art4sight 2014 catalogue
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Art4sight“Art 4 sight” is a charity art event where donated artwork is exhibited and sold in a fundraising auction to support Noor Dubai’s global programs that are focused on the prevention of blindness.
This event started with 12 year old Fatoumata from Mali who regained her sight following eye surgery performed by the Noor Dubai team. The young girl was fascinated by the contrast of colors around her and amazed the team by painting while still in the recovery stage; something that very few do.
Art4Sight is now running for the fourth year all because one girl saw beauty and went where others were not ready to go. And this is what “Art 4 Sight” comes down to: dedicating art to restoring sight in those less fortunate and giving them the opportunity to witness firsthand the beauty in the world around them.
With overwhelming support from several prominent international artists, local art galleries and renowned art auction houses, “Art 4 Sight” grows bigger and more successful each year which helps increase awareness of the ongoing plight of those living in darkness.
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Noor Dubai Foundation is a UAE based charity working with partners to eliminate avoidable forms of blindness and visual impairment globally.
Noor Dubai was launched as an initiative, with the vision of a world free from avoidable forms of blindness, back in 2008 by the Vice president and Prime Minister of the UAE and the ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. It was later established as an NGO by Law in October 2010.
To date, 6.2 million individuals from all over Africa and Asia have benefited from the free treatment and preventive programs conducted by the Noor Dubai Foundation. The Foundation continues to strive towards fulfilling the Vision2020 initiative of a world free from avoidable forms of blindness.
Noor DubaiFoundation
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The world’s leading cause of blindness, Trachoma, spreads easily from person to person. Of current, 320 million individuals are at risk of Trachoma and most are children.
Noor Dubai Foundation, in collaboration with The Carter Center, have launched a three - year program to eliminate Trachoma from Ethiopia, Amhara region. This collaboration will reach out to over 18 million individuals who are at risk from Trachoma in Ethiopia.
Trachoma Control Program
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“Marshes of Iraq are thought to be where Noah lived. These Mesopotamian marshes were once the largest and richest in the Middle East and the third most extensive in the world. More than 5 Millennia ago, much of the modern human story began around their shores as writing and the wheel was invented, agriculture was developed and early cities took root including the Sumerian civilization. Fifty years back, explorer Wilfred Thesiger who lived for months on the marshes wrote: stars reflected in dark water, the croaking of frogs, canoes coming home at evening, peace and continuity and the stillness of the world which never knew an engine”.
* 301
IHSAN AL KHATEEB(IRAQI, B. 1949)
“The Landscape and the Imagination –From Iraqi Marshes”
Oil and Acrylic Color on CanvasSigned by artist (lower right)160cm x 170cm Painted in 2012
US $ 5,000 - 7,000AED 18,500 – 26,000
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*302
MAJID ALYOUSEF(Iraqi, B. 1974)
“Give me the Flute and Sing – Gibran K. G.
Mixed Inks & Acrylic on Art Paper, framed with double glass sheetsSigned and dated (front)100cm x 57cmExecuted in 2012
US $ 3,000 – 4,000AED 11,000 – 15,000
“This artwork reflects through pen strokes the essence of Jibran’s poem, the value of music and singing, along with the combination of sounds and words. It is a visual clue to the secret song of eternity. “
أعطني الناي وغني – جربان خ. ج. “
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* 303
HAMDAN AL SHAMSI(Emirati, B. 1981)
“Tell Tale Series” (diptych)
Digital Illustration with Arabic Calligraphy84.1cm x 59.4cm (each) Executed in 2010
US $ 3,000 - 4,000AED 11,000 – 15,000
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“Tell Tale Series reflect the transformation period and the tales of the past whether it was a story that I heard, read or something that I have experienced. It is a series of gratitude for all of our ancestors who helped in building our nation and country.”
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* 304
ABDULRAHEEM SALIM(Emirati, B. 1955)
“ Colours from Maheera – ألوان من مهريه ”
Acrylic on CanvasSigned by artist100cm x 100cmExecuted in 2013
US $ 3,000 – 4,000AED 11,000 – 15,000
“Nature marvels us with its un-adultered beauty through its harmonious colors”
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“… influenced by an ongoing dialogue that affects Arab women’s lives everyday; a dialogue that discusses the restrictions placed on women due to local traditions that have become entwined with religion and tradition........”
* 305
MANAL AL DOWAYAN(Saudi, B. 1973)
“ Gold Chains ”
Black and White silver gelatin print41cm x 51cmExecuted in 2006
US $ 5,000 – 7,000AED 18,500 – 26,000
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* 306
KHALID MEZAINA(Emirati, B. 1985)
“ Five times a Day #2Five Times a Day #3” (diptych)
Giclee prints on Hahnemuhle photo rag matt fine art smooth white archival paperEdition 1 of 20 (both)46cm x 63.4cm Executed in 2013
US $ 2,000 – 3,000AED 7,000 – 11,000
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“The landscape of my birthplace has never left my mind and becomes visible through my paintings”
* 307
ABDUL QADER HASSAN EL MUBARAK(Sudanese, B. 1951)
“ Abstract Landscape ”
Acrylic on Canvassigned by artist (on the reverse) 90cm x 80cmPainted in 2013
US $ 1,500 – 2,000AED 5,500 – 7,000
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* 308
MOHAMMED FAHMI(Iraqi)
“ Autumn behind the House ”
Acrylic on Canvassigned (lower middle)150cm x 125cmPainted in 2012
US $ 2,000 – 4,000AED 7,000 – 15,000
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* 309
TAREK AL GHOUSSEIN(Kuwaiti, B. 1962)
“ (In) Beautification 0141 ed 1/6 ”
Digital Printsigned (on the reverse)60cm x 90cmEdition 1 of 6Executed in 2013
US $ 7,000 – 9,000AED 26,000 – 33,000
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* 310
ABD EL-WAHAB ABD EL-MOHSEN(Egyptian, B. 1951)
“ Near Ground - قرب األرض ”
Black and White Woodcut100 cm x 125 cm (triptych)Executed in 2013(donated from the artist estate)
US $ 8,000 – 10,000AED 30,000 – 40,000
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* 311
TAGALSIR HASSAN (TAJ)(Sudanese, B. 1954)
“ Arani Allah Wajhaki - أراني اهلل وجهك ”
Mixed Media on Canvas100 cm x 100 cmThis work is unique
US $ 9,000 – 11,000AED 33,000 – 40,000
“I based this calli- painting on one of the charming poems by the eminent Abbasid poets Abul Fat-h Al Bastie; “I pray to Allah to let me see the face everyday and enjoy tranquility, and good hopes... as when my eyes catch your face, I see a peaceful time”
أراني اهلل وجهك كل يوم ألسعد باألمان وباألمانيفوجهك حني ألحظه بعيني يريني البشر في وجه الزمان
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* 312
WISSAM SHAWKAT(IRAQI, B. 1974)
“Living – we have on this earth what makes life worth living(Mahmoud Darwish)”
Acrylic colors on Handmade paper Signed by artist (lower)93cm x 38cmPainted in 2014
US $ 3,000 – 5,000AED 11,000 – 18,000
Living - “We have on this earth what makes life worth living” - Mahmoud Darwish, Acrylic colors on Handmade paper201493 cm X 38 cm
I developed my own calligraphic style at the crossroads of traditional craftsmanship and contemporary aesthetics. I called it Al Wissam Style.
