
studies at the Yildiz University in Istanbul.
CDA Projects & Casa Dell’Arte
Istanbul, Turkey
Tel: +90 2122511214
www.cda-projects.com
canvasguide 14
across the canvas
across the canvas
This exhibition displays artworks that have
been produced during workshops with Siir
Ozbilge at Hayaka Arti with neighbourhood
children. It is an amazing look at how children
between the ages of four and 16 perceive the
world and transform it. This show illustrates
the importance of early childhood learning
and the environmental factors leading to
growth, aiming to spread positivity, productivity
and art awareness in the neighbourhood.
Hayaka Arti
Istanbul, Turkey
Tel: +90 2122847411
www.hayakaarti.com
JEDDAH
until 13 may
athr gallery
‘see flat! be sharp!’
Curated by Nour Wali, this exhibition tackles
myriad profound messages that lurk beneath
the surface, yet are never overtly expressed.
Themes that reference the encouragement
of uninhibited emotional and intellectual selfexpression, for example, or the dangers of
our increasing addiction and over-reliance
on modern technology at the cost of our
environmental and emotional well-being.
Exhibited works range from sculptures,
photography, painting, installation and
design and artists include Ayman Yossri
Daydban, Noha Al-Sharif, Ahmad Angawi
and Jowhara Al-Saud, among others.
Athr Art Gallery
Jeddah, KSA
Tel: +966 22845009 www.athrart.com
JEDDAH
4–6 may
king abdullah university of
science and technology
‘the art of fabric’
april tosch
The Art of Fabric by April Tosch is the first art
exhibition held by the King Abdullah University
of Science and Technology since its inception
last year. Tosch is an American textile artist
who creates large-scale fabric wall hangings
15 canvasguide
and custom upholstery on commission for her
clients. She has held exhibitions in Jeddah and
Dubai. Her work involves the creation of digital
collaged images using Adobe Photoshop which
are then printed onto fabrics and embellished
by hand with embroidery and beadwork.
King Abdullah University of
Science and Technology
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Tel: +966 501821299
www.kaust.edu.sa
JEDDAH
17 may–10 june
athr gallery
‘illuminating the word’
syed tajammul hussain
The calligraphy of the Holy Qur’an has solid
rules, rooted within the very text itself. The
symbolic quality of its colours and designs
clarify meaning while reaffirming and illustrating
the complexity and depth of the verses. Colours
and designs add the emphases that Tajammul
Hussain focuses on in his work. The artist’s aim
is to give visual expression to the verses of the
Qur’an. Examples of Hussain’s work can be
found in the collections of the British Museum
in London, the State Collection of Tunisia and
the National Library in Lahore, Pakistan.
Athr Gallery
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Tel: +966 22845009
www.athrart.com
JERUSALEM
until 31 may
al-ma’amal foundation
‘diary’
martin lebioda
Martin Lebioda will conduct workshops
encouraging youths to work on a photographic
diary covering 10 weeks. In addition, a website
will be launched to present the photographs
of the participants. An exhibition of the
workshop production will be implemented at
Al-Ma’amal Foundation. This programme gives
individuals a chance to explore their talent
in an educational and informative manner.
Attendees can showcase their production to
an audience and get feedback on the images.
Al-Ma’amal Foundation for Contemporary Art
Jerusalem, Palestine
Tel: +972 2628357
www.almamalfoundation.org
KUWAIT CITY
11 may–3 june
sultan gallery
‘compact home’
mahmud obaidi
KUWAIT CITY
dar al-athar al-islamiyyah
cultural season
Iraqi-Canadian Mahmud Obaidi offers
alternatives to a post-globalised art world
where local singularities often contribute to a
still legitimised Western centre. Obaidi’s work
addresses themes of ‘flight’ linking through
his art the different meanings of the term; from
that of the perpetual flight of a hyphenated
Middle-Eastern artist with no place to call
his own, to that of ‘flying while Arab’ and
the racial profiling of a man boarding a KLM
flight. Displayed at Agial Gallery’s booth at
the recent Art Dubai, this is an exhibition of
the complexities and hypocrisies of society,
and the importance of appearances.
Sultan Gallery
Kuwait City, Kuwait
Tel: +965 4714325
sultangallery@sadeer.com
MANAMA
until 7 may
albareh art gallery
hakim ghazali
Ar
featu tist
re
Canv d in
as
Hakim Ghazali’s introduction to graphic
design and printing has inspired an
enduring fascination for the intricate and
detailed morphology of letters. Today, the
talented Ghazali leads a dual existence;
one as a leading Contemporary artist and
the other as an innovator of Arabic type
fonts, something which is in high demand.
Ghazali also showcased his latest works
at Dubai’s Green Art Gallery in March.
Albareh Art Gallery
Manama, Bahrain
Tel: +973 17717707
www.albareh.com
MANAMA
5–15 may
various venues
elham arts festival 2010
The Elham Arts Festival is Bahrain’s only
alternative cultural event which offers art lovers
and the public a new approach to presenting
and showcasing art with the focus on ‘creative
interaction’. Involving and engaging, the festival
will feature various events including public
art performances, workshops, art exhibitions,
8 may
al-americani cultural centre
children’s art workshop
‘manuscripts with focus on kalila wa dimna’
10 may
al-maidan cultural centre
lecture by olivier callot
‘the pre-islamic coinage of the arab gulf’
jerusalem. until 31 may. al ma’amal foundation ‘diary’. martin lebioda.
ISTANBUL
23–30 june
hayaka arti
‘child traces: recent works from
neighbourhood workshops’
12 may
al-maidan cultural centre
dai forum book club
‘in the house of silence:
autobiographical essays by
arab women writers’
parking lot cinema, music concerts, live
painting and graffiti art. Among the key artists
taking part are Bahraini folk singer songwriter
Ala Ghawas, Saudi poet and musician May
Kutbi, Bahraini artists Moosa Silwadi, Yasmine
Rasool and digital artist Fawaz Al-Olaiwait.
Elham Arts Group
Manama, Bahrain
Tel: +973 36960396
www.elhambahrain.net
MUHARRAQ
16 may–5 june
shaikh ebrahim center
‘recent works’
khalid farhan
Khalid Farhan is one of Bahrain’s most
promising young artists. Working as a sculptor
in wood, stone, brass and bronze, he is
inspired by the opposition of positive and
negative forces in nature. In this exhibition,
he presents a selection of sculptures in
brass and bronze, ranging from small and
hand-size pieces to forms that are over two
metres high. The use of highly polished brass
sphere and semi-sphere bases sets up an
irresistible contrast with the textured bronze
section of Farhan’s sculptures, asking the
viewer to renew his gaze again and again.
