Art Dubai

FORM

LONDON
| ART + DESIGN
MODERN + CONTEMPORARY

28 FEB - 2 MAR 2008
OLYMPIA
Publisher & Editor-in-Chief
Ahmed R. Abou Naja

Creative Director
Marwa R. Abou Naja

Design Editor & Photographer
Al Zahraa Sulaiman

Editorial Assistant
Afreen Ahmad

Guest Editor
Laura Trelford

Marketing Executive
Mark Hartnett

Art Consultant - UAE
Rawan Muwahid

Editorial Consultant – Doha
Mohammad Nabil Suleiman

Editorial Consultant – USA
Maher Sami

quot;Collidonthusquot; resin, steel, brass. life-size.

Coverpage | Jitish Kallat
Published by
‘Collidonthus’ (2007) is a life-size recreation of an accident-hit car
with simulated bones as if it were the re-structured remains of some
prehistoric specie. Much of Kallat’s work responds to his bustling home
city of Mumbai.

The sculpture, somewhat grotesque, burlesque and arabesque in equal
measure is rendered as a victim; shattered in the crossfire of a sectarian
riot or the abandoned carcass of a discarded automobile in the fast-
changing, strife-ridden Indian streetscape.

Image courtesy of the artist and Albion Gallery, London.

Tickets: 0871 231 0820
www.form-london.com
LONDON’S ONLY MODERN + CONTEMPORARY ART + DESIGN EXHIBITION
See, buy and celebrate 20th and 21st Century Art, Design, Photography and Sculpture

Soura Magazine | Special Edition
2 January - March | 2008 3

CONTENTS
Introductory
08
statements
28
Participating
Galleries

08
Art Projects

Educational 28
Initiatives

International
08
Curators in
Dubai

28
Other local
exhibitions


Art Dubai Monday 18:00 - midnight START Charity Fundraiser,

Timetable
takes 17 March 2008 at the DIFC
place every March at
Tuesday 19:00 – 22:00 Patrons Preview
the Madinat Arena. As 18 March 2008
the first contemporary art Wednesday 10:30 - 18:30 Global Art Forum
fair in Dubai, the Fair has 19 March 2008 14:00 – 17:00
17:00 - 22:00 Vernissage Preview
become a cornerstone
for the rapidly growing Thursday 10:30 - 19:30 Global Art Forum
20 March 2008 12:00 - 20:00 Public Day
art community of the
Friday 10:30 - 18:30 Global Art Forum
Middle East.
21 March 2 2008 12:00 - 20:00 Public Day
(Iranian New Year)
The 2008 fair will host Saturday 11:00 – 17:00 Public Day
nearly seventy galleries 22 March 2008
from the Middle East,
Asia, Europe, North and
South America, North
Africa and Australia.

Dates: 19th - 22nd
March 2007
Venue: Madinat
Jumeriah, Dubai


Art has boundless potential – it can create a world that hardly
exists and then make you believe in it. It can capture and keep
different cultures within and provide historical insights into a
civilization past.

Today, Soura joins hands with ‘Art Dubai’, to ring in a festival of art
and commemorate this fantastic platform that will bring together
EMIRATES PALACE
artists from all over the world. We, at Soura, feel honored to publish
the official magazine for ‘Art Dubai’ and let you delve into all the

NOVEMBER 17 - 20, 2008
wonderful pieces of the art world.

www.artparis-abudhabi.com
Soura has always followed photography and art closely. In fact
in our latest issue, our selected artists seek to merge the two. But
then, we have believed all along that photography is, indeed, a
form of art.

We do not seek fame or fortune; we only hope to be able to bring
forth art in entirety; so that we, along with ‘Art Dubai’, are able to
highlight the many worlds, the many cultures and the many faces
of art, converging in our very own city of Dubai.

Coming to you in a year which marks the second anniversary of
the ascension of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al
Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler
of Dubai, we thus, pay tribute to the visions of Sheikh Maktoum - his
visions of creating a modern and magnificent Dubai.

Amidst this atmosphere of celebrations, ‘Art Dubai’ and Soura seek
to create an amalgamation of international talent and local skill
and vow to leave you with a brilliant perspective of both.

Ahmed Abou Naja
Publisher of Soura Magazine


I am delighted that Soura are a media partner for Art Dubai,
they are a key new arts publication for the region and a
very important vehicle for the growing number of talented
photographers based here. We look forward to welcoming
them to the fair and thank them for working with us on presenting
this supplement.

Anyone who visited Art Basel Miami this December will
understand the concept of chronic art fatigue. Art Dubai seeks
to offer both residents and visitors to the city this spring a taster of
such an experience. The art scene in Dubai has developed at an
expediential rate over the past year with new artists and curators
coming to town and is proving it can become a seriously
considered global art city.

