Sculptor, ceramicist, painter, and spiritualist, Rachid Koraïchi has had a five-decade, internationally recognised career. Algerian by birth, raised in Tunisia, and now based between Tunisia and Paris, his work has appeared in major collections and biennials around the world. Yet this season marks a significant first: a major solo exhibition at Sharjah Art Foundation.

The 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.

Sharjah has long straddled the divide between ancient and contemporary. The emirate has led the charge in embracing its deep-rooted history while at the same time hosting a plethora of heavyweight cultural events in art, literature, music, and more. Tanweer Festival, which makes its much-anticipated debut this November, continues this rich tradition. The festival is a showcase of world music, art, and culinary journeys aimed at fostering cultural understanding and global harmony.

Visiting Sharjah Mosque in the height of summer is a spiritual experience and a journey of discovery.

The burning heat of the Gulf summer makes the light play tricks. Even as the sun descends towards the horizon, as scorching day promises to make way for the respite of evening, shimmering waves of heat-refracted light hang in the air. This atmospheric phenomenon makes the approach to Sharjah Mosque one late afternoon in June feel like the building is a mirage rising from the searing sands.

Lunging, jumping, and vaulting, dance masters demonstrate capoeira, inviting onlookers in Sharjah’s Arts Square to join them. Few will have guessed that the 60-something man in loose white trousers and a light pink T-shirt, part of the crowd, was the artist Hassan Hajjaj. He organised the workshop as part of Sharjah Biennial 15 in February as a way to engage the public with his documentary Gnawa Capoeira Brothahood (2023). A deeply personal project that took two decades to come to fruition, it traces the historical similarities between Gnawa, a Moroccan performance art rooted in Sufi music, and the Afro-Brazilian martial art of capoeira.

This story is tinged with sadness as the artist Ismail Khayat is in a coma since having an accident in 2019. Sharjah Art Museum will celebrate his practice with a landmark show.

How Manal Ataya, the director of Sharjah Museums Authority, steered her mammoth team of museum staff and institutions through 2020 to emerge stronger and set an example for the digital future

Chants Mystique was a painting the artist never thought she would see again. An avid collector from Sharjah tracked it down and now it is part of Barjeel Art Foundation’s permanent collection.

Art, art, art. Alserkal Avenue is back with nine new exhibition openings and late night entry. All, of course, at an appropriate and sanitised distance.

After almost six months of closure, Warehouse 421 in Abu Dhabi has finally opened its doors to the public.

Don’t miss these live creative and artistic events happening over the next few days.

As part of region-wide efforts to support the creative sector, Warehouse 421 has launched a revival fund to help creative people to survive the Covid-19 pandemic.

Of all the galleries covering South Asian art, Aicon are doing a fantastic job of bringing art to us in fresh and contemporary ways. They have released online videos and virtual exhibitions, that are well worth checking out.

More virtual fodder to feed our cultural brains. Here is a date for your diary - April 22 for an NYUAD Art Gallery roundtable discussion.

Sacred Spring is a celebration of the new season of creativity that will not be stemmed no matter what the current global situation. These stone sculptures come from some of Zimbabwe’s leading sculptors.

The Culture Summit Abu Dhabi 2020 was one of the many casualties of the current global health crisis. However, they will live stream a session related to isolation and culture in the age of Covid-19 on April 9. Don’t forget to tune in.

With quaratine and closures continuing, the new way to view art is online. Leila Heller is the latest to upload their collection into viewing rooms.

Looking for something to do whilst housebound? Don’t forget to check out alserkal.online for some virtual art viewing.