Ceramic Cairo

Moustafa Darwish. Ceramics. Gallery.

The friendliest old lady who currently takes care of the gallery of the deceased Egyptian artist was given a lecture by my dad on the importance of insuring all this man's treasures.

Abu Dhabi Arts - Part Une

Ok. So here's my long looooooooong - a due post on the Abu Dhabi Arts Fair back in - gulp - November 2010. Yes. Almost one year ago (stick in 'cover the face' emoticon here please).

Pakistani Simeen Farhat's 3D calligraphy "Twisted Melody" based on the poetry of Rumi at the Xerxes Arts Gallery booth. Heard it through the grapevine that La Fontaine (Bahrain) will be hosting an exhibition for the artist in November 2011. Well worth the wait..

In the far back are some of my favourite mixed-media prints of Arab scholars and personalities from the 70s and this generation - "Icons of the 4 Corners", including Queen Alia, Shaikha Moza AlMisned, Um Kulthom, Edward Said (personal favourite), Naguib Mahfouz, Fariouz, Omar Sharif, all by Iranian artist Afsoon.

A one-on-one personal dig-in to the strange, surprisingly quite pleasant and down to earth, pop genius brain of Jeff Koons.

Just another typical day at your arts fair VIP lounge. A VW DJ booth spinnin the latest mixing it up for the VIPS gettin everybody down & dirrrty (oh oh oh I did not just say that). (Insert more pretentious and "hip-sounding" remarks here)

Khatt Foundation, Khalid Mezaina, Formafantasma, Unfold and Estudio Campana in discussion, moderated by Dezeen Editor Marcus Fairs.

With a lovely conclusion to the exhibition, had the privilege of listening to the panel discussion 'With Passion They Collect', including HE Abdul Rahman Al Owais, Minister of Culture, Sultan Sooud Al Qassemi, journalist and Meem Gallery art owner, Dr. Farhad Farjam, talk about their passion for collecting art, moderated by Farbod Dowlatshahi.

Some call it a collectors' dream, others call it self-promotion, and yet others call it hoarding. I say, support the region, build a cause and they will come.

...And alternatively, if you gots the money, bring in the honeys (in this case, um, art, Middle Eastern art).

One day Lumz. One day..

(P.S. Thanks munzii for taking some of the pics and making the trip worth the while..)

P.P.S To justify my superficiality in this current post, my next post will discuss the power, significance and science behind colour and visual stimulation.. *snap*

Abdulnasser Gharem - Flora & Fauna

Here's one of my favourite Saudi artists, Abdulnasser Gharem. First time I saw his pieces, I just thought he was some bored Saudi dude with nothing better to do but randomly graffiti some random Jeddah streets here and there or cross the ever-grudging path of emerging Gulf artists meets contemporary art getting some credit during the Arab Art Renaissance with a little calligraphy and modern Arabic font here and there. Phew..

Then I saw the below performance piece (oh yes, the ill-hated lame performance pieces where all weirdo artists get away with making a dance move and swishing to the odd soundtrack), and shut the eff up.

Here he is, making the statement - walking the streets covered in a plastic bag (yes, a plastic bag) gripping a special type of tree. That tree was selected as the tree to cover the area of Jeddah in 2007 by the Saudi Agriculture Ministry at the point of implementing the 'greenify Saudi' strategy. With a little research, Gharem discovered that these trees which were aimed to improve the agriculture of the city actually caused more damage than good (the roots would grow underneath the ground basically killing off any plant life in its way.. Oh the irony).

Flora & Fauna

What makes this piece and artist more fascinating is that Gharem is a former (or current, not sure) Lieutenant Colonel at the Saudi Arabian Army - (Ee, mal iljaish). Army and artist? Grrrr..

Saw a preview of this wide wood and copper dome symbolizing the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem by Gharem, to be shown in Contemporary Istanbul 2011 - Sold for a record of $842500 (AED 3093660) at the 'Edge of Arabia' Christie's auction, a record for any Gulf artist.