The fair itself will be substantially bigger, with galleries from across
the world, many returning and many experiencing Dubai for the
first time. There is a significant growth in Middle Eastern talent
represented by these galleries, and that will be supported by a
plethora of other art projects, videos and events. The Global Art
Forum will take place over three days for the second time with
a programme of talks and discussions tackling current pertinent
issues within the contemporary art world. The new Art Park will
entice visitors underground while ‘Desperately Seeking Paradise’
will retain people’s attention on the water terraces surrounding
Fort Island.

At a time when the international art world is looking to the
Middle East, Art Dubai gives the city of Dubai a platform to
demonstrate the wealth of local talent as well as welcoming
globally recognized artists, curators, critics and collectors.

We welcome you to a week of total art emersion!

Laura Trelford
Education & Project Manager, Art Dubai


John Martin
Fair Director

Art Dubai was the first international contemporary art fair in
the Middle East. It sets itself apart by its international diversity
whilst always seeking to maintain the highest curatorial and
commercial standards. Whilst we acknowledge the importance
of all forms of contemporary art, Art Dubai seeks out innovative
and experimental work rather than traditional art forms. As such
it follows the accepted practice and standards of most major
international contemporary art galleries, foundations, fairs and
public institutions working in the field of modern art.

Art Dubai’s selection committee work to ensure the quality,
independence and credibility of Art Dubai, and the fair seeks to
be relevant within the region, as well as internationally.

Art Dubai will seek ways to present contemporary art in an open
and accessible, primarily enjoyable and secondly instructional.

Most importantly, it has to be fun!

We look forward to welcoming you to Art Dubai 2008.

Art Dubai was founded by John Martin and Benedict Floyd
and is run by a team in two offices, London and Dubai.


In a city whose landscape is forever changing, there is a new and
welcome buzzword in Dubai: Art. It’s difficult to pinpoint the exact
moment in which this trend was unleashed, but for anybody familiar
with Dubai this development has been dramatic. We are now
fortunate to live in a city that not only offers beaches and luxury
hotels, but also is home to international auction houses, a wealth
of local art galleries, art magazines and, of course, a first class
contemporary art fair. The foundations necessary for a city to lay
claim to having a serious international art scene are being laid and
over the next few years we will see how the local corporate world
joins hands with this emerging local art scene.

Historically corporate institutions have played a big role in supporting
and becoming patrons of the arts: whether by building their own art
collections, setting up foundations or sponsoring the arts, corporations
are an essential player in promoting a thriving arts culture. Indeed we
have already seen this in Dubai with the DIFC supporting the Fair. My
role as the Managing Director of at Art Dubai has been to engage
with the local corporate community, both the local companies and
international firms, and to encourage them to get involved in the
promotion of Dubai’s art scene.

My discussions have resulted in the exchange of so many exciting
ideas that it seemed that the most obvious next step would be to
provide a platform to share these discussions with the public: and
so the conference on Art & Patronage in the Business Age was
born. Taking place on the 16-17 of March at the DIFC as part of the
Global Art Forum, this conference brings together top international
corporate collectors and patrons to talk about their experiences in
the art world. It will make fascinating listening for businesses in Dubai,
both for those who are already supporting the arts and those who
are just curious to see what being an art patron is all about. These
discussions aim to inspire, and it will be interesting to see over the next
few years which companies emerge as true supporters of the arts
and culture in Dubai.

Asmaa Al-Shabibi
Managing Director, Art Dubai


Introductory statements

The Honorary Patron of Art Dubai is His
Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al
Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister
of UAE, Ruler of Dubai. Visiting the art fair in
March 2007 with John Martin

