Abu Dhabi Art selects curator for the Afaq: Emerging Artists 2022 program

Abu Dhabi (Union)
Abu Dhabi Art has announced the appointment of Abdel Qadri, the plastic artist, co-founder and general manager of the Lebanese publishing house Dongola, as curator to oversee the annual “Horizons: Emerging Artists” program, where Qadri will mentor and mentor three emerging artists from the UAE, Majd Alloush (Syria) and Sarah Al Muhairi (UAE) and Mohammed Khaled (Sri Lanka), to create artworks to be presented at the Abu Dhabi Art exhibition next November until January 22, 2023.
 
artistic experience
The three artists will be on a date with an artistic experience during which they will explore various visions about the concepts of borders between countries, the idea of ​​the homeland, human settlements and geographical maps, with a focus on the most prominent steps in developing art books. These commissioned artworks will be displayed, in addition to a copy of the art project “Cities and Stones.” Health: The Post Box, which was previously implemented by Al Qadri and presented during the period from November 16 to January 22, 2023 at Al Muwaiji Palace in Al Ain as part of the Abu Dhabi Art program.
Diala Nusseibeh, Director of the Abu Dhabi Art Gallery, said: “Our annual program “Aafaq: Emerging Artists” aims to develop a new generation of artists and creators, present their work to an international audience, and enable them to create ambitious works under the supervision of the curator, and with the financial and moral support of the Department Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi”, adding: “In addition to (Horizons: Emerging Artists), Al-Qadri will present his artistic project (Cities and Quarantine: P.O. Box), which celebrates the importance of the world and material and tangible art, in conjunction with the rapid digital developments and the emergence of the imposing world of metaverses Strongly”.

creative challenge
For his part, Abdul Qadri said: “It is a wonderful opportunity through which I aspire to establish a fruitful artistic dialogue that addresses the works of the three artists and presents new creative visions by focusing on the practices of developing art books. I chose these young artists to participate in the program, after they proved their ability to take on this artistic challenge and come up with wonderful creativity.”
In his works, Al-Qadri focuses on the idea of ​​translating and embodying forms of violence in the light of pent-up traumatic personal and collective experiences in which the meanings of pain and oppression are manifested, with a focus on the idea of ​​​​the destruction of cultural heritage, migration and belonging. As director of Dongola Publishing, Al-Qadri provides the necessary support to develop art books in collaboration with artists, authors and designers, to present non-traditional perspectives on art and contemporary issues in the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia.

Participants’ interests
Majd Alloush said: “I find myself interested in studying borders and presenting them as a concept, content and artistic medium, by exploring geopolitical, social and environmental issues, which prompts me to reconsider the concept of (digital maps) and the meaning behind cartography. I hope to publish works that deal with the idea of ​​borders more deeply and reveal the idea and the existential significance behind the geography of the borders separating the various human societies.”

Mohamed Khaled explained: “My artistic practices are based on individual identity by relying on everyday components and objects in an attempt to highlight their metaphorical images.” Meanwhile, Sarah Al Muhairi said: “This artistic journey, accompanied by my colleagues, is of special importance, as it creates space for us to face artistic challenges and move towards broader possibilities, whether individually or collectively. I look forward to working at this prestigious level, developing my practices, and then including them in an art book.”

“mail box”
Abdul Qadri’s project “Cities and Quarantine: The Mailbox” features works by more than 50 well-known Arab artists, including Dia Al-Azzawi, Mona Al-Saudi, Muhammad Omar Khalil, and Muhammad Kazem, who have expressed their unique experiences around isolation during the lockdown period during the pandemic, drawing inspiration from them. Creative creations and artistic products. They faced the great challenge of directing their artistic production away from studios and dedicated workspaces, using canvas or sculpting practices and relying on other, more intimate mediums, the art book.

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