Shaikh Ebrahim Center and Bin Matar House
Muharraq, Bahrain
Tel: +973 17322549
www.shaikhebrahimcenter.org
TEHRAN
until 16 may
aun gallery
‘battling amnesia’
mohammed hossein emad
Mohammed Hossein Emad showcases works
with primitive forms and a weathered texture.
Emad’s pieces appear uncomplicated, with
pure forms symbolising the beauty and
simplicity of life. Working in wood and metal, the
artist produces organic creations that manage
to be conceptually appealing with circular
forms, smooth surfaces and visual depth.
Aun Gallery
Tehran, Iran
Tel: +982 188603050
www.aungallery.com
TANGIER
until 14 may
medina art gallery
nabil chami
Nabil Chami is a Moroccan painter who focuses
on classical and traditional letter drawings,
sometimes accompanied by ornamentation. His
pieces are characterised by a fusion and strong
presence of colours, combining tradition and
modernity, inspired by faith, values and morals.
Medina Art Gallery
Tangier, Morocco
Tel: +212 539372644
www.medinagallery.com
19 may
al-maidan cultural centre
dai music circle
‘piano and voice’
22 may
al-americani cultural centre
young collectors workshop
‘manuscripts/play based on kalila wa dimna’
22 may
al-americani cultural centre
children’s art workshop
‘manuscripts/play based on kalila wa dimna’
26 may
al-maidan cultural centre
dai forum lecture by shurouq amin
‘ekphrasis: poetry and pictures’
5 june
al-americani cultural centre
children’s art workshop and young collectors
‘performance-kalila wa dimna play’
9 june
al-maidan cultural centre
dai forum book club
‘the faith club:
ranya idliby, suzanne olivier
and priscilla warner’
Al-Maidan Cultural Centre,
Dar Al-Athar Al-Islamiyyah
Kuwait City, Kuwait
Tel: +965 5636528
gmcc@darmuseum.org.kw
canvasguide 16
across the canvas
across the canvas
BASEL
15–19 june
messe basel, hall 5
design miami/ basel
EUROPE
art
fair
BASEL
16–20 june
messe basel
art 41 basel
antwerp. until 16 may. fotomuseum, antwerp. borders: 8th edition of the encounters of bamako.
Since its inception, Design Miami was
intended to be more than just a marketplace
for high-end design. Many pieces are rare,
produced in limited numbers or representing
limited examples that have survived through
history. It is the most substantive forum
for international design, a convergence of
commerce and culture. Participating galleries
include Galerie Patrick Seguin, Galerie
Jacques Lacoste, Seomi Gallery, Nilufar and
Contrasts Gallery. The galleries invited deal
with exceptional design objects from the
advent of Modernism to the present day.
Design Miami/ Basel
Miami, Florida, USA
Tel: +1305 5720866
www.designmiami.com
BASEL
15–20 june
a project in the workshop
community, warteck pp
liste 15: the young art fair in basel
ANTWERP
until 16 may
fotomuseum, antwerp
borders: 8th edition of the encounters of
bamako, african photography biennial
One of two concurrent exhibitions coproduced by the Ministry of Culture and
Cultures, the Bamako Encounters, Biennial
of African Photography seeks to promote
regional integration and North-South cultural
exchanges by creating an international
ar
fairt
cultural centre that testifies to the wealth
and vitality of the photography produced
on the continent. This exhibition will feature
photographs by artists such as Myriam
Abdelaziz from Egypt, Kader Attia from Algeria,
Lilia Bieber from Tunisia and Abdoulaye
Barry from Chad, among many more.
LISTE presents new and important galleries
and sheds light on young artists worldwide.
Its concept of introducing new galleries and
artists under 40 makes it the most important fair
for young art and a true ‘discoverer’ fair each
year. In its last edition, there were 64 galleries
from 24 countries, also featuring works by 160
young artists. This event focuses on mustsee emerging talent from around the world.
Fotomuseum Antwerp
Antwerp, Belgium
Tel: +32 32429300
www.fotomuseum.be
LISTE, The Young Art Fair
Basel, Switzerland
Tel: +41 616922021
www.liste.ch
art
fair
Art Basel, the highlight of the international
art fair calender features nearly 300 leading
galleries from North America, Latin America,
Europe, Asia, Australia and Africa. More than
2000 artists, ranging from the great masters of
Modern art to the latest generation of cuttingedge emerging stars, are represented in the
show’s multiple sections. Pieces on display
range from editioned works by emerging
artists to museum-calibre masterpieces by
some of art history’s biggest names, from
Andy Warhol to Cragg Tony. Participating
galleries this year include Lisson Gallery,
Sage Gallery, GB Agency, Gagosian Gallery,
Acquavella Galleries and Galerie Anhava.
MCH Swiss Exhibition (Basel) Ltd
Basel, Switzerland
Tel: +41 582002020
www.artbasel.com
BERLIN
until 6 june
bode-museum
‘childhood on the river nile’
Toys, clothing, shoes and education – in
the Egypt of late antiquity, children had their
own realm of experience. An insight into this
world is provided with exhibits ranging from
the third century BC to the eighth century
AD. On display are children’s tunics, shoes
and even doll’s clothes, as well as depictions
of children on the ornamental trimmings
of fabrics. In addition to these articles, the
exhibition also comprises items such as rattles
and wooden horses, a ball and even a doll.
Staatliche Museen zu Berlin
Berlin, Germany
Tel: +49 302663660
www.smb.spk-berlin.de
BRUSSELS
until 16 may
la centrale électrique,
centre europeen d’art contemporain
‘borders: 8th edition of the encounters of
bamako, african photography biennial’
15–20 june
a project in the workshop
community, warteck pp
liste 15: the young art fair in basel
17 canvasguide
until 15 may
the david collection
‘bayt al-aqqad: a house in damascus’
One of two concurrent exhibitions co-produced
by the Ministry of Culture and Cultures
France, held every two years since 1994 and
based on research work conducted all over
Africa, the Bamako Encounters, Biennial of
African Photography seek to promote regional
integration and facilitate North-South cultural
exchanges by creating an international
cultural centre that testifies to the wealth and
vitality of the photography produced on the
continent. This exhibition contains video works
by Ismail Bahri, Mounir Fatmi, Bouchra Khalili
and Riason Naidoo, among many more.