I think that "tradition" is to be highly respected, but not imitated: "foundations" may not change, but what we build upon these foundations should be done with soaring freedom.
Although my work can be described as a departure from the classic Islamic calligraphy, I have never lost sight of the many years of evolution that shaped every Arabic letter into its remarkable beauty.
the meaning of this famous poem by Mahmoud Darwish brings hope and positive thinking, which i can see it in the vision of Noor Dubai Foundation.
“The meaning of this famous poem by Mahmoud Darwish brings hope and positive thinking, something that I see in the Noor Dubai Foundation.”
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* 313
MOUNA CHOUK(SWISS, B. 1972)
“ Whisper ”
Mixed Technique100 cm x 140 cmPainted in 2014
US $ 3,000 - 4,000AED 11,000 – 15,000
“The eyes intersect without mixing. The quintessence of the of the extreme East and the East; A co-mingling of all senses in a spiritual dance.”
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* 314
YACOB AHLI(Emirati, B. 1981)
“Lines of Nature”
Photograph on semi matt paper80cm x 53cmPhotographed in 2013
US $ 1,000 – 2,000AED 4,000 – 7,000
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* 315
MAITHA DEMITHAN(Emirati, B. 1989)
“Naadir”
Scanography - Edition 1 of 5120cm x 84cmExecuted in 2014
US $ 3,000 – 4,000AED 11,000 – 15,000
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* 316
SAMIRA BUKHAMSEEN(Kuwaiti)
“Love and Light 2”
Painting on Canvas80cm x 88cmPainted in 20133
US $ 800 – 1,200AED 3,000 – 4,500
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* 317
YACOB AHLI(Emirati, B. 1981)
“Lines of Nature”
Photograph on semi matt paper80cm x 53cmPhotographed in 2013
US $ 1,000 – 2,000AED 4,000 – 7,000
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* 318
LATEEFA BINT MAKTOUM(Emirati, B. 1985)
“Oral Tradition”
Mixed Media100cm x 62cmExecuted in 2014
US $ 6,000 – 8,000AED 22,000 – 30,000
“We come from a place where we appreciate our history firstly through oral tradition; where generations have learned about their country mostly through stories repeated over and over through the decades.
Dubai is a place where a generation has observed a dramatic change in the countries development, from seeing and being people who live in tents to now witnessing a landscape which has changed in front of their eyes. This piece tells the story of a culture’s rituals that linger; and yearn for the past even with the generations of today.”
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* 319
MARK PILKINGTON(British, B. 1951)
“Recover – Tree (from the Recover Series)”
Photograph – Digital Print on Archival Paper100cm x 38cmPhotographed in 2013
US $ 2,000 – 3,000AED 7,000 – 11,000
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* 320
RUBEN SANCHEZ(Spanish, B. 1981)
“Nacimineto De Una Vision (Birth of A Vision)”
Acrylic Painting on Reclaimed Wood 115cm x 71cmExecuted in 2013
US $ 800 – 1,200AED 3,000 – 4,400
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* 321
AMINA AL ABBASI(Bahraini, B. 1988)
“The Dowry”
Acrylic, gold leaf painted on velvet, embedded with fresh water pearls Signed by artistA work of 3 piecesCentral work: 80cm x 80cmSide works each: 20cm x 100cm eachCreated in 2014
US $ 3,000 – 5,000AED 11,000 – 18,000
“The Dowry” is a set of jewelry pieces that come together and form a modern display of artwork with a traditional concept. Each piece of jewelry serves a different purpose and is beautiful in its own way. The middle piece is called “Al Mor-ta-hish” which is a very unique piece of jewelry that was used back in the days to show the status of its wearer; being extremely large and impressive no other chest adornment was required. It is paired with a set of “Al Amila” which is a gold ornament used to decorate any abaya, this was known to be a part of the bride’s dowry in the gulf.
