Collaborating with the Sharjah Art Museum for the first time, the Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts has organised Roots and Modernity Exhibition: Contemporary Mediterranean Arab Art. It invites visitors to immerse themselves in the world of contemporary art from the Mediterranean Arab region, showcasing a selection of artworks from the gallery’s permanent collection. Officially opened by Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, the exhibition will be on display at the Sharjah Art Museum until 24 November 2024.
The show includes 86 works by 62 Arab artists, ranging from the pioneering generation to post-pioneering artists from countries such as Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Palestine, Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon. These regions are known for their history and rich cultural, religious, and linguistic diversity.
The exhibited pieces — drawings, paintings, sculptures, ceramics, and prints — highlight the dynamic and evolving nature of the contemporary Arab art scene and portray the profound cultural, social, and political changes that have shaped it. Among the artists presented in the exhibition are famous figures such as Lebanese painter Saliba Douaihy, Syrian painter Fateh Moudarres, and Moroccan visual artist Mohamed Melehi, to mention a few. Notable pieces include Feast in the Desert (1957) by Jordanian artist Fahrelnissa Zeid and Mother Palestine (1986) by Palestinian painter and sculptor Sliman Mansour. These oil paintings offer deep insights into the histories and identities that have shaped Mediterranean Arab art.
About The Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts (JNGFA)
Founded in 1980 by HRH Princess Wijdan Al Hashemi under the Royal Society of Fine Arts, the Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts in Amman stands as the region’s leading art institution. It spans three buildings separated by Sculpture Garden, a small park that received the Green World Organization Award for environmental best practices in 2016. Building 1 showcases the gallery’s private art collection alongside visiting local exhibitions. Building 2 houses the permanent art collection and includes a library, gift shop, and café. Building 3 is dedicated to resident artists, creative workshops, and a graphic studio with a modern printing press.
JNGFA’s extensive collection consists of over 3,000 works by more than 1,000 contemporary artists, not only from Jordan and the Arab world but also from developing regions across Europe, Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Among the renowned artists featured are Hussein Madi and Charles Khoury (Lebanon), Paul Guiragossian (Armenia), and Laila Shawa (Palestina).
About The Sharjah Art Museum
Founded in 1995 and relocated to a new building in 1997, the Sharjah Art Museum is one of the largest art galleries in the Middle East. Spanning 111,000 sqm across three floors, with a rooftop terrace, the museum houses 68 exhibition halls. While showcasing its permanent collection of around 500 art pieces, mostly focusing on modern and contemporary art from the mid-20th century onwards, the museum also holds temporary exhibits by local and international artists. Besides, there is the Art Library including 4000+ books in Arabic, English, and other languages, along with visual and audio materials.
To get more information about Roots and Modernity Exhibition: Contemporary Mediterranean Arab Art, please go to the official web page of the event.
You might also be interested in viewing Reflections and Inspirations from Emirati Heritage, an exhibition on display at the Sharjah Heritage Museum, and the Ziena Splendor of the Indian Courts exhibition holding by the Sharjah Museums Authority. We also recommend that you explore Fahrelnissa and the Institutes: Towards a Sky, one of the online exhibitions at the Cultural Foundation.
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