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Saudi Participation At Art Dubai 2018

March 21, 2018

Mariam Nihal

Saudi Gazette

During Art Dubai’s press conference held at Madinat Jumeirah in Dubai on Tuesday, Myrna Ayad, Director of Art Dubai discussed the exclusive collaboration of MISK and role of Saudi artists at the art fair.

“We also welcome Saudi energy at the fair with Athr and Hafez gallery. When I found out the celebrated artist Ahmed Mater was leading MISK, we discussed ways in which we could partner. It is an ambitious and young organization, which shares the same objectives as far as education is concerned. We are delighted to welcome them to the fair this year. They support Art Dubai Modern and activations in the fair in the Contemporary hall,” Ayad said.

Misk Art Institute was launched last year under the patronage of the Misk Foundation, established by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman. The cultural hub was established under the leadership of Saudi artist Ahmed Mater and aims to encourage artistic production in Saudi Arabia, emphasizing on preserving and celebrating Saudi Arabia’s artistic past.

“It feels particularly fitting to forge this partnership through the presentation of Art Dubai Modern. When considered in the context of wider Arab visual arts narratives, both Misk Art Institute and Art Dubai are relatively young, yet it is through these historical channels that we have come together. Though we are newly inaugurated, our focus does not depart from the past; instead, we embrace regional art histories and cultural archives as the substantial and essential foundations of sustainable future growth,” Ahmed Mater reportedly said.

Misk Art Institute’s exclusive partnership of Art Dubai Modern, included sessions in Art Dubai’s Modern Symposium, taking place in the Misk Lounge, including launch of MoMA’s Modern Art in the Arab World: Primary Documents, a seminal publication sponsored by Misk Art Institute, the modern art exhibition entitled That Feverish Leap into the Fierceness of Life, curated by Dr. Till Fellrath and Dr. Sam Bardaouil, and a preview of Reframe Saudi, a virtual reality film directed by Matteo Lonardi and produced by Culturunners.

Hafez and Athr from Jeddah and Lakum Artspace from Riyadh were some of the major participating galleries this year along with various Saudi artists. Yusef Alahmad curated the Graphic Design from the Middle East: 
Explorations in Contemporary Typography exhibition. For ‘Huroof’, Alahmad curated typographic posters by over 30 designers in a wall-length display in Alserkal Avenue. Tamashee curated the Saudi House at Sikka Art Fair which complements the citywide activation of cultural events that take will run throughout March and April 2018.

Art Jameel announced the opening of the Jameel Arts Center in November this year. Arts Jameel will open new major complex for the creative industry in Jeddah named ‘Hayy Creative Hub’ which is set to open mid-2019. Art Jameel is the first major strategic partner for Delfina Foundation; the two organizations will work on collaborative programs, which are set to include new exhibitions, and residency programs in London, Dubai and Jeddah among others.


March 21, 2018
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