through art. Art is an international
integral to our vision. We firmly believe
language that appeals equally to
that Dubai can become a truly global
diverse people.
centre for art – and that the DIFC can
play an integral role in that process.
Art Dubai is not just a display of art
Indeed. The DIFC art strategy is to
pieces that is held for a couple of
establish itself as both an international
days once a year. It is an on-going
and regional presence – collecting,
process that takes place throughout
displaying and promoting artists from
the year in an ever-expanding cycle.
this region and across the world.
For example, the planning of the next
event begins right after the current
We are expanding the DIFC District,
one is over. That includes a marketing
the area immediately surrounding our
and promotional campaign which
financial centre, to publicly display
aims to introduce the public to Art
works of art from both the DIFC’s
Dubai and what is new in it. What art
own collection and regional and
means and what is available in the
international galleries. We’ve been
market and who is new and which
busy – and will be busier still in the
work is in demand. It also highlights
months to come. While such change
trends and fashions increasing the
will not occur overnight, I am confident
visibility of both local and regional
that we will realise our ambition over
art. Works bought at Art Dubai or as
time. Indeed, we have already begun
The Islamic world has always a result of it benefit the buyers who
the process of reaching out and
appreciated art in all its forms and may have acquired works of art for
communicating the universal value of
in recent months there has been a pleasure or as an investment.
the experience of art.
resurgence of interest in contemporary
art, not only in Dubai, but across the During the inaugural Gulf Art Fair, we
The DIFC has a two-pronged
region. This, I believe, is due in part received 9,000 visitors over the three
approach in encouraging local
to the growing recognition of some days it ran. We are pleased that some
artists with their practice. The first is
excellent artists that we have among 1,500 of them came from overseas.
to identify promising talent and to
us as well as the awareness generated We had works from 41 galleries and
evaluate the work to see if it is world
amongst the art-loving public through collective sales during the event had
class. Once that is done, we bring that
visiting art galleries as well as the efforts stood at US $9-11 million, a significant
artist’s work to the public eye through
of the Dubai International Financial figure for a first-time event of its kind
exhibiting the work at the DIFC District
Centre through initiatives such as Art in the Arab World. It also raised US
as well as at the various art fairs and
Dubai and its own collection. $500,000 in support of START – a project
exhibitions. The DIFC also adds to its
that funds children’s art workshops
own collection, thus helping raise
Since the inception of the DIFC in late in underprivileged areas in the
the value of the works of local and
2004, we have had a clear desire to region. It had some 40 journalists from
regional artists.
promote the arts of the region in the abroad in addition to the 100 from
region and the world. As DIFC bridges the region. Our target is to surpass all
Art Dubai is very important to us.
the East and the West and serves as these achievements. Art Dubai 2008 is
It is an expression of the cultural
the gateway to the financial world already double the size with seventy
philosophy of the DIFC and as such
to people in forty-two countries, we international galleries confirming
is themed to promote Dubai and the
additionally aim to be the gateway participation. We are paying special
DIFC in all its aspects as a hub for art
for art. Art Dubai, a DIFC subsidiary, attention to the galleries and artists
– a meeting point of the Occident
has been very successful. The DIFC from the region, South and Central
and the Orient. As the DIFC brings
has a significant art collection of its Asia and the Far East to ensure that
together and promotes financial
own, and has long considered the this truly global event serves as an
union across the globe, Art Dubai
collection, display and promotion of important showcase for contemporary
and other art initiatives of DIFC aim
regional and contemporary art as art to the world.
to promote cultural understanding


Dr. Omar Bin Sulaiman, Governor
of DIFC and Chairman of Art Dubai
visits the DIFC Gulf Art Fair

