ArtNews
News Highlights - October
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November 2010
MANAMA. BAHRAIN CROWN Prince HRH Shaikh Salman bin Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa attended the opening of “Cities of the Universe,” an art exhibition by Bahraini artist Faika Al Hasan at Bin Matar House in Muharraq, on October 3. In the presence of Culture and Information Minister Shaikha Mai bint Mohammed Al Khalifa, he greeted guests as he toured the gallery space to view the artworks.
According to the artist, she sent his royal highness a formal invitation, “I was surprised that he
accepted my invitation and his presence made my show a truly memorable and important event.”
The exhibition featured over 15 new works on canvas which were also reproduced on silkscreen on her own jalabiyas and shawls in cotton collection. The evening was attended by dignitaries, art collectors and art lovers as well as artists.
According to the artist, she sent his royal highness a formal invitation, “I was surprised that he
accepted my invitation and his presence made my show a truly memorable and important event.”
The exhibition featured over 15 new works on canvas which were also reproduced on silkscreen on her own jalabiyas and shawls in cotton collection. The evening was attended by dignitaries, art collectors and art lovers as well as artists.
HRH Crown Prince Shaikh Salman bin Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa grace art Exhibition
HRH Princess Rym Ali of Jordan inaugurates Iraqi master's exhibition
Amman. HRH Princess Rym Ali inuagurated Rafa al Nasiri's one- man- show exhibiting his latest works comprising prints, paintings and art books at Nabad Art Gallery.
The title “Beyond Time” as obscure as may seem, aroused the curiosity of the audience as much as the art works displayed did. The opening on Monday evening 25th October was attended by a large crowd of visitors rarely seen in Amman in such a quantity.
As a location, Nadab Art Gallery is situated in the heart of old Amman, the first circle, one of the oldest urban spots in the Jordanian capital. A traditional houses that had been extremely well renovated to suit a modern function while maintaining the main characteristics of its architectural details. In the courtyard at the entrance, fruits hang from the old citrus trees offering a typical oriental surrounding and an intimate atmosphere under the Autumn sky with full moon. The white walls of the different rooms opened on one another, embraced the art works of a well organized exhibition in harmonious integration.
Thematically, the art works in general, regardless of the media, underlie the influence of Arabic poetry throughout different ages dating back to Andalusia’s great poet Ibn Zaidoun until the present day. Poetry has been the artist’s principal means for evoking his memory and stimulating images that may contain emotionally and intellectually his views and visions in face of the disastrous situation currently undergoing in his homeland Iraq. Time as a main theme here is subtly rendered in an aesthetic language where colour along with the distribution of volumes, shades and light eloquently define the mood reflected in each art work of this refined exhibition which stands as a true witness to the highly developed skills of the artist and his endeavors to achieve perfection.
The title “Beyond Time” as obscure as may seem, aroused the curiosity of the audience as much as the art works displayed did. The opening on Monday evening 25th October was attended by a large crowd of visitors rarely seen in Amman in such a quantity.
As a location, Nadab Art Gallery is situated in the heart of old Amman, the first circle, one of the oldest urban spots in the Jordanian capital. A traditional houses that had been extremely well renovated to suit a modern function while maintaining the main characteristics of its architectural details. In the courtyard at the entrance, fruits hang from the old citrus trees offering a typical oriental surrounding and an intimate atmosphere under the Autumn sky with full moon. The white walls of the different rooms opened on one another, embraced the art works of a well organized exhibition in harmonious integration.
Thematically, the art works in general, regardless of the media, underlie the influence of Arabic poetry throughout different ages dating back to Andalusia’s great poet Ibn Zaidoun until the present day. Poetry has been the artist’s principal means for evoking his memory and stimulating images that may contain emotionally and intellectually his views and visions in face of the disastrous situation currently undergoing in his homeland Iraq. Time as a main theme here is subtly rendered in an aesthetic language where colour along with the distribution of volumes, shades and light eloquently define the mood reflected in each art work of this refined exhibition which stands as a true witness to the highly developed skills of the artist and his endeavors to achieve perfection.
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'residua' opening attended by HE Sheika Lubna Al Qassimi
SHARJAH. The Barjeel Art Foundation launched its second exhibition on October 22 at the Maraya Art Centre, situated at the Al Qasba cultural centre in Sharjah.
"residua", featuring art by established and emerging artists from the Middle East and North Africa, all drawn from Sheikh Sultan Sooud Al-Qassemi's personal collection of more than 450 pieces is open for public viewing at Barjeel's 475-square-metre space on the second floor of the Maraya Art Centre.
Barjeel's founding mission is to extend the privilege of viewing and appreciating eminent pieces of Arab art to the community at large. residua is the second of the foundation's planned rotating public exhibitions which strive to represent different themes of political, social and cultural importance for the Arab world.
Visitors included Sheikha Lubna bint Khalid bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Minister for Foreign Trade, Consul General of Switzerland HE Jost Schmid, Dr. Farhad Farjam, founder of the Farjam Collection, Public Affairs Officer for the US Consulate Hyun Bo Sim, Isabelle de La Bruyere, director of Christie’s Middle East, Marwan Al Sarkal Chief Executive Officer of Al Qasba Development Authority, Manal Ataya director of Sharjah Museums and Mona Al Gurg, director of retail at Al Grug Group.