La Centrale Electrique,
Centre Europeen d’Art Contemporain
Brussels, Belgium
Tel: +32 33796435
www.lacentraleelectrique.be
COPENHAGEN
until 15 may
the david collection
‘bayt al-aqqad: a house in damascus’
This exhibition, part of the reopening of The
David Collection, features the architecturally
beautiful building that the Syrian government
placed at the disposal of the Danish Institute
in Damascus in 1997. After restoration, Bayt
Al-Aqqad now stands as a splendid example
of Islamic urban architecture, full of intricate
details. This exhibition allows the visitor to
follow the house’s history from its origins
around 1470 on the ruins of the Roman theatre
of Herod the Great to the present day.
The David Collection
Copenhagen, Denmark
Tel: +45 33734949
www.davidmus.dk
DINARD
12 june–12 september
palais des arts
‘hope! from giacometti to murakami’
This exhibition will feature a fabulous selection
comprising 50 works from 50 international
artists, in four sections; Genesis, Exodus,
Apocalypse and Grace, showing that an
alternative perception of Contemporary
art is possible: Hope! Works by major
artists including Richard Serra, Alighiero
Boetti, Damien Hirst, Ed Ruscha, François
Morellet, Lucio Fontana and Sigmar Polke
will converse with unmistakably recognised
and recently distinguished creators such
as Shirazeh Houshiary, Rokni Haerizadeh,
Reza Aramesh, Farideh Lashai, Reza
Derakshani, Mona Hatoum and Farhad
Moshiri. Groundbreaking works will also be
exhibited, such as Walking Man by Giacometti.
Cultural Affairs Department
Dinard, France
Tel: +33 299163063
marjorie.davy@ville-dinard.fr
Artis
t
featu
PARIS
re
Canv d in
6 may–30 june
as
galerie claude lemand
‘masterpieces from european private collections’
shafic abboud
Shafic Abboud’s impressive body of work
(1926–2004) is inspired by childhood
memories, and evokes both Figurative art and
Abstract Expressionism. According to writer
Patrick Waldberg, the legendary Lebanese
artist offers another approach to reality
through his pieces. He dives into it, lets it
lap over him, is engulfed within it to such an
extent that, when he returns with his reality,
filtered through his desire, it is simultaneously
dissolved and reconstituted according to a
law of harmonies. Abboud’s paintings can
be found at the Centre National d’Art et de
Culture Georges Pompidou in Paris, France.
Galerie Claude Lemand
Paris, France
Tel: +33 145492695
clemand@wanadoo.fr
Arti
featu st
PARIS
re
Canv d in
10 may–26 june
as
galerie claude lemand
‘recent paintings on canvas and stone’
mahjoub ben bella
Algerian artist Mahjoub Ben Bella does not
limit his paintings to canvases, but also
explores the many artistic possibilities of
ceramic pieces, fabrics, tiles, walls and
even a range of everyday objects such as
plates and metro stations. Working from
his unconscious, he creates spontaneous
images based on instinct or memory. The
process and the resulting artwork therefore
emerge into being from an almost trancelike,
primal state. His work evokes the forms of
traditional Arabic calligraphy and European
abstraction with a nod at signs and symbols
materialising out of composition and rhythm.
This is all evident in a special, recognisable
movement of letters and calligraphy in Ben
Bella’s work, whether traditional or invented.
Galerie Claude Lemand
Paris, France
Tel: +33 145492695
clemand@wanadoo.fr
canvasguide 18
across the canvas
across the canvas
This exhibition offers a compelling insight
into the practice of internationally renowned
photographer and video artist Sama Alshaibi.
Born in Basra, Iraq, to a Palestinian mother
and an Iraqi father, her photography and
videos in Zero Sum Game explore the space of
conflict in which the oppressor and oppressed
play out their respective roles. At the height
of the conflict is the military war machine,
omnipresent, and dominant. Its counterpoint
is the human body, earthly and vulnerable.
Selma Feriani Gallery
London, UK
Tel: +44 2074936090
www.selmaferiani.com
LONDON
until 22 may
rose issa projects
‘al-qahira: images of cairo’
Featuring photographs by Egyptian artists Nabil
Boutros, Susan Hefuna, Youssef Nabil and
Sabah Naim, Al-Qahira: Images of Cairo is a
glimpse of different aspects of life in this ancient
metropolis. Nabil focuses on Cairo’s glamorous
past as the Hollywood of the Orient. In contrast,
Naim’s subjects are the crowds on the street
while Boutros presents collage-like triptychs of
Egypt’s Coptic community. A recurring theme
in Hefuna’s work is the filter between the visible
and invisible, which she explores through
ghostly images of women behind mashrabiyas.
Rose Issa Projects
London, UK
Tel: +44 2076027700
www.roseissa.com
LONDON
until 5 june
the showroom
‘estrangement’
Estrangement is part of a project by Polish
curator Aneta Szylak and Iraqi-Kurdish artist
Hiwa K which seeks to capture tensions
between European cultures and constructions
of the Orient. Hiwa K is collaborating with
Jim White, a former American soldier and
now a caretaker at a German art academy,
19 canvasguide
on a live performance of Ennio Morricone’s
score for the final duel scene from Sergio
Leone’s spaghetti Western Once Upon A
Time in the West. The work is an enquiry
into the redistribution of dominant cultural
representations and competences.
The Showroom
London, UK
Tel: +44 2077244300
www.theshowroom.org
LONDON
until 1 july
hyatt regency london
‘perspectives’
The works in Perspectives are not as they
first appear. Under scrutiny, images shift;
a collection of boxes becomes a cabinet
of curiosities; an angel turns into a replica
of a bombed city. Abstract paintings reveal
themselves as photographs of toxic lakes via a
disorientating aerial perspective, while copies
of works by Piranesi turn out to be meticulous
digital collages of hundreds of photographs.
Perspectives features five artists including
Prague-based Iranian Yassi Golshani.
Candlestar
London, UK
Tel: +44 2087416025
www.candlestar.co.uk
LONDON
5–21 may
mathaf gallery
‘out of the desert’
peter upton
Peter Upton’s eagerly awaited exhibition
Out of the Desert coincides with the launch
of his magnificent book of the same title.
The exhibition consists of 30 carefully
executed paintings which reflect Upton’s
love for the beauty of the Arab horse. As
an international judge of Arab horses, he
has travelled throughout the Middle East,
judging competitions and sketching for
future paintings. Upton’s talents as an artist
command huge respect amongst breeders,
particularly as he has a special ability to
portray true likenesses of individual horses.