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* 322
BASSIM SIBAI (Syrian, B. 1970)
“Untitled 1 & 2”
Oil painting on CanvasSigned by artist on both sides130cm x 100cm (diptych)Painted in 2008
US $ 5,000 – 7,000AED 18,500 – 26,000
“Real life symbols have always inspired my imagination. Mud, a simple mixture of water and sand give a unique feeling and through touch we see spiritual and metaphysical insights”
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* 323
EMAN KHAMIS(Emirati, B. 1986)
“Going in Circles Series”A. Golden SunB. Tinted TearsC. A Wave
Watercolors and Markers on PaperA work of 3 piecesA & C : 38.2cm across B : 38cm acrossExecuted in 2014
US $ 1,000 – 2,000AED 3,500 – 7,000
A B C
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* 324
FARHAD MOSHIRI(Iranian, B. 1963)
“Tomorrow is a New Day”
Embroidery Crystal Glass Plastic & Glitter on Canvas on BoardSigned and Dated on the reverse140cm x 140cmExecuted in 2009
US $ 60,000 – 80,000AED 220,000 – 300,000
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* 325
SAMIRA BUKHAMSEEN(Kuwaiti)
“Love and Light 1”
Painting on Canvas90cm x 80cmExecuted in 2013
US $ 1,000 – 2,000AED 3,500 – 7,000
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* 326
NASIR NASRALLAH(Emirati, B. 1984)
“ Weaving Aviation - حياكة الطريان “
Sculpture of 3 piecesMixed Media on wood90cm x 100cmThis work is unique & was exhibited in Burj Khalifa
US $ 3,000 – 5,000AED 11,000 – 18,000
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* 327
eL Seed(French, B. 1981)
“Miracle of Civilization”
Acrylic on Canvas210cm x 150cmCommissioned for ART 4 SIGHT 2014This work is unique
US $ 5,000 – 7,000AED 18,500 – 25,000
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* 328
MOHAMMED ALQASSAB(Emirati, B. 1960)
“Abstract Lines”
Acrylic on Canvas150 cm x 150 cmPainted in 2012
US $ 6,000 – 8,000AED 22,000 – 30,000
“Linear relations are put forward to create forms and shapes that move together despite their divergence in motion, with curving, inclining and declining flows. These lines I tracked in patrimonial architechture, traditional gates and old ships, echo strong spontaneous forms full of meaning and nuances.”
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* 329
NASIR NASRALLAH(Emirati, B. 1984)
“ Untitled ” - from The Market Series
Acrylic on CanvasSigned by artist (lower, front)100 cm x 100 cmPainted in 2010
US $ 2,000 - 3,000AED 7,000 – 10,000
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* 330
NAJAT MAKKI(Emirati, B. 1956)
From “The Circle Series”
Mixed Media on Canvas50cm x 50cmExecuted in 2008
US $ 20,000 – 30,000AED 75,000 – 110,000
“A continuous circle, representing life and death; sunrise and sunset….”
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* 331
HAMDAN AL SHAMSI(Emirati, B. 1981)
“We Shape Life Series” (inspired by poet Gibran K. G.)
Digital Illustration with Arabic Calligraphy84.1cm x 59.4cmExecuted in 2012
US $ 2,000 – 3,000AED 7,000 – 10,000
“Interpreting the saying of Gibran Khalil Gibran:
بعضنا كالحرب وبعضنا كالورقفلوال سواد بعضنا لكان البياض أصم
ولوال بياض بعضنا لكان السواد أعمى
We all come from different families with different backgrounds and beliefs, we share feelings, dreams and sorrows. No matter how fortunate or less fortunate we are, and how good or evil we are. When we all come together we all shape and define life.”
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* 332
MOHAMMED AL MAZROUIE(Emirati, B. 1962)
“The One Figure”
Acrylic on Canvas90cm x 90cmExecuted in 2012
US $ 2,000 – 3,000AED 7,000 – 10,000
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* 333
SALMA AL MERRI(Emirati)
“And it still lives on – وي�بقى .... مستمرا ” From the series Mythological Fantasies
Acrylic on CanvasSigned & dated lower left150cm x 150cmPainted in 2014
US $ 3,000 – 4,000AED 11,000 – 15,000
“Symbolism in the bull reflects persistence, resistance, masculinity and safety”
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* 334
SAMIR AL SAFADI(Syrian, B. 1982)
“ Untitled ”
Oil on Canvas150cm x 150cmPainted in 2009
US $ 10,000 – 12,000AED 38,000 – 44,000
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* 335
MOHAMMED ALMARZOUQI(Emirati, B. 1979)
“Enter the Zayed Grand Mosque”
Watercolors on water color paper120cm x 70cmPainted in 2011This work is unique
US $ 1,500 – 2,000AED 5,500 – 7,000
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* 336
NOOF AL REFAIE(Bahraini, B. 1983)
“Harmony” – from series (Tanaghom)
Mixed Media60cm x 60cmProduced in 2012
US $ 1,000 - 2,000AED 3,500 - 7,000
“Music is the language that can combine different races and languages; it is both heard and felt. Eloquence in language can penetrate distances and erase the differences between a lot of things as for a long time music on the streets was the first inspiration to produce artworks. To me, music is the language of peace, love and hope”
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* 337
ALI AL MAHMEED(Bahraini, B. 1945)
“Watani – Madad – AlQalb وطني – مداد - القلب “
Painting on Silkscreen (triptych)80cm x 80cm (each)Painted in 2006
US $ 6,000 – 8,000AED 22,000 – 30,000
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* 338
FATMA LOOTAH(Emirati, B. 1954)
“Untitled” - from the AlWatan Series
Acrylic on Canvas133 cm x 106 cmPainted in 2013
US $ 8,000 – 10,000AED 30,000 – 40,000
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* 339
SALEH AL SHUKAIRI(Omani, B. 1977)
“Untitled”
Acrylic on Canvas120 cm x 216 cmSigned by Artist (lower)This work is unique(donated by Buro247)
US $ 5,000 - 7,000AED 18,500 - 25,000
“I’ve always thought about the dynamics of Arabic Calligraphy, which led to the idea of using calligraphy practices in an artwork. I used a color palette of brownish, gold acrylic with blue inspired by my home – the Sultanate of Oman.”
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Christie’s is a name and place that speaks of extraordinary unparalleled service and expertise. Founded in 1766 by James Christie, Christie’s conducted the greatest auctions of the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries, and today remains a popular showcase for the unique and the beautiful. Christie’s offers over 450 sales annually in over 80 categories, including all areas of fine and decorative arts, jewelry, photographs, collectibles, wine, and more. Price tags range from $200 to $80 million. Christie’s has 53 offices in 32 countries and 10 salerooms around the world including in London, New York, Paris, Geneva, Milan, Amsterdam, Dubai and Hong Kong.