18


Patricia Millns presented an art project at the first Art Dubai to tremendous
Representative from the Board of Patrons:
acclaim, and continues to be a pivotal figure in the growing art scene
Princess Alia Al-Senussi speaks about
stemming from Dubai. Laura Trelford asked her some questions:
her experiences in Dubai
LT Was it a success?
LT You have been living and working as
to find sophisticated collections and critics;
Furthermore, I had to consider what
for instance, I love the work of artists like
artists and works to introduce and what an artist in the Middle East for many years.
PM I think so. It brought some of the top
Mariko Mori, the Campanas, Mark Bradford
impact they would have on the public. I Why have you found yourself spending the
and David Adjaye—although much of
wanted to emphasize that contemporary galleries in the world here. It brought top
majority of your time in Dubai recently?
my taste is influenced by the contact I
art need not be intimidating and also artists that showed international projects . It
PM I have spent a lot of time here with
have with these remarkable individuals.
that even “difficult” pieces were open to allowed people who lived here to see some
People are interested in art in the Middle
interpretation, discussion and analysis for of the best galleries in the world right in their
Arab artists over the past twenty-five years
East but there must be significant acts of
anyone who attended the fair. It bodes own city. The Global Art Forum brought
and was an early member of the Emirates
patronage and collecting surrounding
well for the future that people expressed critical analysis and open discussion and this
Fine Art Society. Recently with the growth
this discourse.
such interest in the art at the fair. has been followed by the Thinking Cloud
of Dubai and the international interest in
Princess Alia Al Senussi with Yasmin Alireza
that you have formed. The international
this major hub, art has been thriving- it is a
Many of the galleries such as Albion
Artists that are particularly significant
After months of anxiety, hope and high gallery directors who came here brought a
natural progression. Art auctions, the DIFC
were successful with works from a wide
to contemporary art in the Middle East
expectations, one could never know what high buying group of people in that saw the
Gulf Art Fair (now known as Art Dubai) the
geographic range of artists such as
are, of course, the obvious choices of
the outcome would be but the inaugural local galleries and local artists. These were
growth of galleries, art forums, international
Shilpa Gupta, Kader Attia and Kristian
Kader Attia, Walid Raad/The Atlas Group,
DIFC Gulf Art Fair was inspirational. The good connections for the future besides
quality art magazines and national
Ryokan (however this was due by-
and Mona Hatoum among others, but,
entire region, not just the Gulf, feels the initial financial rewards. The international
collections being built has all brought a
and-large to non-local collectors) and
also, I believe a real effort needs to be
energized in terms of its commitment to press reports brought Dubai to the world art
wider range of art and new media to
some of their other bodies of work
made to expand the collecting base
contemporary art and architecture. I am markets attention.
Dubai. It is very exciting and stimulating to
will be shown as well as some new
to support non-Arab/Iranian artists and
a frequent visitor to Dubai, going about be a part of this. I am also involved in art
LT What do you hope it will achieve during
artists presented at the second fair. I
non-traditional techniques.
twice a year for the last eight years and I developmentand dubaiis the place.
am excited for the 2008 edition of Art
have never seen such a lively arts scene the next five years?
LT What did Art Dubai bring to the region?
Dubai and, of course, I am looking
Collecting in general must NOT be seen
among gallerists, collectors and institutions
PM Next years gallery list is even bigger
forward to all of the events surrounding
as solely a regional exercise. Of course,
as in the past year, which I almost wholly
PM A whole different way of looking
it--art fair veterans know sometimes
special attention must be paid to Arab,
attribute to the Gulf Art Fair. As a member and some great new galleries. The
the most fun to be had, and the most
Iranian and Turkish artists as well as to
of the Board of Patrons of the fair, standard is high. i believe it will only
and thinking about art in Dubai and for
information to be found, is at the
ancient art forms such as calligraphy, but
I have had the opportunity to watch this develop and grow. I believe it will the
Dubai looking at itself as an art market
parties. I am particularly excited for
artists and designers (and styles) from
evolution. Although the region is still in the international fair for the region and the
and being seen as an art market...
the return of the Al-Madad dinner and
around the world must be incorporated
early stages of private and institutional Middle East will be seen as a valid area for
an international art market. It was a
Canvas and Bidoun events, as well as,
into collections and museum shows--only
collecting, there is great potential. I say this art and art collectors come to and buy.
quantum leap for art for the region.
of course, the Albion opening night
in this manner will Dubai and the rest of the
not just as a board member, but also as a
party at Trilogy.
Middle East be taken seriously as an area
director of the Albion Gallery of London.

“Wall and Ghost Haifa”
Kader Attia
Albion Gallery



“ Contemporary art is proving to be one of the most
powerful and durable of international languages.
— Jan Dalley, Financial Times Arts Editor

“ This fair offers the chance for people to experience
global art practices first hand whilst providing much
needed support for the emerging regional arts scene
— Charles Asprey, Curator & Collector

“ Dubai has become the region’s art-trading hub.
The culmination of all this interest will make the DIFC
Gulf Art Fair one of the biggest contemporary art
events in the region.
— CNN Traveller

“ Everyone agrees that Dubai is
one of the most exciting places to
be right now. And Art Dubai is one
of the first great art initiatives. An art
fair, as we have seen in Miami, along
with several other key elements can
act as an important instigator in the
development of a cultural climate.
— Dana Farouki, Member of Executive
Committee, Art Dubai.



Selection Committee the contemporary – stimulating our work was a real surprise. A few months later we
putting together this new fair. The idea was were quite astonished when some Arab
Mario Cristiani,
Maurizio Rigillo
The seventy galleries have been to invite the galleries that can best help collectors came to San Gimignano
& Lorenzo Fiaschi
chosen from over four hundred to present and bring in Dubai what seems to visit the gallery, that is extremely rare
Galleria Continua,
San Gimignano
applications by a Selection interesting and pertinent in the Western and a sign of progression.
-Beijing
Committee who met in Continua, Art World and, conversely, to show what
Andrée Sfeir-Semler Director, Sfeir-
San Gimignano in Summer 2007. seems interesting and pertinent in that
Semler Gallery, Hamburg, Germany &
The committee is made up of world over to Europe and USA.
Beirut, Lebanon also a member of the
Gallery Directors who participated
selection committee comments:
in DIFC Gulf Art Fair (now known We wanted the galleries which support art
as Art Dubai) and span the globe. and artists in their country and abroad, with
a dynamic and open-minded approach. In terms of selection, we have chosen
The most exciting element of this
Lorenzo Fiaschi, Director of Continua in terms of quality the best from the
adventure is this new field of exchanges applications we got. I am personally very
hosted this most important of meetings:
and encounters that we have opened. happy that John did not make it too big.
The future of this fair is to develop not only The fair has to concentrate on our part
I was on the Cologne Art Fair
a new market, but also new avenues of of the world, this is the strength of the fair
Committee for four years, and the FIAC
collaboration and projects that bring the but has at the same time to maintain
Selection Committee for five years so
Occident and Orient closer together. top quality, so we did not open doors to
I was delighted to host the Selection
Galleria Continua has a particular interest everybody as it wouldn’t have the level
Committee for Art Dubai in San
in acting as a bridge for ideas, facilitating we wanted it to have. It is an important
Gimignano this summer. It was intended to
mutual understanding between different learning process for galleries; particularly
be a sociable occasion to bring different
cultures. Showing Western art in Dubai for those in the region who I hope will grow
personalities together in a tranquil small Main Entrance, Galleria Continua,
us is a first step to creating a cultural bridge. over the next few years and become San Gimignano, Kendell Geers,
town in the Tuscan countryside which
House of Spirits 2005
In my opinion, the first fair went very well, it the standard required for admission.
perfectly combined the ancient and