Mathaf Gallery
London, UK
Tel: +44 2072350010
www.mathafgallery.com
LONDON
5 may–3 june
the mosaic rooms
‘reflective consciousness’
bashar hroub
LONDON
13 may
the mosaic rooms
‘paperback launch of palestine inside
out: an everyday occupation’
saree makdisi
It is rare that Palestinian artists from the West
Bank and Gaza Strip are able to travel abroad
and experience a reality free from military
occupation. The works exhibited in this show
were produced while Bashar Hroub had
been living and studying in the UK, his first
experience with working in physical freedom.
He has imaginatively explored the notion of
place and landscape almost in abstraction: how
does place relate to and affect consciousness,
how does it influence identity and how can art
universalise the painful relationship between the
imagination and the homeland?
Raised in Beirut and educated in the USA,
Saree Makdisi is a professor of English and
comparative literature at UCLA. He has
published commentaries on the Middle East,
which have appeared in The Guardian, The
Chicago Tribune, the San Francisco Chronicle,
and An-Nahar. Not since Edward Saïd has
there been such an articulate Arab voice on
the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Makdisi reveals
how the ‘peace process’ institutionalised
Palestinians’ loss of control over their lives.
AM Qattan Foundation
London, UK
Tel: +44 2073709990
www.mosaicrooms.org
AM Qattan Foundation
London, UK
Tel: +44 2073709990
www.mosaicrooms.org
LONDON
6–26 may
the arab british centre
‘a patch on my evil eye’
Highlights of this exhibition include two colour
photographic prints by Yazan Khalili, a mixed
media work by Ruba Asfahani, and a blackand-white photograph by Juan Carlos Farah.
Conceptually, A Patch On My Evil Eye offers
a nascent perspective on subjects that are
repeatedly misrepresented by the media
and misunderstood by the public. These are
presented through art forms ranging from
abstract interpretations of the Middle East’s
turbulent socio-political events to figurative
insight into the lives of Arabs in London, both
in ordinary and extraordinary situations.
LONDON
24 may
tate modern
‘the time that remains’
LONDON
1–30 june
the delfina foundation
‘new works by jawad al-malhi’
The Time That Remains is a semi-biographical
film by award-winning Palestinian-Israeli Elia
Suleiman. The film is inspired by his father’s
diaries (starting from when he was a resistance
fighter in 1948) and by his mother’s letters. The
film portrays the Palestinians who remained in
their land, labelled ‘Israeli-Arabs,’ living as a
minority in their own homeland. This screening
is part of a series of programmes produced
by The Delfina Foundation and the London/
Bethlehem-based Decolonising Architecture.
Jawad Al-Malhi explores the architecture
and geography of marginality through a new
series of photographic works and light boxes
featuring still and moving images. Al-Malhi has
had numerous solo and group exhibitions, and
has also exhibited at the first-ever Palestine
platform at the Venice Biennale in 2009,
curated by Salwa Mikdadi. Al-Malhi is an
artist-in-residence at The Delfina Foundation in
collaboration with the AM Qattan Foundation.
The Delfina Foundation
London, UK
Tel: +44 2072335344
www.delfinafoundation.com
Tate Modern
London, UK
Tel: +44 2078878888
www.tate.org.uk
LONDON
25 may
tate modern
panel discussion with decolonising architecture
LONDON
2 june
bonhams
‘modern & contemporary middle
eastern & south asian art sales’
Fusing traditional dabke, contemporary dance,
poetry, music and digital media, Between the
Fleeting Words, directed by Ahmed Masoud
is a tribute to the late great Palestinian poet
Mahmoud Darwish, using his words to tell the
story of Palestine through the experiences
of its people. The show also commemorates
the 62nd anniversary of the Nakba.
Bethlehem-based Decolonising Architecture
members Sandi Hilal, Alessandro Petti and
Eyal Weizman present ideas that inform their
work in conversation with artists Lorenzo
Pezzani, Abdoumaliq Simone, urbanist
and Professor of Sociology at Goldsmiths
College and film curator Rasha Salti. The
work of Decolonising Architecture has
been exhibited internationally, including
recent exhibitions at Palais des Beaux Arts,
Bruxelles (BOZAR, 2009) and the Rotterdam
International Biennale of Architecture (2009).
Bonhams’ London sale of Modern &
Contemporary Middle Eastern & South Asian
Art will include works from a number of artists’
first solo exhibitions, including Iraqi Dia Azzawi
and Issam El-Said. An early Impressionist
style painting by the pioneering Egyptian artist
Mahmoud Said will accompany pieces by his
countrymen Mohammed Naghi and Saleh
Al-Jumai. Also offered are works by important
South Asian artists Zainul Abedin, Abdur
Rahman Chughtai and Francis Newton Souza.
This auction will preview on 28 May and 1 June.
Al-Zaytouna Theatre Group
London, UK
Tel: +44 7941332976
www.alzaytouna.org
Tate Modern
London, UK
Tel: +44 2078878888
www.tate.org.uk
Bonhams
London, UK
Tel: +44 2073933900
www.bonhams.com
LONDON
13–14 may
the greenwood theatre
‘between the fleeting words: a palestinian
dance production inspired by the
poetry of mahmoud darwish’
AUCT
ION!
The Arab British Centre
London, UK
Tel: +44 2078321310
www.arabbritishcentre.org.uk
london. until 8 may. selma feriani gallery.
‘zero sum game’. sama alshaibi.
LONDON
until 8 may
selma feriani gallery
‘zero sum game’
sama alshaibi
until 1 july
hyatt regency london
‘perspectives’
24 may
tate modern
‘the time that remains’
2 june
bonhams london
‘modern & contemporary middle
eastern & south asian art sales’
canvasguide 20
across the canvas
across the canvas
George Lewis has travelled around Arabia
revealing the many contrasting sides of the
peninsula. In 2009, he spent time in northern
Yemen, painting some of its remote cities,
high up in the Sarawat mountain range. In
the Arabian Gulf, his atmospheric paintings
illustrate both the modern and traditional facets
of the Middle East: for example, the Sheikh
Zayed Mosque, silhouetted against a hazy sky
and Bedouins, with oil refineries in the distance.
Seven artists from Dubai’s The Flying House
will exhibit for the first time outside of Dubai.
Curators Mohammed Kazem and Cristiana
de Marchi have selected 50 pieces, and the
artists have diverse approaches towards
the development of Modern art in the UAE.
Works include canvas, photography and
installations and reflect the contradictions
of life in consciousness and perception,
closely bound to the personal social and
cultural experiences of the artists.