Established in January 2008 in Nad Al Sheba, Tashkeel is an independent resource for artists and designers living and working in the United Arab Emirates. Tashkeel is committed to facilitating art and design practice , cross-cultural dialogue and creative exchange. Members have access to studio facilities for painting, graphic design, photography, printmaking, textile printing, jewelry and 3D practice. In addition to the studio resources, there are journals and a reference library, members room and exhibition gallery. Tashkeel also organizes workshops in creative practice, open to both members and nonmembers.
Partners:
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Supporters:
Photography Competition Supporter:
Media Supporters:
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The Art4Sight 2014 Photography competition showcases the skills and imagination of professional photographers as they share their techniques and personal interpretation of various topics and issues. In light of the above, talented photographers are invited yearly to share their vision and talent with the community while educating and inspiring attendees and viewers from around the world.
The photography competition with its second year run hopes to keep growing and to provide opportunities for people to learn about blindness and emphasizes on their responsibility towards visually impaired individuals. This year, the theme of the competition was inspired by the words of HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid AlMaktoum, Vice-president and prime minister of the UAE and ruler of Dubai: “The Utmost Happiness is making others Happy.”
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Winners of theArt4Sight 2014
Photography Competition
First Place
Buddy Gadiano, Philippines
The passing of wisdom – The excitement of the young one, gaining knowledge that could be a solid foundation of his life. The moment of transferring wisdom is special as it open his eyes for the love of his preserved culture and heritage passed down by his great forefathers.
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Second Place
Third Place
Mario Bejagan Cardenas, Philippines
Ruben Figer, Philippines
Smile of The Innocence
You don’t need a reason to help people.
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Special Mention
Khalil AbdulwahidWell known in his official position as the Visual Arts manager at the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority, Khalil Abdulwahid is also a respected Emirati Artist with his works exhibited across the Arab world as well as Internationally in Holland, France, Germany, Korea, Greece, Japan and USA. With an arts career that spans over 2 decades, he has juried various art competitions including the 3rd Sharjah International Biennial for Children’s Arts 2012, Sheikha Manal Young Artist Award, Sharjah Calligraphy Biennial 2012, Sheikha Latifa Bint Mohammed Award for Children Creativity and the 12th Asia Pacific Conference “Giftedness 2012”. He was also the curator of the 30th annual exhibition of the Emirates Fine Arts Society.
Mark PilkingtonMark has a BA hons 1st class hon Fine Art degree from Winchester School of Art, UK and an MA
Photography from the Royal College of Art, UK. He has taught photography and media at a number of UK colleges and universities before moving to UAE in 1997. Mark was Head of Department at Dubai Polytechnic before moving to the American University of Sharjah College of Architecture, Art and Design where he is now an Associate Professor teaching the theory and practice of photography. Mark has also been the Chair of Design at AUS Department of Art and Design for 4 years. Mark has exhibited his work in both the UK and UAE. UK venues include the Photographers Gallery and National Portrait gallery in London and Format International festival of photography in Derby UK. Mark also has work in the permanent collection of the Tate Gallery London. Mark has exhibited extensively in the UAE notably at the Sharjah Biennale and two one-person exhibitions at Tashkeel in Dubai. Mark has also shown at a number of international art fairs including the Turin Art Fair, Beiruit Art Fair, and at Art Dubai.
THE JUDGES
Jedone Q. Saludes, Philippines
What I am looking for is not out there, it is in me.
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Abd El-Wahab Abd El-Mohsen:Born in Egypt in 1951, Abd El-Mohsen graduated from the Graphics department of the Faculty of Fine Arts from the University of Alexandria in 1976 and continued in the academic arts path obtaining a higher diploma in graphics, an MA in Graphics in 1993 from Helwan University followed by a PhD in the Philosophy of arts in 1998. He didn’t just learn art but taught it as well, establishing the Graphics department in AlZaytoona University in 2002. He is a member of the Fine Arts Association, Cairo Atelier Group of Artists and Writers and The International Print Society in Poland. Abd El-Wahab Abd El-Mohsen has been recognized as early as 1977 by the Supreme Council of Culture in Egypt and The Egypt Biennale in 1997 and 2001 among many other merits. His work has been displayed in the Cairo Opera House, UN Headquarters, Egypt Modern Art Museum and Kochi Museum in Japan and art collectors from Egypt, Japan, Switzerland, Saudi, France and the US are keen on Abd El-Mohsen’s artwork. In 2006, he received an honorary award during the International Triennial in Bitola, Macedonia.
Abdul Raheem Salim:Born in Dubai in 1955, Abdul Rahim Salim received his BA in Plastic Arts from Cairo in 1981 and specialized as a sculptor. He began his career as an arts teacher in the UAE and has contributed greatly to the UAE art scene heading the Emirates Association of Fine Arts for several rounds. He is a member of the Emirates Plastic Arts Society and has been winning prizes since 1980 such as the prize of the Jury during the Cairo Biennale 1992, the first prize in the same exhibition during the Sharjah Biennale 1993, first prize in the Dubai International Exhibition in 1994. His work is permanently displayed at the Sharjah Museum of Arts, ADNOC, and Sheikh Hassan Al Thani private museum in Qatar. Over the years, Salim held many exhibitions in many countries and cities such as Sharjah, Cairo, Abu Dhabi, Doha, India, Syria, Kuwait, Bangladesh, Madrid and many more.
Abdul Qader Hassan AL-Mubarak:Born in Sudan in 1951, Abdul Qader Hassan counts its nature and landscape as one of great sources of inspiration for his art pieces. Al Mubarak graduated in 1978 with a degree in Painting from the college of Fine and Applied Arts in Khartoum. He has taught Arts in the UAE since 1980. Over time, he changed his style to abstractionism and has been participating in group and solo exhibitions since 1995 including the Sharjah Biennale 1995 and 1999, the Bangladesh Biennale 2001, Majlis Gallery 2001, Art Attack 2001 and SwissArtGate 2013. Al-Mubarak has been awarded with Al Burda prize three times from the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Community Development in the UAE.