"The main focus of our foundation is to create a platform for critical dialogue and informed appreciation for contemporary Arab art," says Sheikh Sultan Sooud Al-Qassemi, founder of the Barjeel Foundation.
On display are paintings, photographs and sculptures of artists of from the Gulf region, Levant, Maghreb, Egypt, Iran and Iraq.
"In residua, we examine how Arab cultures are in a constant state of transformation. The pieces we have selected illustrate the ways in which bonds between language, politics, geography and public memory are continually loosened, reformed and strengthened."
The exhibition includes works of contemporary Arab artists, including Egypt's Ghada Amer and Youssef Nabil, Tagreed Darghouth, Fathi Afifi, Jeffar Khaldi and many more.
"residua", featuring art by established and emerging artists from the Middle East and North Africa, all drawn from Sheikh Sultan Sooud Al-Qassemi's personal collection of more than 450 pieces is open for public viewing at Barjeel's 475-square-metre space on the second floor of the Maraya Art Centre.
Barjeel's founding mission is to extend the privilege of viewing and appreciating eminent pieces of Arab art to the community at large. residua is the second of the foundation's planned rotating public exhibitions which strive to represent different themes of political, social and cultural importance for the Arab world.
Visitors included Sheikha Lubna bint Khalid bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Minister for Foreign Trade, Consul General of Switzerland HE Jost Schmid, Dr. Farhad Farjam, founder of the Farjam Collection, Public Affairs Officer for the US Consulate Hyun Bo Sim, Isabelle de La Bruyere, director of Christie’s Middle East, Marwan Al Sarkal Chief Executive Officer of Al Qasba Development Authority, Manal Ataya director of Sharjah Museums and Mona Al Gurg, director of retail at Al Grug Group.
"The main focus of our foundation is to create a platform for critical dialogue and informed appreciation for contemporary Arab art," says Sheikh Sultan Sooud Al-Qassemi, founder of the Barjeel Foundation.
On display are paintings, photographs and sculptures of artists of from the Gulf region, Levant, Maghreb, Egypt, Iran and Iraq.
"In residua, we examine how Arab cultures are in a constant state of transformation. The pieces we have selected illustrate the ways in which bonds between language, politics, geography and public memory are continually loosened, reformed and strengthened."
The exhibition includes works of contemporary Arab artists, including Egypt's Ghada Amer and Youssef Nabil, Tagreed Darghouth, Fathi Afifi, Jeffar Khaldi and many more.
"Art of the Arab world is as nuanced as the nations that comprise this historically, politically, socially and geographically diverse region. It's very exciting to see the works exhibited in one interactive and accessible space," says Sheikh Sultan Sooud Al-Qassemi.
In addition to featuring artwork at its public exhibition space, the Barjeel Art Foundation also offers its Arab art collection to cultural or educational institutions as part of short-term exhibitions in the Middle East and abroad. The foundation will feature artworks in upcoming exhibitions in Stuttgart, Berlin, Miami and Abu Dhabi.
The Barjeel collection responds to numerous complexities of Arab culture, politics, society, injustice and nostalgia. The pieces are poignant, giving a voice to the artists' experiences in the region and abroad. They shed light on the ever-changing nature of Arab identity and its relevance in contemporary culture. Taken together, the works of art define the ways a distinct Arab identity is shaped and reformed within shifting social, cultural and political contexts.
Art Exhibition draws visitors to the kingdom
MANAMA. Since the opening of Shaikh Rashid bin Khalifa Al Khalifa’s solo exhibition at the Bahrain National Museum last April, there has been a stream of foreign visitors coming to the kingdom to view Convex: A New Perspective and learn more about Bahraini art and artists.
Last month, Lieven and Dorothee De Buck, proprietors of Galerie Guy Pieters in Saint Paul de Vence came for a familiarization tour to discover the kingdom’s art and culture.
As hospitality is paramount in the Bahraini culture, a well-planned itinerary was arranged during their visit to see important places of interest, the National Museum, Shaikh Rashid’s studio and art galleries. During their four-day stay, the couple, both professionals in the field of fine arts exchanged ideas and shared interests with Shaikh Rashid.
Galerie Guy Pieters has a 750 m² exhibition space set on a sprawling garden of over 4,000 m² and is dedicated to famous artists including Andy Warhol - Arman - Bernar Venet - Caesar - Christo & Jeanne-Claude - Jan Fabre - Jean-Michel Folon - Jean-Pierre Raynaud - Jim Dine - Claude and François-Xavier Lalanne - Niki de Saint Phalle - Pavlos - Rauschenberg - Combas - Robert Indiana - Rotraut - Sam Francis - Sosno - Villeglé - Wim Delvoye - Yves Klein.
Since its inception, the gallery has been a venue for art fans, collectors and professionals and its success eventually led their son David, also an entrepreneur, to open his own art gallery in New York.
Last month, Lieven and Dorothee De Buck, proprietors of Galerie Guy Pieters in Saint Paul de Vence came for a familiarization tour to discover the kingdom’s art and culture.