Mathaf Gallery
London, UK
Tel: +44 2072350010
www.mathafgallery.com
AB Gallery
Luzern, Switzerland
Tel: +41 419820880
www.ab-gallery.com
LONDON
11 june–10 july
october gallery
rachid koraïchi
LUZERN
29 may–3 july
ab gallery
‘contemporary art from damascus’
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TORINO
until 4 july
fondazione 107
‘in defence/undefended’
Iranian artist Samira Hodaie is an artist-inresidence at the AB Gallery studio. This
exhibition, created during her two month stay,
allows visitors to examine the works produced
during her time in Europe, and witness changes
stemming from her surroundings. Inspiration
from Switzerland explores how Hodaie’s
works form a cultural bridge between her
Persian culture and the society of Luzern.
This exhibition explores the borderline, where
actions lose their certainty and a state of
suspension is established, facilitated by
the manipulation of details, leading to an
artificial reality. In Defence/Undefended is a
condition that all people live in, in so-called
‘civilised’ societies. Artists were selected
according to their works following five
themes and include Yael Bartana, Shoja
Azari and Shirin Neshat, among others.
AB Gallery
Luzern, Switzerland
Tel: +41 419820880
www.ab-gallery.com
Fondazione 107
Torino, Italy
Tel: +39 0114544474
www.fondazione107.it
SARAJEVO
1–6 june
olympic museum in sarajevo
‘networking’
VIENNA
17–21 may
raiffeisenhall zentralbank österreich ag
‘screens of realities’
sandra kheir sahyoun
The exhibition is based on Rachid Koraïchi’s
lifelong interest in Sufic thought, the wisdom
of the heart. Koraïchi’s sculptural explorations
extend across an impressive range of
different media, including ceramics, textiles,
various metals and painted work on silk
and paper or canvas. His work is influenced
by an abiding fascination with signs of all
kinds, both real and imaginary. Beginning
with Arabic calligraphic scripts, his work is
composed of symbols and ciphers from
a variety of languages and cultures.
Organised in collaboration with Samer
Kozal Gallery in Damascus, this is a group
exhibition with four artists who are showing
their works for the first time in Switzerland.
The young, ambitious artists, Ali Mouquawas,
Bassem Dahdouh, Nazir Ismail and Wadi
Agha, share a small glimpse of the current
development of the Contemporary art
scene in Syria. Artists from Syria have been
closely followed by the international market
in recent years and are already being
bought by various European collectors.
Organised by the Austro-Arab Chamber of
Commerce, Screens of Realities features
Lebanese artist Sandra Kheir Sahyoun.
Inaugurated by Dr Herbert Stepic, President
of Austro-Arab Chamber of Commerce
and CEO of Raiffeisen International and HE
Ishaya El-Khoury, Ambassador of Lebanon to
Austria, it touches on subjective reality. In her
paintings, Sahyoun focuses on how the eyes
and brain perceive events differently, and how
science and photography have tried to create
a definitive view of reality throughout time.
October Gallery
London, UK
Tel: +44 2072427367
www.octobergallery.co.uk
AB Gallery
Luzern, Switzerland
Tel: +41 419820880
www.ab-gallery.com
Lena Kelekian
Beirut, Lenanon
Tel: +961 3895035
lena@kelekianartgallery.com
State of Art Gallery
Beirut, Lebanon
Tel: +961 3092904
www.stateofartgallery.com
21 canvasguide
until 8 may
ab gallery
‘vis, roboris’
29 may–3 july
ab gallery
‘contemporary art from damascus’
until 4 july
fondazione 107
‘in defence/undefended’
ZURICH
11 june–3 july
ab projects
‘the books of red, black and gold’
baktash sarang
Unveiled in Lisa Ross’s photographs and video
works is the meditative power of landscape.
Personal prayers are expressed through
ephemeral materials made of branches,
ladders, cloth and amulets. The artist’s images
become a quiet act of defiant support for
the Uyghurs in Xinjiang whose lcutures is
limited by the Chinese government. Ross
has created works from her experiences
in the Taklamakan Desert, where she was
introduced to the Uyghur people, a Turkic
Muslim ethnic minority, and their devotional
pilgrimages to saints and Sufi mystics.
Young Iranian artist Baktash Sarang will be
exhibiting his artist book and drawings. His
works both in literature and in art evoke political
and social themes. This exhibition is the perfect
platform for such a young artist from the
Middle East to present his works in Europe.
Viewers can witness the effects of a new social
setting on an artist’s creativity and imagination.
The combination of two disparate cultures
lead to intriguing works by young artists.
Galerie Kashya Hildebrand
Zürich, Switzerland
Tel: +41 442100202
www.kashyahildebrand.org
Organised by the Olympia Fine Arts
Association, Networking is a two-part exhibition,
taking place concurrently in Sarajevo (1–4
June) and at the Municipal Palace in Banja
Luka (5–6 June). This exhibition features
artworks by the 2008 Beijing Olympics Fine
Arts gold medal-winning artists. The theme
revolves around artistic freedom and combines
pieces by renowned artists from 81 countries.
Participating artists include Paul Tilila, Hertha
Meistner, Marisa Cachioli, Renu Ayer, Dagmar
Wyskel, Tanya Antoshina and Lebanese
artist Lena Kelekian, among many more.
2–18 june
mathaf gallery
‘arabian odyssey’
george lewis
ZURICH
until 5 june
galerie kashya hildebrand
‘sacred rapture’
lisa ross
ZURICH
11 june–3 july
ab gallery
hakim ghazali
AB Projects
Zurich, Switzerland
Tel: +41 796980569
www.ab-gallery.com
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zurich. until 5 june. galerie kashya hildebrand. ‘sacred rapture’. lisa ross.
LUZERN
18 june–3 july
ab gallery
‘inspiration from switzerland’
samira hodaie
LUZERN
until 8 may
ab gallery
‘vis, roboris’
LONDON
2–18 june
mathaf gallery
‘arabian odyssey’
george lewis
Hakim Ghazali’s love of language and its
changes inspires him. He presents works on
canvas which have secured his reputation.
Monochrome boards containing symbols and
lettering create a mystical aura in his paintings.
At first glance, his pieces can appear too
simple but with a closer look, fascinating details
can be detected. Works from his new series
For the Love of Noon will also be on show.
AB Gallery
Zurich, Switzerland
Tel: +41 796980569
www.ab-gallery.com
17–21 may
raiffeisenhall zentralbank österreich ag
‘screens of realities’
sandra kheir sahyoun
11 june–3 july
ab projects
‘the books of red, black and gold’
baktash sarang
canvasguide 22
across the canvas
across the canvas
michigan. until 15 august. arab american national museum. ‘from mocha to latte’.