Amina Al Abbasi: Born in Sydney, Australia in 1988, Bahraini native Amina Al Abbasi always had a fascinating eye for art since a young age. She is the owner of “Amina Gallery” in Bahrain, a gallery that gathers paintings and art inspired products, showcases her products in all GCC countries as well as a section in Harrods , London. Al Abbasi’s work is contemporary with a transitional twist; she focuses on cultural themes and tries to find a common ground of beauty between traditions and modern techniques. She is a member of the Bahrain Art Society her work has been displayed in solo exhibitions in Qatar, Khobar, Riyadh and Bahrain.
Bassim Sibai:Born In Homs Syria in 1959, artist Bassim graduated from the Faculty of Architecture, University of Aleppo in 1981. He is a member of the Syrian Syndicate of Fine Arts and has taught arts in the University of Damascus. Over the years, the artist has participated in many group exhibitions such as the Sharjah Biennale (AlMahabbah) and his solo exhibitions started from 1997 in Damascus and have taken place in Beirut as well. Sibai has also exhibited with artists Fateh AlMoudares and Fadi AlMoudares. Sibai’s work has received international attention from art collectors.
Eman Khamis:Khamis was born in Dubai in 1986. Eman Khamis is an up and coming fashion designer and artist. With over 5 years of experience in graphic design and a lifetime’s enthusiasm for fashion illustration. Eman is dedicated to developing her artistic skills. She has worked in the creative departments of multinational marketing companies and both the government and private sectors in Dubai. Eman›s interests are art, design, pattern design and fashion.
eL Seed:Born in 1981, eL Seed is a French artist of Tunisian parents and formally educated in Business. In his youth art was simply a hobby but he became more involved in the street art scene after arriving to North America in 2006. His often
BIOGRAPHIES
monumental works are a mixture of street art and Arabic calligraphy. This “Calligraffitti” is the product of a double marginality, that of an oriental artist seeking a voice in the occidental world and that of street art struggling to legitimize its presence in the contemporary art scene. This duality enables the reconciliation of two supposedly opposite worlds and two supposedly clashing cultures. El Seed’s art was born on the streets of Paris and now adorns walls across every continent.
Farhad Moshiri:Moshiri was born in Shiraz in 1963 and currently lives and works in Tehran, Iran. Moshiri studies Fine Arts and Filmmaking at the California Institute of the Arts. His work has gained far recognition in galleries, museums and institutional exhibitions in Paris, London, Geneva, New York and Tehran to name a few. His work appears in major art collections around the world, both private and public such as the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Richmond and The British Museum in London and has been previously commissioned for site-specific works at the East Lobby of the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC). An in-depth monograph of his works was published in 2010. He is represented by The Third Line in Dubai, Emmanuel Perrotin in Paris, Rodolphe Janssen in Brussels and Thaddaeus Ropac in Salzburg. In 2011, he was commissioned by Louis Vuitton to produce works for their UAE stores.
Fatma Lootah:Born in 1954 in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, Emirati artist and activist Fatma Lootah has been living in Verona, Italy since 1984 and travelling between the UAE and Italy for the past 20 years. Lootah left the UAE in 1979 to “see something else”. She earned a Bachelors in Fine Arts from Baghdad University then went on to Washington DC for higher studies in Arts. She considers Pablo Picasso to be the greatest artist of all time. Lootah has devoted her life to the arts and her artwork has been displayed in many countries worldwide including Italy, France, Switzerland, Austria, Morocco and the UAE
Hamdan Buti Al Shamsi:Born in Al-Ain city in the UAE in 1981, Hamdan in a visual artist whose interest in art started at a very young age. He is s self-taught photographer, graphic designer and amateur writer. His mother nicknamed him “Qurtas” (sheets of paper) because since childhood he only bought coloring books during his visits to the local grocery store. He pursued his passion throughout his education, winning prizes as he progressed eventually leading him to focus on photography and graphic design. He has participated in a group of exhibitions around the UAE and contributed to the community through voluntary work in photography. Al Shamsi has been commissioned by ADACH to digitally paint 5 walls for Al Qattara Art Centre. He has also been commissioned by Emaar properties to create artworks for The Loft Towers residential complex and Boulevard Plaza. He has numerous achievements from painting one of the life-size F1 replica cars during the Abu Dhabi Formula 1.
Ihsan Al Khateeb:Born in Baghdad in 1949, Ihsan A Khateeb has given the formative arts over 44 years of his life. Al Khateeb graduated with a Bachelor of Fine arts from the Academy of Fine Arts in the University of Baghdad, Iraq. He spent years perfecting his expressive techniques with oil colors, water colors, charcoal and pencil and taught arts in the Ministry of Education of the UAE. His artistic profile includes his participation in over 100 national and international, group and solo art exhibitions since 1974. In addition to his Bachelors, Al Khateeb also holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Fine Arts and a Masters in Fine Arts both from the University of Auckland, New Zealand. HH Sheikh Dr. Sultan Al Qassemi, the ruler of Sharjah is amongst the collectors of Al Khateeb’s art work.
Khalid Mezaina:Born in Dubai, UAE in 1985, Khalid Mezaina is a graduate in Visual Communications from the American University of Sharjah, Khalid entered the art world through full-time placements in art organizations, including the Sharjah Art Foundation & currently at Tashkeel in Dubai. Being in the art community inspired Khalid to participate in group exhibitions, projects, & residencies, both in the UAE and internationally. Khalid launched ‘krossbreed’ in 2010, which is an independent, interdisciplinary studio and brand, involved in product design. krossbreed products range from t-shirts, prints, stationary, wallpaper, furniture and more to come.
