French Curator Exhibits Abstract Art From Tunisia, Morocco, Lebanon & Iraq
Mashreq versus.Maghreb: Arab Vision Abstracted
7pm. 19.10.11
Contemporary Art Platform, Kuwait (http://capkuwait.org) unveils Mashreq vs. Maghreb: Arab Vision Abstracted, a quintessential collection of modern abstract artwork from October 19 through November 12 2011. The luscious exhibition collect works from Tunisia to Iraq, from where the sun rises on the Arab world to where it sets-and collects these colors in Industrial Shuwaikh, Kuwait.
The artists included are North African Ben Bella & Benanteur, Levantine Shafic Abboud & Assadour, and Iraqi Dia Azzawi. Through a varied number of symbolic gestures, the artists featured explore the theme of homeland and exile. With an educational background in London or Paris, the artists’ featured works burst with the tension of belonging vs. alienation.
Benanteur, Abboud and Azzawi challenge the existing cartographies of their home countries by abstracting landscapes and deconstructing cities such as Baghdad and Beirut. Ben Bella and Assadour take a social approach to homeland and choose the chaos of the Arab world for their subject. Ben Bella creates a dizzying “talismanic script” (Catalogue Christie’s Dubai, 31.10.2007) that knows no left or right, orientating itself according to intuition. Assadour takes an opposite approach, applying structure to chaos with his constructivist style.
The Mashreq vs. Maghreb exhibit, curated by acclaimed curator and gallerist Claude Lemand, will be comprised of large-scale paintings, sculptures and engravings. The exquisite set of works will be available for sale. CAP will also sponsor a series of open studio sessions, inviting artists of all ages to experiment with the colors and textures of daily life.
CAP Kuwait is a nonprofit venture, supported by an extensive private collection of modern and contemporary artwork.
Contact: Liane Al-Ghusain
Tel: 24925637 - Fax: 24827993
PO Box 102 Safat, 13002, Kuwait
Contemporary Art Center
Industrial Shuwaikh Block 2, St. 28 Life Center, Mezzanine
Email: info@capkuwait.com
Website: http://capkuwait.com
Gallery Tilal
Insaniya & Sadawiyat - Sami Mohammed
2nd - 13th Oct. 2011
Sami Mohammad remains faithful to the subject of “Humanity”. The human tragedy, human suffering and suppression and man’s quest for freedom, love and peace. Although the subject has been used before Sami Mohammad made a conscious rebirth and interpretation of the topic. His ability to tell the history of many nations around the world in wordless sculptures is commendable.
This exhibition unifies mankind recognizing man’s basic need, freedom. His artwork roars with “Rage of Pride” demanding the elimination of the aggressor and restoration of man’s free will!
Kuwaiti Artist Sami Mohammad (art creativity), born in 1943 in a region east of Kuwait. He studied sculpture at the Fine Arts College in 1970, and obtained an honoring diploma from Cannes Sur La Mer in France in 1970. He is one of the founders of the Kuwaiti Association for Formative Arts established in 1967. He obtained several local and international awards, and was charged by the National Council for Culture, Arts and Literature with designing the encouraging state award in 1993 and designing and creating the honoring state award and medal in 2000.
He was granted the encouraging state award in 1999 by the National Council for Culture, Arts and Literature, and obtained a honoring and financial award at Tehran International Biennaial for the year 2001, and executed a field project about the Kuwaiti woman in 2001.
A Landmark in the Kuwaiti Formative Art Movement.
Ahmed Abu Adas
23rd Oct. - 3rd Nov. 2011
A Jordanian artist born with a talent and a sensitivity towards colors, shapes and movement. He learned to decipher the codes of Art drawing to be a mature young artist.
He became infatuated with the horse’s movements, moods, powers and panache, which were vividly reflected in his paintings and became his signature in succeeded Artwork.
He emphasized on the perfection of the horse’s conformation then his passion of horses escalated to include to the poetry and literature of horse related subjects.
By now he has reserved himself a prominent state in the Art scene.
Ahmed who follows the classical school says “I love horses for their stray band with Arabic Literature in effect I draw horses with Arabic letters calligraphy poetry and prose. He adds “I am a tireless Artist; I have the ability to paint for horses relentlessly. I use the traditional metal brush, and old technique used for high accuracy resulting in intricate Artwork often mistaken for computer work!”
The Arab Fall
4th - 20th October, 2011
Opening (in the presence of ‘Bokja Design’ - Hoda Baroudi & Maria Hibri) : 4th October ; 7 - 9 pm
5th October ; 10am - 4 pm & 7 - 9pm
6th - 20th October ; 10am - 4pm
(Closed on Fridays & Saturdays)
The Sultan Gallery, South Sabhan, Block 8,
Street 105, Building 168
Tel : +965 24714325/6 ext.110 ;
Mob: +96560970001
sultangallery1969@gmail.com
Recognizing as always its deep roots in the region and the wider Levant, and inspired by the wave of social and political developments sweeping the Arab world, Bokja Design Studio will show a series of globes and two installations at an event entitled “The Arab Fall” at the Sultan Gallery in Kuwait during the period from 4th - 20th October 2011
Bokja chose to represent solely Arab countries, and to stretch them out on a complete globe - challenging an instantly recognizable icon. By presenting the map of the Arab world in different colorfully upholstered designs, the series of globes essentially aim to draw attention to the region as a seething macrocosm of change and to express the extent of its sweep and diversity.
Bokja has always been an active commentator on the Lebanese social and political situation, so it is only natural that the scope be extended. Following the assassination of Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, and in the wake of the demonstrations that ensued, Bokja created a series of furniture commemorating those events. Similarly, in the wake of the Israeli invasion of 2006, a special salute was given to displaced citizens, by upholstering pieces in the colorful fabrics that were seen piled up on cars fleeing the south.
The globes are complemented by two installations; one of which shows the Arab world as-is. Another parallel and facing wall-hanging will show the map through according to Bokja; interpreted through the prism of what will come.
First published in Men's Passion issue #34 October 2011
