January 2011
ArtNews
Review - January
It has been one busy year for art here in Bahrain. Last November, we've said goodbye to the kingdom’s unprecedented exhibition “Convex: A New Perspective” by Shaikh Rashid Bin Khalifa Al Khalifa at the Bahrain National Museum (April-November).
Two Bahraini artists to watch in 2011- Khalid Farhan “Recent Works” (May) and Faika Al Hasan “Cities of the Universe” (October) both made a significant leap in their solo shows at Bin Matar House.
And we saw some important exhibitions by foreign artists like "Iraq: Two Faces" by Faisel Laibi Sahi and Modhir Ahmed at Albareh Art Gallery (January-February); "Let it Be Jewellery," an exhibition of unique jewellery designed by internationally renowned artists, sculptors and architects from the Arab World together with Bahrain's very own Faika Al Hasan at the Bahrain National Museum (March-April); and "Zaha Hadid: Fluidity & Design" exhibition at Bin Matar House (March-April). A mini Retrospective exhibition "Mirage" by Bahrain-based Egyptian artist Hazem Taha, (September) showcased the artist’s works from 1988 to 2006 at Albareh Art Gallery.
But more than anything else, it was a fantastic year for art-making, Al Riwaq Art Space, hosted an Intensive Drawing Workshop for Artists of all levels (June) and Albareh Art Gallery hosted a David Siepert Photography Workshop (October).
International residencies where granted to young Bahraini artists’ Mohammed Al Madhi to Egypt by Albareh Art Gallery and Jaffar Al Oraibi to the UK by Al Riwaq Art Space.
And as we thought about wrapping up the year, here is selection of favourite shows during the past year by local artists.
Khalid Thamazi’s
"Spectrum of Continuance" (February)
at the Bahrain Art Society
Khalid presented viewers with new abstractions that were readings on colour, form, composition, harmony and technique. His new works manage to produce such an array of eyecandy images that truly pleased the viewers.
“Distorted Reality” (March)
By Faisal Samra at Albareh Art gallery
He shot and photoshoped spontaneous portraits that gives the viewer a feeling of activism, anarchy and energy - suggesting a rapturous alternative to the mind/body dichotomy, maintaining that the countless ways in which we understand and internalise the world, from abstract thought to concrete physical experience, are really all one and the same.
Invisible Messages (May)
by Samia Engineer
at The Courtyard Gallery
A sequel to her famed Private & Confidential, Samia’s creation this year was a bit of a departure from most of her work. Statuettes were painstakingly carved and miniature boxes are draped and obfuscated...although it is not impossible to see what's going on underneath. Overall it was brilliant and her use of narrative was as engaging as ever.
Jabbar Al Ghadban
One-Man Show (December)
at the Bahrain Art Society
Proficient in painting the human figure as in painting still life, Jabbar managed to continually attract the public who aspire to capture the spirit of women of Arabia with the same power and finesse. This exhibition of recent work superbly demonstrates that the artist managed to produce such an array of distinct images that viewers truly appreciate.
Two Bahraini artists to watch in 2011- Khalid Farhan “Recent Works” (May) and Faika Al Hasan “Cities of the Universe” (October) both made a significant leap in their solo shows at Bin Matar House.
And we saw some important exhibitions by foreign artists like "Iraq: Two Faces" by Faisel Laibi Sahi and Modhir Ahmed at Albareh Art Gallery (January-February); "Let it Be Jewellery," an exhibition of unique jewellery designed by internationally renowned artists, sculptors and architects from the Arab World together with Bahrain's very own Faika Al Hasan at the Bahrain National Museum (March-April); and "Zaha Hadid: Fluidity & Design" exhibition at Bin Matar House (March-April). A mini Retrospective exhibition "Mirage" by Bahrain-based Egyptian artist Hazem Taha, (September) showcased the artist’s works from 1988 to 2006 at Albareh Art Gallery.
But more than anything else, it was a fantastic year for art-making, Al Riwaq Art Space, hosted an Intensive Drawing Workshop for Artists of all levels (June) and Albareh Art Gallery hosted a David Siepert Photography Workshop (October).
International residencies where granted to young Bahraini artists’ Mohammed Al Madhi to Egypt by Albareh Art Gallery and Jaffar Al Oraibi to the UK by Al Riwaq Art Space.
And as we thought about wrapping up the year, here is selection of favourite shows during the past year by local artists.
Khalid Thamazi’s
"Spectrum of Continuance" (February)
at the Bahrain Art Society
Khalid presented viewers with new abstractions that were readings on colour, form, composition, harmony and technique. His new works manage to produce such an array of eyecandy images that truly pleased the viewers.
“Distorted Reality” (March)
By Faisal Samra at Albareh Art gallery
He shot and photoshoped spontaneous portraits that gives the viewer a feeling of activism, anarchy and energy - suggesting a rapturous alternative to the mind/body dichotomy, maintaining that the countless ways in which we understand and internalise the world, from abstract thought to concrete physical experience, are really all one and the same.
Invisible Messages (May)
by Samia Engineer
at The Courtyard Gallery
A sequel to her famed Private & Confidential, Samia’s creation this year was a bit of a departure from most of her work. Statuettes were painstakingly carved and miniature boxes are draped and obfuscated...although it is not impossible to see what's going on underneath. Overall it was brilliant and her use of narrative was as engaging as ever.