Lateefa Bint Maktoum:Born in Dubai, UAE in 1985, Lateefa Bint Maktoum graduated from Zayed University in 2007 with a Bachelor’s degree in
Visual Arts. She has been exhibiting her work since 2004 beginning by creating public artworks in addition to creating artwork for charitable causes such as Medecins Sans Frontiers, Madrasati Palestine, ART4Sight for Noor Dubai Foundation. In 2006 Lateefa won first prize in the Ibdaa Media Student Awards in the digital photography category, and in 2010 was awarded the Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Patrons of the Arts awards. In 2012 she was awarded the CEO outstanding contribution to the arts by ITP. Her first gallery show was Perceptions at the Third Line gallery in 2006 in Dubai. In 2007 Lateefa started curating exhibitions. The first exhibition that she curated, entitled Minus Reality, was shown at Art Attack gallery and showcased the work of 30 UAE-based artists. It was this show that sparked the idea of the need for a studio for artists and designers living and working in the Gulf, leading to the establishment of Tashkeel. Lateefa’s first international exhibition was in 2008, when she contributed to a group show entitled No Such Place 2, curated by Canadian artist and curator Janet Bellotto and held at the Roger Smith Hotel in New York. She has also participated in the DNC Slideshow exhibition in Denver Colorado, showcasing her photography work. In 2008 she showed in the Community Darkrooms with “Educating Artists Online” showing in Syracuse New York. In 2009 she exhibited artwork alongside other Emirati artists at Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi in Emirati Expressions curated by Anne Baldassari. In September 2009 Lateefa exhibited her work in Arc Biennale Brisbane, Australia as well as exhibiting in La Colomba restaurant in Venice Italy. In 2010 and 2012 Lateefa exhibited in the Bastakiyah Art Fair, as well as Art Dubai in 2011 and 2012 with Tashkeel. She also showed in the group show at the Expo 2010 UAE pavilion in Shanghai Better City Better Life. In 2011 Lateefa was one of three artists from the region selected to exhibit in the UAE pavilion at the Venice Biennial curated by Vasif Kortun also in 2011 she was an exhibiting artist part of Emirati Expressions curated by Stephen Shore at Manarat-al-Saadiyat Abu Dhabi. Lateefa’s artwork is included in private collections nationally and internationally. Lateefa has been the honorary patron of START since January 2008.
Maitha Demaithan:Born in Dubai in 1989, the Emirati artist Maitha Demaithan works with several mediums: photography, scanography, painting, drawing and photo transfers. The first drawings she created were sketched in the sand, which then formed her appreciation for color, texture, line and shadow. Demaithan’s most successful exhibition was in 2009, “Documentation” at Tashkeel where her first scanned self-portraits appeared. Later in 2009, she participated in “Across the Gulf”, a group show that took part in the Brisbane Biennial. Other group shows include “Emerge” in Venice, “Emirati Vision” exhibition in Berlin, and the “Biladi” exhibition in the UAE Pavilion during the Shanghai Expo 2010. Her latest exhibition Mutajadid opened in 2014 in Tashkeel.
Majid Al Yousef:Born in 1974 in Basra, Iraq, Majid Alyousef has been drawn towards arts and creative expression since early childhood. At a very young age, Majid began focusing on the art of calligraphy, guided by teachers and experts in the field. With time, effort and enthusiasm, he began carving his own path and setting his own trademark upon his creative work with a mixture of classical beauty of calligraphy and deep understanding of western art styles and modern movements. Majid studied fine art and design in Iraq, UK and got his MA degrees in Digital Arts from the USA. He worked in several internationally acclaimed advertising and media agencies and his work was award winning for a few reputable media prizes. He has participated in several exhibitions in the UAE and abroad, taught calligraphy and typography in various art institutions and Universities. By emphasizing aesthetics, he explores new conceptual grounds that push the art of calligraphy into new realms beyond its traditional functionality, creating a two-way conversation with other international art schools and movements. His self-teaching attitude, inquisitive nature, imaginative mind and skills at drawing, abstract art, and anatomy, along with his fine attention to detail, continue to collaborate in ways that make him an unmistakable calligraphy artist.
Manal Al Dowayan:Born in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia in 1973, Al Dowayan took a range of courses in differing art institutions in Bahrain, Dubai, Saudi Arabia and London. She is currently part of the British Council International Cultural Leaders Program. AlDowayan was an artist in residence at the Delfina Foundation in London (2009), at Cuadro Fine Art Gallery (2010), and at The Townhouse Gallery in Egypt (2011). AlDowayan has participated in numerous group exhibitions including the Edge of Arabia exhibitions (2008 – 11), the Venice Biennale (2009 and 2011), the Berlin Biennale (2010)
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and Contemporary Istanbul (2010). She has also exhibited regionally and internationally. She won an international call for artists for the Imagining Ourselves anthology in 2003, which was managed by the International Museum of Women in San Francisco. Her photograph “Pointing to the Future” was exhibited in New York at the 49th session of the United Nations Commission on the status of Women (CSW) in 2005. Her “I Am” series was exhibited at the Clinton Public Library in Little Rock, Arkansas. Manal AlDowayan’s work is part of the permanent collections of the British Museum, the Jordan National Museum of Fine Art, the Abdul-Latif Jamil Foundation, the Delfina Foundation in London, the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (ADACH), the Nadour Foundation in Germany, and the Barjeel Foundation in Sharjah.
Mark Pilkington:Born in the UK in 1951, Mark Pilkington studied Fine Art before completing an MA in Photography at the Royal College of Art, London in 1977. Mark taught photography at a number of UK colleges before moving to the UAE in 1997. He currently teaches practical and history of photography at the College of Architecture, Art and Design, American University of Sharjah in UAE. Mark’s work explores alienation. He uses himself in his photographs as a protagonist in an otherwise unpopulated scene. His work has been exhibited internationally and extensively in the UAE including the Sharjah Biennale 6 and 7 and two solo exhibitions at Tashkeel in Dubai.
