The start of the new art season! Love it!
So my friend GG (Glamorous Gwyneth) and I dared the h&h (heat and humidity) and wandered around the DIFC art galleries last night. It was a short and sweet evening with brief visits to the exhibitions.
I shall start with my favourites of the evening: the ones that made the biggest impressions on my fleeting visit.
Big love goes out to Cuadro gallery…well, not the whole gallery. Showcasing two artists at the moment, Gary Komarin‘s Road to Dialoro and Faig Ahmed’s Fluid Forms. Ahmed is from Azebaijan, living in Baku. Reworking the traditional carpet weaving techniques to create a modern approach, Ahmed transforms the two dimensional decorative items to three dimensional painterly and sculptural artworks. The results are stunning! My penchant for textile art and suspended threads is properly satisfied with this exhibition, especially the black suspended wool spanning across two walls with geometrical designs and carefully placed gut (which is a bit tricky to photograph in the lighting unfortunately). Loved it!
But Cuadro, no information tags/ artwork names/ dates…?
I can’t say too much about US artist Komarin’s work. Below is one photo. I can’t help thinking R2D2 in a dish-dash. I’m sorry, this might be incredibly rude of me but it’s the first reference that jumps into my mind. The other factors that bother me about the work is the careless application of paint on paper and the installation of it (the papers were pulling off the hardboard backing). It is those little neglected things that irritate me. Of course I am overly judgemental and need to research this artist further for a better understanding of his work.
The next piece that I find intriguing is Diana Al Hadid‘s sculptural work Cenotaph for two at The Farjam Collection.The Syrian artist draws inspiration from art history, mythology, science and architecture. This work represents a large tomb for past civilizations. I particularly enjoy the monumental or cathedral like sculptural element of the work. The tension of the large objects resting on the thin supports adds to its ethereal presence. I would like to go back and have a closer look at the figurative fragments that are embedded within the structure.
Another work at the same gallery that is quite unusual and entertaining is the video Myopia by Gregory Scott. The multiple screen, within a screen, within a screen… was a nice surprise.
The last artwork that I really enjoy and I believe carry so many different meanings depending on which cultural reference you originate from, is from Indian artist Shende Valay at Opera Gallery. Loved it. It shows a figure of a boy, completely covered with a furry textured, leopard print fabric, standing on a bronze (?) lotus flower, holding a gun behind his back. My mind is flooded with references: child soldiers, lotus for peace, lost of innocence…and the list continues.
Valay’s other sculptural work, a bull’s head with small images of Indian politicians surrounding, is just as enjoyable. The bull being a sacred animal in Indian/ Hindu culture juxtaposed with the general cynical view of politicians- I find quite amusing. I am also throwing in photos of the ‘green balloon face’, because it makes me HAPPY! And the Italian designer having fun creating an artwork with neon tights.
The annoying part yet again, is the lack of artist name/information tags next to the works. (Is this a new trend? I hope not because I don’t like it!).
The exhibition that initially drew me to DIFC last night is Kuwaiti/Syrian artist Shurooq Amin‘s We’ll built this city on art and love at Ayyam Gallery. I was excited to go see her work, since my current research revolves around Arab Female artists and how they are represented- but I was left cold. Maybe I just don’t understand her work, or spent enough time looking at it. GG was extremely unimpressed with the haphazard use of collage such as the flowers and lace on the paintings. Maybe I was influences a bit by GG, she sure knows how to twist my arm in most situations. Again, I would need to go back and give this a second chance. Do realize that I am writing from a personal position. In 2013, Shurooq was awarded the title of “Artist of the Year” by the Arab Woman Awards, Kuwait chapter and was the first female Kuwaiti artist to be auctioned at Christie’s in 2012. So she is a force to be reckoned with for sure. I truly admired her work on her website, specifically the 2013 Popcornographic series. I find it more daring, tongue- in- cheek, more naughty (which I love of course!).
The final mention for the night goes to Art Sawa. We both really enjoy the ‘musicians’ displayed in the courtyard area outside the gallery: especially the whimsical contortionist figure by Ahmed Askalany. The wooden busts/ heads by Mustafa Ali inside is less impressive to me. Coming from South Africa, I have seen my fair share of wooden carvings. I guess the simplicity in these is what I like the most, but I could not really see a magnificent skill set in creating them and did not quite appreciate them being dunked into a bowl of glitter. Below is the one sculpture that I preferred from the selection and another image shows GG surrounded by the rest of the collection. I do like the gallery though and the owner(?) is always extremely welcoming.
I am hoping everyone is entitled to their own opinions? I am starting to form them more easily now! It was overall a good evening! Not as well attended as the usual art nights, but I guess the h&h is still a little too much to handle for some. I do not like the new trend that seems to be happening with the lack of name/ information tags next to the works. However, it is actually nice to talk to gallery staff for a change. Shout out to Nathalie at Opera Gallery who is very well informed and a delight to share my insights on little ‘leopard boy’ with.
I am looking forward to see what Al Serkhal avenue has installed for tonight!
Art&About 