Akram Zaatari,
Studio Sherazade,
2006, Courtesy of
Sfeir-Semler Gallery,
Hamberg, Beirut’


Participating Galleries Kalfayan Galleries
Athens / Thessaloniki
100 Tonson Gallery Bangkok
Kamel Mennour Paris
Agial Art Gallery Beirut
Kashya Hildebrand Zurich
Aicon Gallery London / New York
Kukje Gallery Seoul
Aidan Gallery Moscow
Le Violon Bleu Tunis / London
Albareh Art Gallery Bahrain
Lio Malca New York
Albion London
MAM Mario Mauroner Vienna
Artspace Dubai
Max Lang New York
Atassi Gallery Damascus
October Gallery London
Baudoin Lebon Paris
OREDARIA Arti Contemporanee
B21 Dubai
Rome
Ben Brown Fine Arts London
Produzentengalerie Hamburg
Hamburg
Bolsa de Arte Porto Alegre
PYO Gallery Seoul
Bonni Benrubi New York
RHYS Gallery Boston
Cais Gallery Seoul
Rossi + Rossi London
Chemould Prescott Road Mumbai
Sakshi Gallery Mumbai
Christine König Vienna
Salomon Contemporary
Continua San Gimignano / Beijing
East Hampton
Contrasts Gallery Shanghai
SCAI The Bathhouse Tokyo
Diana Lowenstein Miami
Silk Road Gallery Tehran
Distrito Cu4tro Madrid
Sundaram Tagore New York
Filomena Soares Lisbon
SUN Gallery & Gallery SUN
Gabriele Senn Galerie Vienna contemporary Seoul
Galerie Chantal Crousel Paris The Third Line Dubai
19-22 March 2008
Galerie El Marsa Tunis TORCH GALLERY Amsterdam
Galerie Enriço Navarra Paris
Madinat Jumeirah
Townhouse Gallery Cairo
Galeria Enrique Guerrero Vacio 9 Madrid
Dubai
Mexico City
VONDERBANK Artgalleries Berlin
Galerie Forsblom Helsinki

www.artdubai.ae
Walsh Gallery Chicago
Galerie Krinzinger Vienna
Yvon Lambert Paris / New York
Galerie Michael Schultz
Berlin / Seoul / Beijing
Galerie Sfeir-Semler
Hamburg / Beirut
Galerie Tanit Munich
Galerie Thomas Munich
Galerie Volker Diehl Berlin
Galleria Mario Sequeira Braga
Galeria Millan São Paulo
Galleries Direct Sydney
Galerist Istanbul
Gallery Espace New Delhi
Giorgio Persano Turin
Green Art Gallery Dubai
Green Cardamom London
Grosvenor Vadehra
London / New Delhi Hrair Sarkissian, Untitled, 2007, lamda print, 100 x 150 cm,
Courtesy of Kalfayan Galleries, Athens-Thessaloniki
Horrach Moyà Mallorca

Participating Galleries

A TASTER OF NEW
GALLERIES AT ART
DUBAI 2008

Kalfayan Galleries
Athens – Thessaloniki, Greece
Hrair Sarkissian

Kukje Gallery
Seoul, South Korea
Yeondoo Jung

October Gallery
London
Kenji Yoshida Inochi
To Heiwa (Life and Peace)

Galleria Millan
Sao Paolo, Brasil
Anna Maria Maiolino

101 Tonson Gallery
Bangkok, Thailand
Chatchai Puipia


Gloria Petyarre, Bush Medicine Leaves,
acrylic on Belgiun linen.