Mohamed AlMarzooqi:Born in the UAE in 1979, Mohamed AlMarzooqi graduated from the Faculty of Arts and Humanities of AlHosn University in Abu Dhabi with a BSc in Technology Education. His skills in photography have been honed as early as 2001 and he worked as a photographer at the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority between 2007 and 2012. However his love for photography started before that when it materialized through winning an award from the Ministry of Youth and Culture back in 1998. His latest award was in 2009 from the Abu Dhabi Authority of Tourism and Culture. AlMarzooqi has participated in group and solo exhibitions in the UAE and abroad including Indonesia, Germany and the UK.
Mohammed Al Qassab:Mohammad Al-Qassab was born in 1960 and is a Member of the Emirate Fine Art Society (E.F.A.S). He resides and works in Sharjah. His contribution to art has started as early as 1982 and spread to Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Syria, Morocco, Egypt, Korea, India, Bangladesh, Japan and Italy. Mohammed Al Qassab is also the recipient of the first prize (gold) at the Fine Arts Exhibition of the GCC in Riyadh. He has also been honored by the Sharjah International Art Biennial in 1993. Through his work Muhammad creates multiple horizons of white and intense color that alter the density of one another. Color takes on a different meaning and significance from one culture to the next in accordance to their customs and ways of handling them. Muhammad is very aware of the variety of meanings a color can signify as well as the scientific relationship colors have to one another with regards to their effect on one another and whether they are hot or cool. His art can be seen in the Headquarters of Etisalat, ADNOC, Sharjah Art Museum, AlDar, Minisrt of Culture and Youth and in many private collections.
Mohamed AlMazrouie:Artist, Photographer and Writer Mohamed AlMazrouie spent the first half of his life in Egypt before moving to Abu Dhabi where he worked for the Cultural Foundation for many years. This duality informs his creative process whereby he often incorporates elements of both cultures in his artwork, leading to an autobiographical experience. AlMazrouie is managing the UAE Writers Union in Abu Dhabi. He has been exhibiting his artwork in the UAE and abroad since 1993 and his last solo Exhibition «Maidens of Fair» was in 2012. Since then he has been part of Emirati Expressions in Saadiyaat and has won several awards including the Souad AlSabah 1st place Arts Award in 2011.
Mohammed Fahmi:Born in Babylon, Iraqi artist Mohammed Fahmi is one of the pioneers of the Iraqi fine arts scene in exile. He is also one of the prominent founders of the fine arts movement in the UAE. He currently lives between the UAE and New Zealand. Fahmi designed the world’s largest ceramic mural in the Dubai International airport tunnel, whose length amounts to 6,600km. His style mixes abstract painting and realism. Fahmi carries a higher diploma in arts from the University of Auckland, NZ and an MA in the same field he has participated in over 86 local and international group exhibitions as well as solo exhibitions in Iraq, Egypt, UAE, Cydney, New Zealand, Cyprus and Lebanon. Fahmi’s work has even been used on stamps and he has been honored for his contribution to the arts since 1973. The latest being the Al Burdah appreciation in Abu Dhabi in 2010.
Mouna Chouk:Born in Lausanne, Switzerland in 1972 to a Swiss mother and a Tunisian father, Mouna Chouk’s influences are both oriental and occidental. She spent her childhood in Lausanne but later left for Tunisia where she studied business. She is a member of the Tunisian Federation of Plastic Arts and has participated in many exhibitions in Tunisia and Switzerland. Chouk’s artwork is displayed in public collections such as the Ministry of Culture of Tunisia, Dar Cherait Museum Tozeur, as well as in private collections in Tunisia, France, UAE, Canada, USA, Switzerland and England. Currently, attracted by color, she devotes herself to painting and focuses on composition and color effects. Rich with her dual culture, her paintings reveal a sensitive colorist who listens to “the melody of the World” as said by Claudel.
Najat Makki:Born in 1956 in Dubai, Najat Makki has gained worldwide success and recognition within the UAE and outside the Arab world as being one of the foremost female Emirati contemporary painters. She decided to pursue the arts at a young age and in 1977 became the first Emirati female to gain a government funded scholarship to study art abroad. Makki went on to the College of Fine Arts in Cairo where she obtained her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Relief Sculpture and Metal and in 2001 received her PhD in Philosophy of Art. Makki is a member in the Emirates Plastic Arts Society, GSCC Art Friends Society, Al-Jidar Association, Dubai Cultural Council. Najat Makki won many awards in the Sharjah Biennale, the GCC Biennale and Al Mahhaba Biennale in Syria.
Nasir Nasrallah:Born in the UAE in 1981, Nasir Nasrallah experiments with and synthesizes materials, be they physical objects, ideas or theorems. His work is a highly personal response to his environment and the people and places he comes across. It is a direct result of his thoughts and feelings and his desire to communicate his inner life to the viewer. Nasir has a B.Eng in Telecommunication Engineering from Khalifa University in Sharjah. He took art courses at the Emirates Fine Arts Society whilst studying for his degree and participated in exhibitions inside and outside the UAE including the Annual Exhibition of the Emirates Fine Arts Society and the Cairo Biennial in 2006. Nasrallah had 2 solo exhibitions in 2009 and 2011 and won the First Prize award at the Emirate Fine Arts Society in 2012.