NORTH AMERICA
CALIFORNIA
21 may
fort mason centre
‘the solitary’
ILLINOIS
24–26 june
daley plaza
‘the 4th annual chicago arabesque festival’
As part of the San Francisco International Arts
Festival, the Syrian Al-Khareef Theatre Troupe
presents the award-winning play The Solitary;
a fascinating piece of theatre that is as simple
as it is profound. Situated in a single room it
is the story of a political prisoner in solitary
confinement and his relationship with his jailer –
the only person with whom he has any personal
contact. From this simple idea, Ramez Alaswad
and Nawar Bulbul weave a subtle and complex
story that mines the nature of power dynamics
and personal relationships, commenting on
the growing rifts in many Arab societies.
This vibrant festival, set in downtown the
heart of downtown Chicago, offers a dynamic
celebration and exploration of the multifaceted
and rich art, cuisine, culture, music and
dance of the Arab world. It is a non-religious,
non-political festival that will promote public
awareness, understanding and appreciation
of the rich cultural heritage of the Arab world.
Showcased products include a variety of
carpets, musical instruments, hookahs,
woodwork, textiles and much more.
San Francisco International Arts Festival
San Francisco, California, USA
Tel: +1415 3999554
www.sfiaf.org
ILLINOIS
until 29 august
the oriental institute, university of chicago
‘pioneers to the past: american archaeologists
in the middle east, 1919–1920’
CALIFORNIA
until 9 may
craft and folk art museum
‘bold abstractions:
textiles from central asia and iran’
For millennia, nomads have wandered across
the steppes and oases of Eurasia in search
of pasture for their herds and travelled along
the famed trading route, the Silk Road, which
stretched from China to the Mediterranean. This
exhibition presents mementos of this nomadic
culture in a dazzling display of mid-19th to mid20th-century traditional garments and domestic
accessories. A feast for the eyes, on show
are brilliantly hued Uzbek ikat-dyed robes and
exquisitely embroidered Turkmen mantles.
The exhibit follows Illinois native James Henry
Breasted’s daring travels through Egypt and
Mesopotamia in the unstable aftermath of
World War I. Breasted, a leading Egyptologist,
was the founder of the Oriental Institute at the
University of Chicago and this journey was
the Institute’s first project. The goals of his
expedition were to acquire artefacts for the new
Institute and to select sites for later excavation.
Craft and Folk Art Museum
Los Angeles, California, USA
Tel: +1323 9374230
www.cafam.org
The Oriental Institute
Chicago, Illinois, USA
Tel: +1773 7029514
www.oi.chicago.edu
Chicago Commission on Human Relations
Advisory Council on Arab Affairs
Illinois, Chicago, USA
Tel: +1312 7444111
www.chicagoarabheritage.org
MARYLAND
until 13 june
walters art museum
‘poetry and prayer: islamic manuscripts
from the walters art museum’
This exhibition showcases an impressive
selection comprising masterpieces of
illuminated and illustrated manuscripts
produced in Islamic lands. These irresistible
objects of art cover a range of textual genres:
devotional, scientific, historical, epic and poetic.
In the Islamic book, the primary vehicle for
literary and artistic expression, the power of
poetry, prayer and visual form collides. Poetry
and Prayer: Islamic Manuscripts from the
Walters Art Museum coincides with the initiative
to catalogue and make high-resolution digital
surrogates of all Islamic manuscripts and single
pages preserved at the Walters Art Museum.
and causes of death. The virtual autopsy
has also provided new insights into the
mummification technique. Mummified presents
visitors with the unique and unprecedented
chance to learn about the virtual autopsy
and Ancient Egyptian mummification,
alongside 20 objects from the era.
Walters Art Museum
Baltimore, Maryland, USA
Tel: +1410 5479000
www.thewalters.org
MASSACHUSETTS
until 16 may
museum of fine arts, boston
‘the secrets of tomb 10a: egypt 2000 bc’
In a 1915 excavation, a team of archaeologists
from the Harvard University-Boston Museum
of Fine Arts (MFA) expedition discovered the
entrance to a tomb at the picturesque site
of Deir El-Bersha in Egypt. Inside, the MFA
team found the largest burial assemblage
of the Middle Kingdom (2040–1640 BC)
ever discovered, filled with the spectacular
funerary equipment of a local governor by
the name of Djehutynakht and his wife. While
robbers had stolen the finest jewels from the
tomb, they had left everything else behind.
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Tel: +1617 2679300
www.mfa.org
MASSACHUSETTS
until 30 december
peabody museum of archaeology
and ethnology
‘storied walls: murals of the americas’
Throughout time and around the world,
people have adorned the walls of their homes,
palaces, tombs, temples, and government
buildings with painted scenes and designs.
From cave paintings to the Neolithic shrines
of Çatalhüyük, Turkey, or the ceilings of the
Sistine Chapel, to the impacting works of Diego
Rivera or graffiti art, artists have constantly
and creatively transformed blank architectural
canvases into amazing, engaging, evocative
works of art, through the application of
colour, pattern and figures. While murals
may of course serve as simple decoration
and nothing more, they are also often highly
symbolic, illustrating and making visible
a people’s religious, political and cultural
beliefs, as well as their histories and values.
Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology
Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
Tel: +1617 4961027
www.peabody.harvard.edu
MICHIGAN
until 15 august
arab american national museum
‘from mocha to latte:
coffee, the arab world and the $4 cup’
‘Coffee culture’ as we know it has come a very
long way from its humble origins in the Arab
world. Many myths surround the discovery of
this fascinating beverage, but it is coffee’s Arab
cultural roots that have led to continuing social
traditions, the global institution we know as the
coffeehouse and even some of the greatest
intellectual achievements in human history.
This exhibition explores the colourful story of
this humble beverage, the many stories and
effects of coffee on the history of the Arab
region and consequently, the rest of the world.
Arab American National Museum
Dearborn, Michigan, USA
Tel: +1313 5822266
www.arabamericanmuseum.org
massachusetts. until 16 may. museum of fine arts, boston. ‘the
secrets of tomb 10a’.
Walters Art Museum
Baltimore, Maryland, USA
Tel: +1410 5479000
www.thewalters.org
MARYLAND
until 8 november 2010
walters art museum
‘mummified’
until 9 may
craft and folk art museum
‘bold abstractions:
textiles from central asia and iran’
23 canvasguide
until 13 june
walters art museum
‘poetry and prayer: islamic manuscripts
from the walters art museum’
until 8 november 2010
walters art museum
‘mummified’
In the spring of 2008, the University of Maryland
and the Walters Art Museum performed an
insightful CT scan on a museum mummy to
conduct a ‘virtual autopsy’, discovering more
about the person’s age, possible illnesses
canvasguide 24
across the canvas
across the canvas
NEW YORK
until 6 september
the metropolitan museum of art
‘tutankhamun’s funeral’
Both of these artists delve into the aesthetics
of feminism and the psychology of the self.