Galleries Direct from New South Wales, Australia will
exhibit their world class collection of Australian and
contemporary aboriginal art at Art Dubai 2008.

One such artist is Naata Nungurrayi,
The gallery sources the most unique and
who is famous for her bold expressive
captivating Australian artworks from
art works with richly textured surfaces
across the vast landscape, including
and strong radiance attracting
contemporary aboriginal dot paintings,
buyers from around the globe. Naata
beautiful oil painted landscapes,
is from the Pintupi Language group
expressionistic portraits and intriguing
located in Kintore, and is one of the
photographic compositions.
leading senior elders of the Kintore
In recent years Indigenous art has
women’s artist movement. Her art
grown in popularity in Australia and is
works are associated with women’s
gaining recognition worldwide in Europe,
concerns and Women’s Law (Tingari
America and Asia.
Cycle). She paints traditional designs
depicting sacred women’s sites and
Indigenous desert art is art made by the
women performing sacred women’s
native Australians from the remote desert
ceremonies in the Kintore area as well
areas of Australia. The artworks are
as the designs that they paint on their
visually captivating, and the pieces have
bodies when performing ceremonies.
been carefully constructed with a deep
spiritual and cultural significance to both
Aboriginal art has come of age
the artist and the particular community.
in Australia, and according to the
To the unknowing viewer, the pieces
Australian Art Sales Digest, between
appear like optical themed artworks,
1993 to 2006 Aboriginal art sales at
made up of a series of non-descript
auction have seen a compound annual
shapes composed with thousands of
growth rate of 34.1%. In addition to
minute coloured dots. Often the shapes
the enticing visual properties, many
consist of concentric circles, rippling lines,
investors and art collectors are
and varied bold colours. However delving
realising these pieces also hold strong
behind the immediate appearance
investment potential.
reveals a deep symbolism embedded
within each motif. Each shape
Galleries Direct will also feature some
symbolically represents an element from
intriguing photographic pieces by
the artists’ community including native
Australian photographer Maree
animals, tracks, campsites, human
Azzopardi. Maree has a long list of
figures, or waterholes and more.
achievements and her thoughtful
compositions are highly sought after
The symbols are decipherable by
internationally. Azzopardi’s creative
members of the community, galleries
flair has gained her recognition from
and expert art collectors. Occasionally
successful international artists, and she
the entire art work may represent what
has exhibited alongside some of the
some see as a bird’s eye view of the
best in the industry including Cindy
landscape, a space - with a spiritual
Sherman, Annie Leibovitz (United
dimension attached, or an object with
States of America), and Tracey
spiritual significance. The primary function
Moffatt (Australia).
of most Indigenous art is to record
important elements of the native history,
landscape, objects, animals, people
For more information email
and culture to ensure the history
info@galleriesdirect.com
is visually documented and passed
or visit www.galleriesdirect.com
on to future generations.

Naata Nungurrayi, Rock holes at Marrapiti, Maree Azzopardi, Shadow - The Man Alone
synthetic polymers on linen



Rossi & Rossi has been active in the field
of Oriental art for over thirty years, based in
central London. They will bring the Tibetan
artist Gonkar Gyatso to Dubai in March.

skill. It records the past and makes
Gonkar was born in Lhasa, Tibet, and
it transportable and usable in the
studied fine art at the Central Arts
present, particularly in the “emergency”
Academy in Bejing, China and at
conditions of uprootedness. The artist
Central St Martins and the Chelsea
needs only these tools to function,
School of Design in London, UK is
whether in Lhasa or London. Gonkar
the founder of the Sweet Tea House
has said that the only “Tibetan” element
(London) the first gallery in Europe
in his work is the shape of the Buddha,
devoted to showcasing contemporary
which reveals his training in traditional
Tibetan Art. His work has been
Buddhist painting, in which figures and
exhibited in London, Oxford, Zurich,
deities are carefully mapped on a grid
Helsinki, Karlsruhe, New Delhi, New York,
to achieve preset idealized proportions.
Washington, Boulder, Los Angeles and
This meticulous measurement can be
Atlanta. He has been a recipient of
seen in the two pieces attached; LA
the Leverhulme Fellowship in 2003 as
Confidential and Puzzle Buddha.
an Artist-in-Residence at the Pitt Rivers
Museum, Oxford as well as fellow at
In Puzzle Buddha he takes this precision
the library of Tibetan Works & Archive,
further by having the piece build
Dharamsala, India for traditional Tibetan
into an enormous crossword puzzle,
painting studies. Gonkar currently lives
complete with clues, combing western
and works in London.
and eastern sensibilities and building
a piece of significant intellectual
Gonkar Gyatso’s journeys and shifts
importance which reflects present
in culture and environments are
geo-political situation. He himself
reflected in his work and his ability as
says “I would take what I know of
an artist to translate these shifts and
Buddhism, and compare it with what
make them universally understood.
I know about Western culture - the
His different garb in his My Identity
many interpretations Buddhism has
series of photographically generated
gone through depending on fashion
self portraits, presents the different
and trends”. We can see this in LA
chapters of his personal history; a
Confidential where he references
traditional Tibetan painter, a maker of
global consumerism and titles it after
Maoist imagery, a refugee follower of
one of his favourite films. For Gonkar
the Dalai Lama and finally a Western
Gyatso the Buddha icon is the tool for
artist in a modern studio. The My
exploration of his own art, which also
Identity series encapsulate a recurring
becomes a reflection on modern life
preoccupation for Gyatso: how to
and the inner and outer journeys of all
communicate with those who do
of us. The many different elements to
not share your history or language.
his oeuvre - installation, photography,
Gonkar’s answer is to challenge and
stickers work, drawings - show Gonkar’s
explain through his art. A telling detail
enormous versatility and dynamism as
in the My Identity series summarize his
an artist of our times.
argument. The wooden box that recurs
in each image represents the tools
of the artist trade: brushes, pigments
info@rossirossi.com
and most important knowledge and


