ART-PRESENTATION: Bahrein Art Week Paris 2018
The Kingdom of Bahrein has a rich arts scene, except the Bahrain Annual Fine Arts Exhibition first established in 1972, Art Bahrain Across Borders (ArtBAB), created in 2015, is Bahrain’s foremost International Art Fair. Part of ArtBAB’s program to promote the most promising established and emerging Bahraini artists is the organizing of Bahrein Art Week.
By Efi Michalarou
Photo: Corinne Timsit Art Advisory (CT2A)
Due to the success of previous Art Weeks in London and Moscow, The first edition of Bahrein Art Week Paris, was held in Grand Palais (13-15/9/18) and Rabouan Moussion Gallery (17-22/9/18). Under the theme “The Legacy and the Contemporary memory”, the exhibition presented 17 established and emerging Bahraini artists aiming to reflect notions of the past and present where this culturally rich country has a deep-rooted influence reflected in the selected artworks, holding heritage in high regard. “Characterized by bold impressionistic abstracts, this collection speaks of how the Bahraini artists visualize their 5,000-year-old heritage of art and culture and transform it into a 21st Century narrative through their contemporary practices. Bahraini artists are exploring their cultural identity with confidence and skill and have been increasingly welcomed in art capitals around the world where ArtBAB presents their special vision”, as, one of the curators of the exhibition, Kaneka Subberwal says. “The art scene in Bahrain is at a crossroads of contemporary expression, taking in global points of view and expression whilst remaining true to their heritage. It is with great honor to showcase this emerging talent on an international platform”, said Corinne Timsit, about the artists. Aysha Al Moayyed, a young feminist artist creates works dealing with the problems of contemporary consumer society in the Middle East. Dr. Ahmed Ahmed started as a photographer in the 50’s and recently made a shift toward sculpture, using different materials ranging from steel to wood, creating massive site-specific pieces. His artwork pays tribute to the brutalist architecture and secular minimalist style, flourishing in the Middle East in the 60’s and 70’s. Jamal Abdul Rahim works express close ties between man and the universe through understanding his identity as a Bahraini Arab artist, the city where he was brought up and his close ties with the sea, that the artist spend most of his childhood enjoying its beauty. For the artist the environment plays a very important role in his life due to its geography and simple folkloric architecture which possess a philosophical dimension which appears clearly in the shapes of the houses and the narrow, twisted alleyways which are characteristic of the old town of Al Muharraq. Mayasa Al Sowaidi uses raw materials to create enchanting works, conjuring up emotions of nostalgia, heritage, and our place in this fast paced and ever changing world Faika Al Hassan uses mixed media on canvas to deconstruct the relationships between human beings and the vastness of the universe by pushing boundaries and posing questions that are at the core of understanding our place in the world. Hala Kaiksow builds bridges between East and West history, and contemporaneity art, and fashion. Her hand-made clothes inscribe into a centuries-long textile tradition, mixing it with the new tendencies. Sayed Hassan Al-Sari uses a square format and a mixed media to create figurative works surrounding the problems and complexities of today’s culture and society. Mohammed Al Mahdi reflects on the trauma that has shaped his perception of the world, simultaneously addressing the human condition in our modern climate through a framework of abstraction. Othman Khunji’s works include sculptures and installations, often interactive, representing reflections based on the subject of religion, culture, and society. Salman Najem works on the subject of conflict by using an expressive, ‘childlike’ pictorial language. The specific visual style of Najem’s works allow him to fill canvases with a wide range of emotions. Balqees Fakhro is inspired by the memory of specific experiences and places. Over the years her paintings have evolved from figurative to abstract, as she portrays the complexities of the ever-changing urban landscape. Nabeela Al Khayer is using mixed media in a large format. Presented many times on the Eastern and Western art scene, as well as in national museums, she is already an important figure in the international art market. Omar Al Rashed’s work reflects the colorful, inclusive and forward thinking society that shapes the country of Bahrain. He is is particularly concerned with his cultural heritage and the community togetherness it represents. Rawan Al Hosani explores Bahraini childhood and identity against the backdrop of our modernized world. She digitally manipulates her multilayered prints isolating common experiences of younger and older generation Bahraini’s. Lulwa Bint Abdulaziz Al Khalifa’s central theme is that of a celebration of domesticity and femininity. She is an artist with a rofoundly eclectic oeuvre: abstract and figurative, human yet naturalistic, historical and contemporary. Marwa Rashid Al Khalifa works to advance the cause of women and support their harmonious development – visually expressing herself through painting and installation. Somaya Abdulghani experiments with traditional art narratives specializing in photography, collage, and mixed media. Calligraphy, floral and vegetal ornaments are abundantly present in her graphic, installation and textile artworks.
Info: Artistic Director: Corinne Timsit, Curators: Kaneka Subberwal and Corinne Timsit, Bahrein Art Week Paris 2018, Grand Palais, 3 Avenue du Général Eisenhower, Paris, Duration: 13-15/9/18 www.grandpalais.fr and Galerie Rabouan Moussion, 11 Rue Pastourelle, Paris, Duration: 17-22/9/18, Days & Hours: Mon-Sat 10:00-19:30, www.rabouanmoussion.com
co-curator of Bahrain Art Week Paris (right) during the opening of the exhibition
