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

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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

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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

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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

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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’

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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


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

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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

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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

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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

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featu t SHARJAH re Canv d in 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

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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

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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


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


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

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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


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

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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 [email protected] BEIRUT 20–26 may agial art gallery ‘homage to helen el-khal’


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


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


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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 [email protected]

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

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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

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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

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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’

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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 [email protected] MANAMA until 7 may albareh art gallery hakim ghazali


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 [email protected]

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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

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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

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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 [email protected]

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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 [email protected]

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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 [email protected]

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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,

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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’

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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’


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.


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


Lena Kelekian Beirut, Lenanon Tel: +961 3895035 [email protected]

State of Art Gallery Beirut, Lebanon Tel: +961 3092904 www.stateofartgallery.com

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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

Ar featu tist re Canv d in as 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

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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’

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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

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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


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

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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


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 [email protected]

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 ss 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

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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.

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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’

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