Bird’s Eye View: New Beijing 9, 2007 | Weng Fen

Walsh Gallery will be coming Julie Walsh, owner of Walsh Gallery, felt it was only
natural to bring the gallery to Art Dubai 2008, since
to the Middle East for the very contemporary Asian art has such a global appeal. All
first time in 2008. the artists that are featured in the gallery are leaders
in their field and are internationally recognized due
to Walsh’s interest and help.

Walsh Gallery is known for displaying artworks in
innovative ways, working with new media and
working with performance artists from Asia, which will
all be featured in Art Dubai 2008.

Walsh believes that artists from Asia are focusing
more and more on the use of technology in
contemporary art. She said, “I did put together a
panel discussion on art and technology in Asia in
2004. I’ve felt for a long time that artists in China,
India, and Korea have been making some of the
most challenging new media art. With the rapid
changes of reconstruction and urbanization around
them, many Chinese artists in particular felt the
need to record what was happening to them.
Photography and new media were incorporated
into their art practices in favor of more traditional
mediums. Meanwhile, Korea has been the most wired
country in the world for sometime. The video art from
this country reflects the type of technological vitality
that is so much a part of everyone’s lifestyle. India
has some great new media artists that are always
challenging the medium. I am quite excited to bring
Ravinder Reddy, Walsh Gallery

a sampling of the best works by the most well known
artists from these countries,”

Walsh Gallery usually features young artists, but for
most of them, their careers have already taken
off. Ravinder Reddy, one of the young sculptors
Walsh deals with, will be coming to Art Dubai 2008.
Reddy creates monumental sized women’s heads
and figures, which are based on inner fortitude.
Reddy’s inspiration comes from Egyptian and African
sculpture, but most importantly, from the women

“Beautiful New World” Photographs by Weng Fen
he sees every day on the streets in his home town
in India. The women he creates are contemporary
divine beings, which have a sense of timelessness to

“Dual Paintings” by Yang Qian
them. “He uses contemporary materials like fiberglass
to create his sculptures, although the sculpture
entitled “Radha”, which will be shown in Art Dubai

15 March - 19 April 2008
2008, is covered in gold leaf and paint. “Radha”
has most recently traveled to Shanghai where she
was in Shanghai Contemporary,” Walsh said.


The Jam Jar | St. 17a Al Quoz, P.O Box 27554, Dubai
tijana@walshgallery.com

T: 04 3417303 | E: jamjar@eim.ae | www.thejamjardubai.com
Studio . Gallery . Consulting . Events


I have been stopping over in Dubai over the last We are an international arts organisation. When
ten years and have seen it transform beyond most organisations in London or New York say
recognition in that time. It now holds its own as an that, what they really mean is that they work
international business hub, and is a destination in
Green Cardomom are taking a with Euro-American artists, or in other words they
its own right. For Dubai to become a truly global work around the Atlantic Ocean. But our version
stand at Art Dubai and in addition art city It needs to have a number of ingredients: of international is focused on the Indian Ocean.
a culture of producing, viewing, discussing and And it is that view of the world that you will find
will present some projects in and buying art; a critical mass of good galleries and reflected in our programme.
serious collectors; and a public art infrastructure
around the art fair, including in the that underpins the market and the audience. By