Jabbar Al Ghadban
One-Man Show (December)
at the Bahrain Art Society
Proficient in painting the human figure as in painting still life, Jabbar managed to continually attract the public who aspire to capture the spirit of women of Arabia with the same power and finesse. This exhibition of recent work superbly demonstrates that the artist managed to produce such an array of distinct images that viewers truly appreciate.
BAHRAIN
art scene
YEAR IN REVIEW
art scene
YEAR IN REVIEW
“Cities of the Universe”
by Faika Al Hasan
Recent Works
by Khalid Farhan
"Convex"
by Shaikh Rashid bin Khalifa Al Khalifa
Spectrum of Continuance
by Khalid Thamazi
Distorted Reality
by Faisal Samra
Invisible Messages
by Samia Engineer
One-Man Show
by Jabbar Al Ghadban
One Man Show
by Jabbar Al Ghadban
Giacometti and Picasso - 2010 record breaking sales
L'homme qui marche by Alberto Giacometti made history on 3 February with a smashing world record for an artwork sold at auction for $104.3 million at Sotheby’s London. The life-size bronze statue of a man was estimated to fetch $28 million, but sold more than thrice the amount, breaking the previous record set in 2004, by Pablo Picasso’s Garcon a La Pipe that was sold for $104.2 million.
But in less than three months, Picasso once again became the world's most expensive artist at auction. His 1932 portrait of his mistress, Nude, Green Leaves and Bust was sold for $106.5 at Christie's in New York, giving Picasso his rightful place at the top of the art world.
L'homme qui marche by Alberto Giacometti made history on 3 February with a smashing world record for an artwork sold at auction for $104.3 million at Sotheby’s London. The life-size bronze statue of a man was estimated to fetch $28 million, but sold more than thrice the amount, breaking the previous record set in 2004, by Pablo Picasso’s Garcon a La Pipe that was sold for $104.2 million.
But in less than three months, Picasso once again became the world's most expensive artist at auction. His 1932 portrait of his mistress, Nude, Green Leaves and Bust was sold for $106.5 at Christie's in New York, giving Picasso his rightful place at the top of the art world.
Two Major Art thefts
A lone thief broke into the Musee d'Art Moderne in Paris in May and escaped with $120 million worth of modern masterpieces, including works by Matisse and Picasso due to faulty alarm. Crime experts concluded that the heist was meticulously planned and well orchestrated.
Then in August a $50 million Van Gogh painting entitled 'Poppy Flowers' was stolen from the Mahmoud Khalil Museum in Cairo, in broad daylight. After a while it was rumored that the painting was recovered at the airport but later the culture minister discredited the claim and announced that the painting was still missing. At the end of the investigation, the deputy culture minister was arrested and 10 other officials were jailed for negligence.
A lone thief broke into the Musee d'Art Moderne in Paris in May and escaped with $120 million worth of modern masterpieces, including works by Matisse and Picasso due to faulty alarm. Crime experts concluded that the heist was meticulously planned and well orchestrated.
Then in August a $50 million Van Gogh painting entitled 'Poppy Flowers' was stolen from the Mahmoud Khalil Museum in Cairo, in broad daylight. After a while it was rumored that the painting was recovered at the airport but later the culture minister discredited the claim and announced that the painting was still missing. At the end of the investigation, the deputy culture minister was arrested and 10 other officials were jailed for negligence.
L'homme qui marche
by Alberto Giacometti
Art World
Headliners of
2010
Headliners of
2010
Nude, Green Leaves and Bust
by Picasso
Poppy Flowers
by Van Gogh
Electrician art trove worth millions
In late November, the world was stunned when a trove of 271 original Picasso works including nine paper collages valued at approximately $93 million were unveiled by retired French electrician Pierre Le Guennec. Le Guennec claimed that Picasso gave him the works as presents after he installed several alarm systems for the artist. Almost a week later, the story became more mysterious as he announced ownership of another trove claiming to be distant relatives of Picasso’s late chauffeur.
In late November, the world was stunned when a trove of 271 original Picasso works including nine paper collages valued at approximately $93 million were unveiled by retired French electrician Pierre Le Guennec. Le Guennec claimed that Picasso gave him the works as presents after he installed several alarm systems for the artist. Almost a week later, the story became more mysterious as he announced ownership of another trove claiming to be distant relatives of Picasso’s late chauffeur.
Unknown works
by Picasso
Retired French Electrician Pierre Le Guennec
Unknown work
by Picasso
- ArtNews
- Artists' Opportunities
- Awards
- Competitions
- Residencies
- Diary
Are you
looking for
a creative breakthough?
If you are a visual artist or curator looking for an opportunity to realise your project, we may have the answer to
your creative vision.
For more details
contact us on
info@artbahrain.org
looking for
a creative breakthough?
If you are a visual artist or curator looking for an opportunity to realise your project, we may have the answer to
your creative vision.
For more details
contact us on
info@artbahrain.org
Planning your
trip to Art Dubai, Sharjah Biennial
or The Armoury Show?
Book ahead!
Save time
and money!
trip to Art Dubai, Sharjah Biennial
or The Armoury Show?
Book ahead!
Save time
and money!
Join artBahrain.org
Comments: