Sharjah Art Foundation (SAF) presents the Drawing Time: Duets group show which is currently being held at the Al Mureijah Art Spaces. It is rooted in Drawing Time, a two-year research project dedicated to paper conservation and exploring the expanded possibilities of drawing, with an emphasis on Afro-Asian and Pacific histories. The exhibition is curated by Dr Omar Kholeif, Souraya Kreidieh, and Khalid Jauffer and will be open to the public until the 4th of August, 2024.
Drawing Time: Duets reinterprets drawing as a culturally contextualised disciplinary practice, inviting visitors to explore 100 years of artistic evolution. Featuring creations of 15 artists from different generations, the show revolves around the concept of duality, repetition, and harmony. Drawn from the Sharjah Art Foundation Collection, the showcased pieces are thoughtfully juxtaposed, reflecting the use of line, movement, performance, and gesture across various media.
The works by Egyptian artists Amal Kenawy and Ibrahim Massouda, along with American artist Helen Khal, address themes of wounds and resilience, employing symbolic imagery and abstraction.
Standing Figures, a painting by British artist Claudette Johnson, marks the debut of her work in the Emirates. This piece featuring two female figures challenges conventional portraiture and spotlights the presence of Black bodies in art history.
The Portrait painting by Sudanese artist Omer Khairy, who is known as George Edward Scuncucur, examines the theme of duality. Meanwhile, his Untitled ink sketches depict Sudanese daily life, combining cultural motifs with particular stylistic elements of British drawings from the 18th century.
Acolytes by South African artist David Koloane depicts abstract figures that engage and find solace in the act of communion. The artwork is paired with American artist Theaster Gates‘ rehearsal for a rendition of Billy Sings Amazing Grace. The works juxtapose abstract communion with musical rehearsal, connecting visual and auditory realms and symbolising solidarity within the Black community.
Other artists included in the show are Baya (Algeria), Mounir Canaan (Egypt), Kimathi Donkor (UK), Ibrahim El-Salahi (Sudan), Kamala Ibrahim Ishag (Sudan), Farideh Lashai (Iran), Ibrahim Massouda (Egypt), Eduard Puterbrot (Russia), and Hassan Sharif (UAE).
To get more information about Drawing Time: Duets, please go to the official web page of the exhibition.
In addition, we recommend that you attend the Laal Collection Volume II Fereydoun Ave Collection show hosted by Total Arts.
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