Ruben Sanchez:Born in Madrid, Spain in 1981, Ruben Sanchez moved to Barcelona 10 years ago and currently resides in Dubai. Sanchez is a self-taught artist with a strong graphic style that resonates through all his projects. Coming from the graffiti and skateboard culture, he mostly works with acrylics and spray paint over canvas, woods or walls but his variety of mediums includes digital illustration, graphic design, animation and video. He has been the art director of Spain›s Alai Skateboards and Barcelona›s The DC Embassy, but his works can be seen in walls and galleries around the World and as collaborations with brands and collectives, most of them related with skateboarding. Saleh Al Shukairi:Born in 1977 in Muscat, in the Sultanate of Oman, Saleh Al Shukairi is a member of the Omani Society of Fine Arts where he is one of the founders and active participants of the Calligraphy Club and the Youth Studio. Al Shukairi has exhibited internationally, notably in Germany, Pakistan, South Korea, USA, and the United Arab Emirates. He has also received an honorary award in the 11th Asian Art Biennale in Bangladesh. Al Shukairi’s work ranges from classical calligraphy to contemporary abstract work that utilizes traditional art form. He enjoys experimenting with materials, colors, and techniques to produce his evocative pieces. Since the 1990s, he has produced more than 160 artworks. In 1997, Al Shukairi began experimenting with a new, modern vision that would set him apart from the more traditionally-styled Arabic calligraphy works. He initially began creating his calligraphy in a way that only he was able to read. This however, evolved into a new style that allowed him to create artworks that would evoke feeling and emotion from the viewer. In this way, Al Shukairi continues to use Arabic calligraphy in his artwork as a way to express the audience’s and the artist’s feelings, while paying tribute to the great value and tradition of Arabic calligraphy.
Salma AlMerri:Salma Al Merri from the UAE studied Fine Arts in Cairo, Egypt 1985. She is a member of the Association of the Emirates Fine Arts and has set up a number of individual Exhibitions. She has also been part of several group exhibitions and symposiums nationally and internationally including (New York, Japan, Germany, Tunis, Kuwait, Egypt, Iran, Greece, Morocco and Yemen). Salma has won a number of awards among them is the grand prize at the Kharafi Biennial for Contemporary Arab Art 2012. Salma’s inspiration behind her art work is life, and its incidences that repeat themselves as mythological fantasies dating back to the earliest cave drawings.
Samir Al Safadi:Born in Majdal Shams - Golan in 1982, Samir Al Safadi graduated from the Fine Arts Faculty in Damascus University in 2007 and currently teaches art as one its faculty members. He is also studying for a Masters in Fine Arts. Al Safadi is a member of the Syrian Fine Art Union and a member of the Fateh Moudarres Centre. AlSafadi has been participating in group exhibitions since 2006, the last one being in the Damascus opera House in 2010. He has also arranged for workshops in Canada and Germany including the Goethe Institute.
Samira Bukhamseen:Kuwaiti artist Samira Bukhamseen holds a degree in Geology from the University of Kuwait and has a very deep passion for drawing and painting. She started by sketching with pencils, but later on advanced her techniques and began to learn the basics of painting. Through her exposure to international arts, she developed her sense and style and began to excel in depicting facial expressions and body language. Bukhamseen participated in local and international exhibitions and her first solo exhibition was held in 2011 and included 62 paintings of women.
Tagelsir Hassan (taj):Born in Sudan in 1954, Tagelsir Hassan currently lives and works in Sharjah, UAE. He obtained a diploma in Fine Arts from the College of Fine & Applied Arts in Khartoum in 1977 and his Masters degree in Arts and graphics from CNNA, UK in 1983. Taj is active in the revival of Arabic calligraphy in UAE since 1989, and is the co- founder and former executive editor of “Hroof Arabia” (the only specialized magazine of Arabic calligraphy published in Dubai since October 2000) as well as being the winner of 16 international calligraphy awards. Over those years, and through the esthetics of the calligraphy, he found himself indulged in newly explored areas dealing with the contextual meaning of Koranic verses, poetry, sayings of wisdom, and other linguistic texts. It was ever hard for him to escape from such fascinating magical texts; texts that he visualized - and aimed to present in his calligraphic works as ones having simultaneous flows: the abstract graphic calligraphic flow, and the visualized colorful rhythmic flow. In the year 1997, Taj was fortunate to meet H. E. Abdul Rahman Al Owais who named his style of calligraphy “Al Khatt Al Taji” after his name “taj”.
Tarek Al-Ghoussein:Tarek was born in Kuwait in 1962. He received his BFA (Photography) from New York University in 1985 and his MA (Photography) from the University of New Mexico in 1989. As a Kuwaiti of Palestinian origin, much of Tarek’s work deals with how his identity is shaped in a context of inaccessibility and loss. His work explores the boundaries between landscape photography, self-portraiture and performance art. Tarek is currently a Professor of Photography at the NYU Abu Dhabi. His work has appeared in international solo and group exhibitions in USA, UK, Spain, Germany, France, Poland, Denmark, Netherlands and extensively throughout the Middle East. He recently represented Kuwait in the country’s first official representation at the Venice Biennale (2013) and was also part of Photoquai, Photography Biennale, Paris (2013). Tarek’s works are part of permanent collections at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York, Victoria and Albert Museum in London, Royal Museum of Photography in Copenhagen, Mori Art Museum in Tokyo, Darat Al-Fanun in Amman, and the Sharjah Art Foundation Collection in Sharjah. Tarek lives and works in Abu Dhabi UAE.
Wissam Shawkat:Born in Basra City in 1974, Wissam Shawkat has been passionate about Arabic Calligraphy since a very young age. He is self-taught by closely observing Turkish Calligraphy masters. He has participated in many local and international competitions and exhibitions where his work has been admired across the Middle East as well as Denmark, Austria and Germany. He has been involved in the preparation of several international calligraphy events including the Dubai International Calligraphy Exhibition as well as being a regular contributor to the quarterly (Hroof Arabiya). Currently Wissam works as a senior designer and consultant, specialized in brand identity and Arabic typography with global branding and advertising agencies in the UAE and abroad. His most notable works include a calligraphy wall at the Cultural and Scientific Association as well as the calligraphy in Mr. Majid AlFuttaim mosque.
Yacob Ahli:Born in Dubai, UAE in 1981, Yacob Ahli never planned to become a photographer, neither did he expect to become passionate about this discipline. The sound of his friend’s SLR shutter during a trip to Thailand got his attention and opened the gates for him to the world of photography. Ahli is an Emarati banker who graduated from the Emirates Banking Institute. He had a purely business background and no interest in the visual arts. However, all this has changed and he started seeing things through a different perspective searching for interesting faces, moments and nature through his travels.
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