Disorientation II, 28 Oct 2009
DISORIENTATION II, A NEW EXHIBITION OF CONTEMPORARY ART, explores THE THEME OF Unity
in the Arab World
Exhibition Opening Coincides with the Debut of Abu Dhabi Art,
a New Platform for Modern and Contemporary Art
Inaugurates Manarat Al Saadiyat,
the First Exhibition Space on Saadiyat Island
ABU DHABI, UAE, 28 October, 2009 – Tourism Development and Investment Company (TDIC), in collaboration with the Sharjah Art Foundation, will present an exciting and thought-provoking selection of work by 16 contemporary artists from the Arab world in the new exhibition Disorientation II: The Rise and Fall of Arab Cities, on view to the public in Abu Dhabi from 22 November 2009 through 20 February 2010. Curated by Jack Persekian—the distinguished Artistic Director of the Sharjah Biennial, Director of the Sharjah Art Foundation, and founder of Al Ma’mal Foundation for Contemporary Art in Jerusalem—Disorientation II will open during the inaugural edition of Abu Dhabi Art, contributing toward the success of this innovative new platform for modern and contemporary art as one of the event’s high-level presentations.
Adding to the excitement of the opening, Disorientation II will be the first exhibition to be shown on Saadiyat Island—where TDIC is now developing the renowned Cultural District—as the inaugural offering in the new exhibition space Manarat Al Saadiyat.
For participants and guests of Abu Dhabi Art, a special preview day for Disorientation II will be held on 21 November, with art performances beginning at 7 p.m.
“We are committed through our cultural programme to supporting the most vital and stimulating of today’s Arab artists, and we look forward to presenting this important exhibition during Abu Dhabi Art organised by TDIC and ADACH, when artists, curators and collectors from the region and around the world will be here in Abu Dhabi,” stated His Excellency Sheikh Sultan bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, Chairman of TDIC and ADACH. “Whether we are establishing Abu Dhabi Art, presenting path-breaking exhibitions at Manarat Al Saadiyat and Gallery One at Emirates Palace, or creating the Saadiyat Island Cultural District, we are always focused on making Abu Dhabi a true crossroads of global culture.”
“The Sharjah Art Foundation is delighted to partner with Abu Dhabi in this important initiative to enrich the cultural landscape of the UAE,” stated Her Highness Sheikha Hoor Al Qasimi, President of the Sharjah Art Foundation and Director of the Sharjah Biennial. “We hope that this exhibition will be the first of many future collaborations that help foster understanding and support for the contemporary art of our region.”
According to Jack Persekian, the works chosen for Disorientation II reflect the thoughts and feelings of a diverse group of contemporary artists from the Arab world on the interplay between unity and division in their societies, a generation ago and today.
“This flashback to the 1960s and 70s is juxtaposed to our present moment, as expressed through the drawings, collages, photographs, videos, sculptural installations, performances and films of 16 artists from throughout the region. The result is a vision of Arab cities as places where unity and division co-exist.” Jack Persekian stated.
The participating artists in Disorientation II: The Rise and Fall of Arab Cities are Ali Jabri, Ayreen Anastas and René Gabri, Diana Al Hadid, Hala El Koussy, Hrair Sarkissian, Kader Attia, Marwan Rechmaoui, Mona Hatoum, Monika Borgmann, Samah Hijawi, Tarek Al-Ghoussein, Tarek Atoui, Wael Shawky, Wafa Hourani and Yto Barrada. The works range from the personal exploration of Cairo in 1977 in the sketchbooks of the late Ali Jabri; to Hrair Sarkissian’s photographs of “Execution Squares” in three Syrian cities; to Yto Barrada’s automated toy model of a destitute neighbourhood before, during and after an official visit by dignitaries; to Wafa Hourani’s futuristic, mixed-media model of a Palestinian refugee camp in 2047; to a specially commissioned work by Tarek Al-Ghoussein, reflecting on the themes of barriers, displacement and longing by means of “location observations” and interventions into the landscape.
About Abu Dhabi Art
Abu Dhabi Art is a major new annual platform in modern and contemporary art, with an introduction to design, organised by Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC) and the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (ADACH) under the patronage of His Highness General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces. Conceived as a new, boutique-style art fair, it brings together an exclusive selection of leading art dealers and innovative new galleries from the four corners of the world and surrounds them with an exceptionally rich schedule of special exhibitions, public programmes and cultural events. As an integral part of the Emirate’s long-term agenda for transforming the capital, an ancient and modern crossroads of culture and trade, into a global city of the 21st century, Abu Dhabi Art will welcome collectors, artists, designers, art dealers, curators, critics and art lovers from around the world. Abu Dhabi Art will be presented for the first time from 19 to 22 November 2009, as institutions including the Zayed National Museum, the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi Museum and the Louvre Abu Dhabi rise on Abu Dhabi’s Saadiyat Island and build their world-class collections.