As hospitality is paramount in the Bahraini culture, a well-planned itinerary was arranged during their visit to see important places of interest, the National Museum, Shaikh Rashid’s studio and art galleries. During their four-day stay, the couple, both professionals in the field of fine arts exchanged ideas and shared interests with Shaikh Rashid.
Galerie Guy Pieters has a 750 m² exhibition space set on a sprawling garden of over 4,000 m² and is dedicated to famous artists including Andy Warhol - Arman - Bernar Venet - Caesar - Christo & Jeanne-Claude - Jan Fabre - Jean-Michel Folon - Jean-Pierre Raynaud - Jim Dine - Claude and François-Xavier Lalanne - Niki de Saint Phalle - Pavlos - Rauschenberg - Combas - Robert Indiana - Rotraut - Sam Francis - Sosno - Villeglé - Wim Delvoye - Yves Klein.
Since its inception, the gallery has been a venue for art fans, collectors and professionals and its success eventually led their son David, also an entrepreneur, to open his own art gallery in New York.
MAXXI Museum in Rome by Zaha Hadid Architects wins the RIBA Stirling Prize 2010
LONDON. MAXXI, THE National Museum of XXI Century Arts in Rome by Zaha Hadid Architects has won the coveted £20,000 RIBA Stirling Prize 2010, in association with The Architects Journal and Benchmark.
The presentation of the UK's premier architectural award took place at a special awards ceremony on the evening of 2 October at The Roundhouse in London, and was televised live on BBC Two’s The Culture Show.
Commenting on MAXXI, the judges said:
‘MAXXI is described as a building for the staging of art, and whilst provocative at many levels, this project shows a calmness that belies the complexities of its form and organisation. The nature of the project means everything has to be over-specified - throughout the design process the architects had no idea what the series of rooms would be used to hang, so walls which will bear a ton of rusting steel might be graced by miniatures.
The museum, for all its structural pyrotechnics, is rationally organised as five main suites. The building is bravely day lit with a sinuous roof of controllable skylights, louvres and beams which orientate and excite the visitor and create uplifting spaces.
This is a mature piece of architecture, the distillation of years of experimentation, only a fraction of which ever got built. It is the quintessence of Zaha’s constant attempt to create a landscape as a series of cavernous spaces drawn with a free, roving line. The resulting piece, rather than prescribing routes, gives the visitor a sense of exploration. It is perhaps her best work to date.’
RIBA President, Ruth Reed announced the winner. Editor of The Architects' Journal, Christine Murray, awarded the £20,000 cheque and Gilbert McCarthy, MD of Benchmark presented the certificate to Zaha Hadid, Patrik Schumacher and Gianluca Racana and client and President of the MAXXI Foundation, Pio Baldi.
Speaking that evening, RIBA President Ruth Reed said:
‘In MAXXI we have a much deserved winner, and I am delighted to award Zaha Hadid Architects with architecture’s highest accolade.’
This is the first time Zaha Hadid Architects has been awarded the RIBA Stirling Prize, having been shortlisted for the prize on three previous occasions (Nord Park Cable Railway, Austria, 2008; Phaeno Science Center, Wolfsburg, Germany, 2006; BMW Central Building, Leipzig, Germany, 2005).
The presentation of the UK's premier architectural award took place at a special awards ceremony on the evening of 2 October at The Roundhouse in London, and was televised live on BBC Two’s The Culture Show.
Commenting on MAXXI, the judges said:
‘MAXXI is described as a building for the staging of art, and whilst provocative at many levels, this project shows a calmness that belies the complexities of its form and organisation. The nature of the project means everything has to be over-specified - throughout the design process the architects had no idea what the series of rooms would be used to hang, so walls which will bear a ton of rusting steel might be graced by miniatures.
The museum, for all its structural pyrotechnics, is rationally organised as five main suites. The building is bravely day lit with a sinuous roof of controllable skylights, louvres and beams which orientate and excite the visitor and create uplifting spaces.
This is a mature piece of architecture, the distillation of years of experimentation, only a fraction of which ever got built. It is the quintessence of Zaha’s constant attempt to create a landscape as a series of cavernous spaces drawn with a free, roving line. The resulting piece, rather than prescribing routes, gives the visitor a sense of exploration. It is perhaps her best work to date.’
RIBA President, Ruth Reed announced the winner. Editor of The Architects' Journal, Christine Murray, awarded the £20,000 cheque and Gilbert McCarthy, MD of Benchmark presented the certificate to Zaha Hadid, Patrik Schumacher and Gianluca Racana and client and President of the MAXXI Foundation, Pio Baldi.
Speaking that evening, RIBA President Ruth Reed said:
‘In MAXXI we have a much deserved winner, and I am delighted to award Zaha Hadid Architects with architecture’s highest accolade.’
This is the first time Zaha Hadid Architects has been awarded the RIBA Stirling Prize, having been shortlisted for the prize on three previous occasions (Nord Park Cable Railway, Austria, 2008; Phaeno Science Center, Wolfsburg, Germany, 2006; BMW Central Building, Leipzig, Germany, 2005).
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