Gazelle Samizay’s video and photography
are inspired by her Afghan heritage and
American upbringing. In this exhibition, she
presents video of work and photographs
that explore cultural expectations of
Afghan American women. Through
installations and drawings, Sa’adia Rehman
explores her personal history with pieces
influenced by her Pakistani community.
This exhibition explores the materials and rituals
associated with the burial of the renowned
pharaoh. The presentation includes some
sixty objects, primarily from the Metropolitan’s
own collection including lids, bowls, linen
sheets, jars and bandages that were used
at pharaoh’s mummification and the rites
associated with his burial. Featured objects
also consist of a sculpted head of the youthful
Tutankhamun and several facsimile paintings
depicting funerary rituals. Archival photographs
from the early 20th-century by Harry Burton,
the Museum’s expedition photographer,
provide an evocative background.
The Guild Art Gallery
New York, New York, USA
Tel: +1212 2292110
www.theguildny.com
NEW YORK
until 19 june
lehmann maupin
‘light darkness’
shirazeh houshiary
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
New York, New York, USA
Tel: +1212 5357710
www.metmuseum.org
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In Light Darkness, Shirazeh Houshiary presents
paintings, drawings, sculpture and video
animation. Each of the works metamorphoses
constantly, revealing the true nature of a
world which is not permanent. Fascinated
by repetition dissolving into unfamiliarity, she
constructs her paintings from repeated words,
kinetic, luminous surfaces. “These paintings are
very contemplative... here synchronicity is the
point of connection between the inner and outer
event,” Houshiary says.
Lehmann Maupin
New York, New York, USA
Tel: +1212 2552923
www.lehmannmaupin.com
until 15 may
the guild
gazelle samizay and sa’adia rehman
25 canvasguide
NEW YORK
until 2 october 2011
brooklyn museum of art
‘body parts’
NEW YORK
4–27 may
leila taghinia-milani heller gallery
‘icons’
shoja azari
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Canv ue of
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TEXAS
16 may–8 august
the museum of fine arts, houston
‘light of the sufis: the mystical arts of islam’
TEXAS
4–29 may
the lillian bradshaw gallery
‘analogical context’
awadh baryoum
This exhibition features new works by Iranian
artist Shoja Azari. Icons includes works, political
in context. His latest project explores the role
of women in Islamic society, a videographic
demonstration of female empowerment,
marked by the more active role women are
taking in forging Iran’s future. The exhibition
also includes the largest scale version of his
Coffee House series, which uses traditional
Persian coffee house paintings as inspiration.
Yemeni Awadh Baryoum explores ‘visual
analogy’ in his evocative drawings and
paintings. “I am interested in examining how
things are related – exploring the tensile linkage
between the known and the unknown; the
visible and the invisible; the similar and the
dissimilar. Probing into visual analogy through
drawing and painting, is my inductive attempt
to know and to discover,” explains the artist.
This exhibition include 35 recent paintings.
Leila Taghinia-Milani Heller Gallery
New York, New York, USA
Tel: +1212 2497695
www.ltmhgallery.com
Awadh Baryoum
Dallas, Texas, USA
Tel: +1972 2016027
baryoum@gmail.com
AUCT
NEW YORK
ION!
11 may
bonhams
‘auction of modern and contemporary art’
The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
Houston, Texas, USA
Tel: +1713 6397818
www.mfah.org
TEXAS
13–30 may
station museum of contemporary art
‘suha shoman: bayyaratina and
stop for god’s sake’
Exhi
featu bition
this i red in
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Canv ue of
as
WASHINGTON DC
until 16 may
american university museum
‘convergence: new art from lebanon’
Body Parts features 35 objects that represent
individual body parts in Ancient Egyptian
art, depicting each part of the human
body and through this, respecting the
significance of every detail. When viewed
individually, these sculptures and fragments
reveal ancient notions of the body, as
well as details of workmanship, frequently
unnoticed in more complete sculptures.
The Bonhams Auction of Modern and
Contemporary Art in New York features a
section dedicated to Iranian art. Twenty works
by Iranian painters and sculptors will be offered
alongside pieces by Western heavyweights
such as Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Jean-Michel
Basquiat, Keith Haring and Damien Hirst.
Works by Parviz Tanavoli will be offered
alongside other superstars of the Contemporary
art scene such as Farhad Moshiri, Afshin
Pirhashemi and Reza Derakshani. The
sale will be simulcast in Los Angeles.
Suha Shoman is the founder of Darat AlFunun in Amman and a member of the
board of trustees of the Khalid Shoman
Foundation in Jordan. Like many artists,
her work is inspired by her homeland.
Through her videos and images, Shoman
addresses her inability to return to Palestine
and deals with issues concerning the Israeli
occupation. She uses documentary-style
footage covering conflict, combined with
a thought-provoking audio background.
Brooklyn Museum of Art
New York, New York, USA
Tel: +1718 6385000
www.brooklynmuseum.org
Bonhams
New York, New York, USA
Tel: +1212 6449001
www.bonhams.com
Station Museum of Contemporary Art
Houston, Texas, USA
Tel: +1713 5296900
www.stationmuseum.ae
until 6 september
the metropolitan museum of art
‘tutankhamun’s funeral’
4–29 may
the lillian bradshaw gallery
‘analogical context’
awadh baryoum
16 may–8 august
the museum of fine arts, houston
‘light of the sufis: the mystical arts of islam’
Light of the Sufis: The Mystical Arts of Islam
is devoted to Sufism, a historic branch of
Islam whose followers seek mystical union
with God. The presentation focuses on some
of the most important Sufi ideas that found
expression through the arts of the Islamic world,
beginning with light, which symbolises both
God and enlightenment. The show includes
furnishings; illustrated and laser-etched
manuscripts of Sufi poetry; and contemporary
works inspired by Sufi principles. Participating
artists include Mehmet Gunyeli, Parviz
Tanavoli, Sevan Bicakçi and Farhad Moshiri.
WASHINGTON DC
14 may–25 june
the jerusalem fund gallery
‘born among mirrors, lebanon 50 years after’
najib joe and elias hakim
These photographs of Lebanon are taken 50
years apart by Najib Joe Hakim and his father,
Elias Hakim. The latter’s black and white photos
document the young Hakim family’s emigration
from Lebanon to the USA in 1956 while the
former’s colour images explore the country
upon his return in 2006, barely three months
after the latest war with Israel destroyed much
of the country and 30 years since his last visit.