Abu Dhabi Art is honoured to have the enthusiastic support of HSBC Bank Middle East Ltd as Principal Sponsor. Organizers also thank Associate Sponsors Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) and Audi Middle East, Official Cargo Carrier Etihad Crystal Cargo, Host Sponsor Emirates Palace, and Official Provider Abu Dhabi National Hotels, Apple and Sunraysia Five Star. Media Partners include CNN International, Abu Dhabi Media Company (The National), Bidoun, Canvas, The Art Newspaper, ArtNexus, and TimeOut Abu Dhabi.
Information on Abu Dhabi Art is updated frequently, as the opening of the inaugural edition approaches. For full current details and the latest updates, please visit www.abudhabiartfair.ae.
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About Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC)
Tourism Development and Investment Company (TDIC) is a master developer of key cultural, residential and tourism destinations in Abu Dhabi. The principal goal of its cultural programme, up to and including the creation of the Saadiyat Island Cultural District – the world’s largest single concentration of premier cultural institutions – is to establish an international platform in the UAE for arts and culture.
Unprecedented in scale and scope, the Saadiyat Island Cultural District will include museums such as the Zayed National Museum, the Louvre Abu Dhabi and the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi Museum, all due for completion in 2012/2013. Education is essential to fulfilling TDIC’s mission, and this initiative provides opportunities for the local and regional community to participate in programming of the highest quality and to be engaged in the city’s urban, cultural and artistic development, while enabling Emiratis and UAE residents to develop professional skills and knowledge through a dialogue with representatives from the world’s leading cultural organizations.
Alongside the Cultural District project, TDIC presents a diversified programme of art exhibitions, events and talks aimed at all levels to further engage audiences in the arts.
For more information visit www.artsabudhabi.ae; www.tdic.ae
About Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (ADACH)
Established in 2005 as the cultural authority of the Government of Abu Dhabi, the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (ADACH) has far-sighted aspirations to harness the pride of the people of the UAE through the development of its cultural heritage and to be the leading cultural development organization in the region. ADACH is committing its resources to the preservation of heritage as well as to the development of Emirati, regional and international arts, music, literature, and cinema. This vision is open to everyone in the Middle East, the Arab world and beyond.
Through its major initiative entitled the “ADACH Platform for the Visual Arts,” the Authority will bring together important contributions from contemporary artists from the Gulf and from throughout the Arab world. It will also present a futuristic vision of Abu Dhabi as a place where living traditions and contemporary culture come together in a new dynamic space.
ADACH has already lined up a number of structures and initiatives to fulfill its strategic objectives in fields including green building design, museum development, excellence in curatorial and museum studies, cultural infrastructure development, film industry, translation and publishing, among others. Abu Dhabi Art, organised in partnership with TDIC, serves the objectives of this strategy.
For more information on ADACH, news and initiatives please visit www.adach.ae.
About the Sharjah Art Foundation
The Sharjah Art Foundation is a new initiative committed to supporting the development of a flourishing arts environment in the Gulf by nurturing artistic opportunities and actively pursuing both a regional and international programme of cultural exchange.
The Foundation builds on the pioneering role Sharjah has played in the artistic and cultural development of the UAE and the region. Recognising the central and distinctive contribution that art makes to society, Sharjah Art Foundation will focus on the production and presentation of the contemporary visual arts.
At the core of the Foundation are the programmes developed over the past nine Biennials including the acclaimed artist production programme, residencies and the internationally attended March meetings.
Cultivating the spirit of research, experimentation and the accumulation of knowledge and experience, Sharjah Art Foundation will continue the Biennial’s role as artistic and cultural think-tank for the region.
Inspired by the cross-fertilisation and rich cultural diversity of the Emirates, Sharjah Art Foundation will provide both national and international leadership in art production while acting as a catalyst for cultural exchange both within the region and beyond.
For further information on the Sharjah Art Foundation or the Sharjah Beinnial, contact: +971 65685050 - or www.sharjahbiennial.org.
For media requests please call
John Dyer – TBWA - 00971 4 425 8982 – john.dyer@tbwaraad.com
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