Art Park. Hammad Nasar gave the infrastructure I mean the institutions—academia,
exhibition spaces, publications—and the people
following thoughts about Dubai (artists, curators, academics, critics, writers) to make
these institutions more than just empty buildings.
and their participation. Top: Unbearable lightness of being
From observing Dubai’s burgeoning gallery scene, Khalil Chrishtee
being involved in the last Sharjah Biennial and Bottom: Mahbub Shah
noting Abu Dhabi’s ambitions, it is clear that the
UAE as a whole has many of the components in
place. It also has a location of strategic importance,
with deep connections to South and Central Asia
In God We Trust, Mohammed Zeeshan
and the wider Middle East. So it is ideally located
to explore a different slice of the art world. What Mohammed Zeeshan
will take time is for infrastructure to develop and for Ambiguity rules in the work of Zeeshan
the right caliber of people to populate it. But Dubai Muhammad Zeeshan. Working in contemporary
has shown the world this ability to act on vision and Pakistani miniature painting, video and drawing,
create the right conditions to find or grow the right he has been described as an observer who
ingredients. It is unlikely to push out London or New voices his thoughts only after some reflection. This
York in the next five to ten years. But there are not considered approach lends a certain richness to
too many other cities that are beyond Dubai’s long- his manipulation of subjects that could otherwise
term ambitions. be heavily politicised. Weapons and animals are
amongst the symbols used to touch on these areas,
Art Dubai offers an opportunity to showcase the though often disguised or camouflaged. Rodents
artists we work with to an international audience, appear delicately treated with silver leaf; birds
one that will bring different expectations and are wrapped in white cloth (but does this bind or
ways of seeing than what we might come across protect?) In tackling themes such as masculinity,
in London or Lahore. It will be valuable to get this dominance and local and international violence,
fresh response to the work. Green Cardamom, of he injects beauty into what could be a stark
which I am a co-founder, is an arts organisation repertoire of images.
that combines the talents and experiences of
many individuals: Anna Sloan in the US is an Zeeshan started his career as a commercial
academic teaching and researching both cinema painter, seeking to appease his family
Islamic Art and Contemporary art history at the and society. In making the shift to edgier themes
University of Michigan; Leyla Fakhr is a London- and media he has faced criticism in his home
based Iranian curator, who also works with Tate country for “adulterating” the true miniaturist style.
Britain and carries out independent projects in This description jars. Despite the often difficult
Iran; Nada Raza has organised shows in Dubai subject matter he chooses, there is a gentleness
(with the Third Line gallery) and was one of the and concern for beauty that pervades this work
co-founders of Quintessentially Art (a London and is quietly silencing critics. Coming from
art advisory company); Louise Sunderland has Lahore, the ‘Heart of Pakistan’, Zeeshan borrows
worked on education projects with the Tate and imagery from Pakistani television and advertising.
the Whitechapel galleries; Vipul Sangoi runs his own Links to international politics are made,
design and photography practice; Kaif Ghaznavi but implicitly. This means the work is of local
is a Lahore-based artist, lecturer and curator, and concern – and global relevance.
co-founder Anita Dawood has edited a number
of publications in the UK, Switzerland and Pakistan. For more information visit:
The whole team informs the projects we take on. www.greencardomom.co.uk


Art Projects

Tarek Zaki
Townhouse Gallery - Cairo
Art Dubai helds an event in Cairo in November 2007 in
collaboration with the Townhouse Gallery. The director of
Townhouse came to the first art fair in Dubai as a speaker at the
Global Art Forum and aslo brought Lara Baladi’s Roba Vecchia
which was displayed outside the DIFC. For Art Dubai 2008
Townhouse returns with a project by Tarek Zaki.

Tarek Zaki, born in 1975, graduated from the Faculty of Fine Arts,
Helwan University, Cairo with a BA in Graphics, in 1998. As well
as his solo exhibitions Tarek has participated in several group
exhibitions and residencies in Egyptand abroad in Switzerland,
New York, Amsterdam amongst others. Zaki creates objects that
are not specific to any certain age. “By sculpting objects of the
everyday life, he positions the spectator as an archaeologist
from the future, looking at remains of the present.” He transforms
records of the present into found objects of the future.

“‘Monument X’” is dismantled pieces. Sections of columns, plinths,
arches and sculpted body parts made of plaster and cement
are deliberately cut and grouped. Viewing the monument, it is
not clear if the monument is being restored or deconstructed.
How the whole monument should look like or what it represents
stays ambiguous. Some parts are even missing and it is left to the
viewers’ imagination to complete the whole picture”, Tarek Zaki.

For further information about Townhouse and its activities,
visit: www.thetownhousegallery.com


Art Dubai

Recomendados

Recomendados

Más contenido relacionado

Más de guestfbb37

Más de guestfbb37 (7)

Último

Último (20)

Art Dubai