In that time, Lebanon had suffered a long civil
war, several Israeli invasions, Syrian and Israeli
occupation, rebuilding and re-destroying.
These photographs are not just images of a
homecoming, but a heartfelt exploration of
a people and a place, determined to exist.
The Jerusalem Fund
Washington, DC, USA
Tel: +1202 3381958
www.thejerusalemfund.org/gallery
The first of its kind on American soil.
Convergence: New Art from Lebanon includes
nearly 50 paintings, sculptures, mixed
media, installations, photographs, digital
animations, films and architectural projects
by 29 artists (including Ayman Baalbaki,
Chaouki Chamoun, Nadim Karam and Katya
Trabulsy). It presents how contemporary issues
of Lebanese society have found expression.
new york. until 2 october 2011. brooklyn museum of art. ‘body parts’.
NEW YORK
until 15 may
the guild
gazelle samizay and sa’adia rehman
Association for the Promotion and
Exhibition of the Arts in Lebanon
Beirut, Lebanon
Tel: +961 1200000
www.apeal-lb.org
until 16 may
american university museum
‘convergence: new art from lebanon’
14 may–25 june
the jerusalem fund gallery
‘born among mirrors, lebanon 50 years after’
najib joe and elias hakim
canvasguide 26
across the canvas
across the canvas
KUALA LUMPUR
until 10 june
islamic arts museum malaysia
‘behind the scenes: conservation in focus
at the islamic arts museum malaysia’
ILLINOIS
oriental institute museum
9 may
‘iran: seven faces of a civilisation’
film
This documentary uses the latest
technology to showcase the celebrated
art and archaeology of Iran over 7000
years. A cinematic adventure that features
spectacular graphic reconstructions
superimposed on images of actual
architectural remains, the film brilliantly
recaptures the ancient treasures of
Iran in ways never before possible.
12 may
‘pioneers to the past: american
archaeologists in the middle east,
1919–1920’
gallery talk
Join Emily Teeter, Special Exhibits
Coordinator, to tour and discuss the Pioneers
to the Past special exhibit, with special
emphasis on James Henry Breasted’s threemonth stay in Egypt. See how the political
and social contacts he made, and the
financial resources he had acquired, enabled
Breasted to obtain objects that became
key pieces in the Egyptian collections.
27 canvasguide
16 may
‘passport to jazz with eric schneider’s
hot dixieland quartet’
concert
Eric Schneider’s Hot Dixieland Quartet
comes to the Oriental Institute to perform in
conjunction with the special exhibit Pioneers
to the Past: American Archaeologists in the
Middle East, 1919–1920. Born and raised
on Chicago’s Southside, Schneider has
performed with the who’s who of jazz,
including Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughn.
23 may
‘a legend in the taurus mountains’
film
Scholars had given up all hope of solving
the mystery of Hittite hieroglyphs until the
discovery of an ancient castle in Turkey’s
Taurus Mountains helped them decipher
this fascinating pictorial script. See how the
site of the castle has now become the first
open-air museum of its kind in Turkey.
3 june
‘dine like an egyptian: lecture/
gallery tour and reception’
cuisine event
Participants will join Emily Teeter and Judith
Dunbar-Hines, Director of Culinary Arts and
Events and the World Kitchen programme of
Chicago’s Department of Cultural Affairs,
for a richly illustrated slide lecture and
private tour of the Egyptian Gallery based
entirely on the culinary clues hidden there.
5 june
‘dine like an egyptian’
cooking class
What were the Ancient Egyptians eating
and how has that influenced our menus
today? Emily Teeter will discuss what was
being grown and eaten. Then join Judith
Dunbar-Hines and the World Kitchen staff
to cook up a meal using those ingredients
in both ancient and modern ways.
6 & 13 june
‘egypt’s golden empire, parts I & II’
film
This is a two-part PBS series that explores
ancient Egypt during its greatest age
– the New Kingdom. Discover an era
when art, learning, and technology were
propelled to new heights and Ancient
Egypt became the centre of one of
the first great empires in history.
The Oriental Institute
Chicago, Illinois, USA
Tel: +1773 7029514
http://oi.chicago.edu
The work of the museum’s Conservation
Centre receives little exposure but represents
a constant battle to preserve the heritage
of the Islamic world. In Southeast Asia
conservation is a ceaseless struggle against
the ravages of time and climate. This exhibition
features 30 artefacts. There are displays
of the different materials with which they
work, showing everything from bookbinding
techniques to making pottery. For the
technically inclined, there are gadgets galore.
singapore city. until 27 june. asian civilisations museum. ‘treasury of the world’.
illinois. until 29 august. the oriental institute. ‘pioneers to the past’.
REST OF THE WORLD
Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Tel: +60 322742020
www.iamm.org.my
Featu
SINGAPORE CITY
re
Canv d in
until 27 june
as
asian civilisations museum
‘treasury of the world:
jewelled arts of india in the age of the mughals’
HONK KONG
27–30 may
hong kong convention
and exhibition centre
‘art hk 2010’
ar
fairt
This event highlights Modern and
Contemporary artworks from Asia and the
rest of the world. Over 100 galleries will be
participating from 24 countries. Visitors can
expect tours, workshops, talks and satellite
27–30 may
hong kong convention and exhibition
centre
‘art hk 2010’
events. Last year, Art HK welcomed 28,000
visitors and over 4000 VIPs. It is a platform
for networking for collectors, curators, artists
and galleries. Participating galleries include
Ayyam Gallery, Contrasts Gallery, Gagosian
Gallery, Galerist and Green Cardamom.
Art HK 2010
Hong Kong, China
Tel: +852 29188793
www.hongkongartfair.com
The Al-Sabah Collection’s Treasury of the
World, a dazzling array of 402 exquisite jewelled
works of art from Mughal India, after touring the
world, has made its Asian debut at the Asian
Civilisations Museum in Singapore after stops
in Moscow and St Petersburg. The Mughal
rulers were renowned for their lavish lifestyle,
love of beauty and vast collection of precious
objects, described by English Ambassador
Thomas Roe as “the treasury of the world.”
Asian Civilisations Museum
Singapore City, Singapore
Tel: +65 63322982
www.acm.org.sg
until 10 june
islamic arts museum malaysia
‘behind the scenes: conservation in focus
at the islamic arts museum malaysia’
canvasguide 28