Maraya Art Centre in Sharjah presents Hard Edges, a solo exhibition by contemporary Emirati artist Khalid Al Banna that examines his constructions born from everyday observations of a continuously changing home amidst diverse landscapes. Curated by Cima Azzam, the show was inaugurated by Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi, Chairperson of Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq), and will remain open until the 1st of August, 2024.
For Khalid Al Banna, who holds a BA in Architecture, the world comprises layers of simple geometric shapes (squares, circles, and cones) that intersect, overlap, and continually transform. During his art-making process beginning with a blank surface, the artist uses scraps of black paper upon which he builds compositions with infinite variations. Most of the time, abstract patterns repeat themselves, joined by elongated angles and intertwined geometric forms, typically set against white backgrounds.
These elements come together to create narratives which speak of a changing landscape referring to Al Banna’s childhood in Sharjah and his perception of architectural housing in the 1980s. Additionally, multiple fantastical forms and creatures (for example, bird-like shapes) appear in the artist’s collage-based works.
The Hard Edges exhibition also signifies a new direction in Al Banna’s artistic journey as he explores scale and three-dimensionality for the first time. He transforms his distinctive forms from architectural blueprints into reliefs and 3D sculptures.
About the artist
Khalid Al Banna (b. 1975, Sharjah, UAE), who resides in Sharjah, earned his BA in Engineering Architecture from UAE University in Al Ain (UAE) in 1999. Since 1998, he has been a Present Member of the Emirates Fine Art Society and since 2014 — a Present Member of the Board of Directors of Emirates Fine Art Society. In addition, the artist has been a Present Member of the Architectural Heritage Society (UAE) since 2004.
Al Banna, whose practice deploys painting, sculpture, mixed media, and etching, takes cues primarily from design elements. Employing the negative space as a canvas, he is famous for his B&W abstract paper compositions using ink and the collage technique that foreground the process. He also creates vivid textile pieces. Through his work, the artist aims to connect to his Emirati roots, delving into his homeland’s history and rapid transformation.
Apart from heading four solo shows, Al Banna has also participated in numerous collective exhibitions and art events, including Convergence, 36th Emirate Fine Art Society Annual Exhibition (Sharjah Arts Museum, 2019); Portrait of a Nation (me Collectors Room Berlin / Olbricht Foundation, Berlin, Germany, 2017); Colour of the Emirates (Swiss Art Gate, Hotel Beau Rivage, Lausanne, Switzerland, 2011); Egypt International Triennial of Graphic Art (Egyptian Ministry of Culture, Cairo, Egypt, 2003); and many others.
Al Banna is a recipient of two awards, such as the 2nd Prize in the Emirates Fine Art Society Annual Exhibition (Sharjah, 2001) and the 1st Prize in the Painting Competition at UAE University (Al Ain, 1998). His art pieces are part of esteemed collections: Sharjah Art Museum, Barjeel Art Foundation (UAE), and the Private Collection of H.H. Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, to name a few. The artist’s works have also been acquired by the UAE Embassy in Washington DC (USA), Abu Dhabi Music & Art Foundation – ADMAF, and the Department of Culture and Tourism-Abu Dhabi, among other establishments.
To get more information about Hard Edges, please visit the official web page of the show.
You might also be interested in seeing Etel Adnan, Between East and West, an exhibition at Ithra.
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