THE ART INSIDER
Art historian, dedicated collector and managing director of Dubai’s Meem Gallery, Charles Pocock knows the UAE art scene like the back of a Picasso. Do you have an art question for Charles? E-mail: editor-wo@ motivate.ae This month sees the international art community jet into Venice for one of the biggest events on the 2011 art calendar – the 54th Biennale di Venezia. Critics, art connoisseurs, gallerists and tourists alike will briefly decamp to the northern Italian city to ogle, comment upon and criticise the numerous national pavilions. Follow my advice, and join them. Why? Well, the Venice Biennale is regarded internationally as the greatest of all art biennales, with numerous international pavilions displaying the talent emanating from various countries – in essence it is a cultural expo, with each country attempting to outdo the others. It will be thrilling. But, most importantly, this year the Middle East is heavily represented. Egypt’s show was cancelled, then brought back again, with Ahmed 68 WHAT’S ON JUNE 2011
Basiouny. Iraq is returning to the Biennale following an absence of 35 years with Adel Abidin, Halim Al Karim, Ahmed Al Soudani, Walid Siti, Ali Assaf and Azad Nanakeli. Turkey, Iran, Syria and the UAE returns with Saudi Arabia a new edition to the Middle Eastern line-up. We also have a pan-Arabic pavilion funded by the Jameel Group of Saudi Arabia and Abraaj Capital. Titled The Future Of Promise it will contain works by many leading names, such as Janane Al Ani, Mona Hatoum, Emily Jacir, Ayman Baalbaki and others. But, with Iraq, Turkey and The Future Of Promise being the exceptions, the other pavilions will feature heavily censored exhibitions, which is a real pity. By exhibiting artists that do not necessarily promote the true art scene of each country and the region, they are not presenting the best of what they have to offer. This is disappointing. Qatar, through Mathaf, has collected the best of modern and contemporary Arab art, presenting a credible body of work to an international audience. Why can’t the other GCC countries embrace pan-Arabism when it comes to culture and present the best the region has to offer, instead of exhibiting to the world what is in essence student work, especially on a stage such as the Venice Biennale?
Five minutes with... Syrian photographer Jaber Al Azmeh Why do you show your work in pairs? There are two main components for each of the photographs; the human element and the time element. Initially I had no intention of presenting them in pairs, but then I found that this method would complement the duality of components. Moreover, there’s a connection between the two photographs in each pair, sometimes it is visual, other times it is conceptual. So presenting them as ‘duets’ would allow the viewer to enjoy discovering these connections. There’s a lot of tight focus in your images, revealing patterns in the subject matter almost to the point of abstraction. Is that a conscious choice? Obviously, I would say yes. Most artists like it when their work is over-analysed, although they might pretend otherwise. The truth is, I am still in love with painting and in my photography work I consistently seek to create a painting. When I was a fine arts student, it seemed unquestionable to me that I would become a painter… it hasn’t happened, but perhaps I still try through various means. Your images rarely contain people yet you call them ‘portraits’ – why? Because when I look at these photos what I really want to see in front of this wall or behind that door is the people who passed by, the people who created or who were present in the scene. It could be a short, dark man, or a young woman getting on a train anticipating a reunion… it is a collection of short stories and portraits of their characters. Describe your work in three words Simple in form Until Jul 16. Traces, Green Art Gallery, Unit 28, Street 8, Al Serkal Avenue, Al Quoz, Dubai. Tel: (04) 3469305. www.gagallery.com
Skills set Fancy getting your head around a creative computer package such as Adobe Illustrator or learning how to make a collage? These are just two of the recent courses on offer at Taskkeel’s Ned Al Sheba space. With a regular roster of contemporary art exhibitions alongside well-equipped studio space and discount for members, Tashkeel remains one of Dubai’s best-kept creative secrets. We suggest you get onboard and discover it for yourself today. Nad Al Sheba, Dubai. Tel: (04) 3363313. www.tashkeel.org