Highlights of Quoz Arts Fest

Quoz Arts Fest 2016. Image courtesy of Alserkal Avenue.

Now in its sixth edition, Quoz Arts Fest is an annual celebration of arts and culture in the industrial neighbourhood of Al Quoz and centred around Alserkal Avenue. This year’s edition celebrates performance and movement in all its forms.

There will be musicians having impromptu jam sessions, performing their original compositions throughout the weekend as well as dance performances from the Sima Dance Company. Galleries will also be hosting guided tours and there will be artistic performances too. The Art Shop is returning with small and original prints by some of the region’s most recognisable names. Here, I have outlined some of my highlights.

Friday January 26

11am-12pm: (Gallery Isabelle Van Den Eynde)
Get an in-depth look at the group exhibition (Un)conscious: A series of small serendipities at Gallery Isabelle Van Den Eynde with a guided tour.

2pm-4pm: (A4 Space and Lawrie Shabibi) A screening of Serge Attukwei Clottey’s The Displaced, followed by a talk with the artist. Clottey is a Ghanaian artist and his work is on show at Lawrie Shabibi. A performance will follow the talk.

6pm: (The Yard) Contemporary ballet performance by Skirmish by Beirut. Performed to Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No. 3.

8pm: (The Yard): Watch Ghost Hunting. A film screening by Reel Palestine and Cinema Akil. In this documentary, former inmates re-enact their traumatic experiences in an effort to heal.

A child partakes in a workshop during Quoz Fest 2017. Image courtesy of Alserkal Avenue

Saturday January 27

10am-8pm: (Warehouse 61) Learn printmaking techniques and ink your unique prints. Ages 10+. Register: shaghafgroup@gmail.com

11am: (Nadi Al Quoz) A Curated Trail: Imaginary Homelands in a Globalised Art World. Mahnaz Fancy takes us on a one-hour tour of the galleries to look at the impact of globalisation on art.

12pm-3pm: (The Courtyard) Leather and craftsmanship talk and discussion with Made By Native. Drop by to talk about leather-making techniques and tools with their lead craftsman.

3pm: (A4 Space, Cinema Room) Artist talk by Athier. Iraqi-British painter Athier delves into the inspiration behind his practice and his latest exhibition at DIFC in Ayyam Gallery.

1pm-9pm (eL Seed Studio) The artist is releasing his latest lithograph, My Wish. Explore his studio, meet the artist, and get a signed copy of his book, Lost Walls.

7.30pm (The Flipside) Past, present & future of vinyl culture in the UAE. A discussion on vinyl culture and how record shops can act as hubs for the music community.

Quoz Arts Fest takes place on Friday January 26 and Saturday January 27 from 10am-10pm. For more info visit Alserkal Avenue's website