In Arabic, the work that gives its name to the title of Afra Al Dhaheri’s first institutional show—Restless Circle, open until December 14 at Sharjah Art Foundation—is a poetic concept. Dā’ira hā’ira is a rhyming expression: “dā’ira” means circle, while “hā’ira” suggests uncertainty or, metaphorically, spinning in circles.
Read MoreDubai’s Efie Gallery, which since its launch in 2021 has established itself as a vital platform for artists of African origin, will inaugurate its new space this April with a monumental solo exhibition by the internationally celebrated Cuban artist María Magdalena Campos-Pons. Running from April 11 to May 21, the exhibition not only presents Campos-Pons’ work to the region in a dedicated solo show but also underscores Efie’s commitment to expanding the reach of artists from Africa and its diaspora.
Read MoreIn her opening address at Sharjah Biennial 16, wearing a Palestinian keffiyeh and speaking with indisputable sincerity, Sheikha Hoor Al Qasimi spoke of the ever-greater need for solidarity. It is more than two decades since she took the helm of what is now the oldest biennial in the region, and which attracts a growing throng of international visitors. Throughout, Sheikha Hoor has remained consistent in her support of marginalised voices, a champion of diverse cultures and artistic integrity.
Read MoreAcross six painted panels of tent fabric, which Hashel Al Lamki has fashioned as canvas, a complex narrative unfolds. Watery textures in shimmering colours rise from the heart of the nine-metre polyptych with a vivid intensity of light and a poetic, ethereal quality. On one side, a bird of prey soars overhead and pink flamingos walk beneath an enlarged sun, and on the other Cupid aims his arrow at the fluorescent heavens. This is nature, but not as we know it.
Read MoreRooted in personal history and collective memory, Hazem Harb’s practice explores how exile leaves its mark on architectural form and cultural identity. Born in Gaza and based in Dubai, Harb’s visual language frequently references architectural ruins and archival imagery that evoke the fragility of built environments and the precariousness of home. At once intimate and expansive, his collages, sculptures, and installations explore the physical and symbolic structures shaped by war and exile presenting them not merely as remnants of destruction, but as foundations for belonging and reconstruction.
Read MoreIn the early 1960s, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan the Founding Father of the United Arab Emirates, invited a team of Danish archaeologists to excavate the Hili site in Al Ain. These excavations were critical to Al Ain, as a result, eleven sites were listed in UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 2011. Having grown up in the area, he was deeply familiar with its terrain, and he naturally sensed its historical importance. These excavations revealed evidence of the existence of agricultural oases in the UAE, dating back more than 3,000 years, in addition to a group of artefacts dating back to the Bronze and Iron Ages. Archaeological research in the country has revealed valuable evidence of the existence of life more than 300 thousand years ago. Archaeological research and excavations will remain a priority in the United Arab Emirates; the efforts are ongoing and will continue well into the future.
Read MoreFound in the heart of Abu Dhabi’s Mina Zayed district, Madar_39 [M_39] has established itself as a key part of the MiZa neighbourhood and a growing hub for cultural and creative activity. The space, described as a “thriving ecosystem of creative and cultural entrepreneurs”, offers a supporting and structured environment for connection and enterprise with a dedication to elevating the growth of the creative sector.
Read MoreMemory, often shaped by nostalgia, trauma, and loss, can distort or idealize the past, while truth, bound by its quest for factuality, may resist the emotional weight of recollection. In the liminal space where personal narratives and collective histories converge and diverge, artists often explore the blurred lines between truth and memory. This piece explores how four artists from the Dubai Collection portray human existence through the lens of social norms, intangible experiences and history within the context of individual and collective memories.
Read MoreReem El Roubi and her husband, Amir Daoud Abdellatif, see themselves as custodians of art and cultural heritage. Their passion for collecting is driven by a deep appreciation for artistic expression and a commitment to preserving and amplifying voices from the regions they hold dear. Originally from Sudan, their journey as collectors began when they moved from London to Dubai in 2013, shaping a collection that weaves together Sudanese, African, and Middle Eastern art - connecting historical narratives with contemporary perspectives.
Read MoreWith over 30 years of global experience in marketing and investment, Elie Khouri is CEO of Vivium Holding, a progressive single-family office specializing in alternative investing. He is also the Chairman of Omnicom Media Group (MENA), the media service division of leading global marketing communications company Omnicom Group.
Elie is a major Dubai-based art collector, who over the past several years, has brought together a group of emerging and established artists representing diverse international perspectives. An ardent supporter of the regional and global art and design communities, he is also an active patron, member of the Tate Middle East and North Africa Acquisitions Committee (MENAAC) and MoMA’s Media and Performance Committee, as well as supporter of numerous art publishing projects.
Read MoreAdrian Pepe prompts reflections on our shared materiality and mortality with his exhibition A Shroud is a Cloth at NIKA Project Space, Dubai.
Read MoreJake Andrew’s work is a fusion of digital, physical and audio which he describes as a contemporary view of abstraction and a presentation of what painting can be in the future.
Read MoreVietnamese artist Trần Lương’s survey exhibition Tầm Tã—Soaked in the Long Rain at Dubai’s Jameel Arts Centre delves into personal and political histories.
Read MoreThe practices of Fateh Moudarres and Safwan Dahoul are almost half a century apart. Whilst the artists share obvious connections to the Syrian cultural and social landscape, their works resonate with universal themes of existentialism, trauma, and national identity.
Read MoreDespite disparate geographical, historical, and cultural backgrounds, a common thread is found in our relation to the earth. It is this concept that Shamma Al Mheiri explored for her curation of Solace in Soil, a duo exhibition running at Efie Gallery in Dubai until October 6. Al Mheiri, an Emirati curator and art historian, brought together the sculptural works of Kenyan Maggie Otieno and Sharjah’s Dr. Mohamed Yousif.
Read MorePhotographer Ishaq Madan’s 2021 image of Bahraini skateboarders went viral when it was picked up by New York’s MoMA. Today, his practice is more cinematic.
With his ghutra afloat, agal suspended in midair, and arms outstretched like wings, the skater in Shabab Al Mustaqbel became an overnight viral sensation when his image was shown in New York City subway stations in 2022. It was not his identity that captured people’s imagination but what he represented. In a single frame, Bahraini photographer Ishaq Madan had captured the raw and sometimes rebellious energy of youth in an often-misunderstood culture.
Read MoreEmily Karaka's political landscapes stand out in 'Ka Awatea, A New Dawn' at Sharjah Art Foundation.
The New Zealand artist of Maori descent advocates for social justice and equity through her expressionist canvases.
Read MoreThis autumn, Sharjah Art Museum presents key pieces from the permanent collection of the Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts.
The horseshoe-shaped, dynamic brushstrokes of I Am You by Jordanian painter and art historian Wijdan are at once abstract and spiritual. The 2008 work is an ode to the Sufi interpretation of Islam and pays tribute to the beauty of Arabic calligraphy as an art form.
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