Sahra Art Galleria in Dubai supporting emerging artists invites everyone to attend THEM, a group exhibition curated by its director Ahmad AlrashidIs. The show pays tribute to the diverse cultural landscape of the Emirates. On view are the works by 21 UAE-based artists, such as Soraya Sikander, Caty Cordahi, Gigi Gorlova, Anja Bamberg, Anna Chekh, and others.
About some of the participants
Soraya Sikander (b. 1984, Karachi, Pakistan) is a contemporary Pakistani artist and a TEDx art speaker. In 2008, she graduated from Beaconhouse National University (Lahore, Pakistan). Then, she pursued her education at Slade School of Fine Art (London, England). After that, the artist studied at London Atelier Of Representational Art.
Employing such mediums as oil and acrylics on canvas, Sikander paints Calligraphy Landscapes she has invented by herself. They feature elements of Islamic calligraphy to create slim silhouettes of trees set against the tonal backdrop. Having travelled a lot, in her works, Sikander depicts the landscapes of countries she has been to and of her hometowns: Lahore and Karachi. The artist draws her inspiration from memories, travel, and her heritage.
Caty Cordahi (b. 1968) is a French painter and an avid traveller. She has resided and displayed her art in such countries as France, the UK, Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Oman). From 1993 to 1998, she attended Fine Art classes while also studying at ATEXFO, an art studio in France which brings expressionist artists together.
Cordahi’s style lies somewhere in between abstract and figurative art. She works mostly in acrylic paints and oil and incorporates some of the photographs taken by her into her canvases. The artist creates large-scale paintings that depict the fragility of both humanity and nature. With the Arabian Peninsula being the key source of her inspiration, in her artworks, Cordahi raises questions of identity and the diversity of the local population. Another aim of hers is to create a cross-cultural dialogue among various communities across the globe focusing on the theme of the crowd.
Gigi Gorlova is a British digital artist and graphic designer residing in Dubai who studied Graphic Design and Illustration at University of Arts London. Apart from having worked with a number of famous brands (for instance, Adidas and General Motors), she has become one of the first female artists in the Emirates to sell her artwork as NFTs.
To create her stunning art pieces bursting with colours, Gorlova uses 3D software and photo manipulating. Looking at her detailed artworks, which teleport a viewer into a fantasy realm, it is clear right away what inspires the artist. She is not only fascinated by technology, hyperrealism, and surrealism, but also colour and metallic textures. Through her dream-like works, Gorlova aims to provoke her audience’s emotions and stimulate its imagination.
Anja Bamberg (b. 1978, Stralsund, Germany) is an artist and art therapist with a MA in Art and Design Therapy. Using oil, acrylic, oil pastels, and pens, she works mostly on large canvases, making contrasts in terms of colours more visible. The main theme that she dedicates her art to is the sea. For example, in her series of works titled #wtr, she captures the beauty of water and addresses such an ecological issue as its pollution. “Water is life and a treasure of our planet that is far too little appreciated”, Anja says; we exploit this resource and do nothing to lessen the damage. Willing to make her art more sustainable, the artist uses recycled paper and often makes her own one.
Anna Chekh (b. 1994, Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine) is a Ukrainian contemporary artist. In her childhood, she studied at the Izostudio Art School (Dnepr, Ukraine). Her first solo exhibition took place in Dnepropetrovsk when she was only 15 years old; there, her artworks were sold. In 2016, the artist graduated from National Technical University of Ukraine (Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute).
Chekh’s artistic practice deploys painting, using digital mediums, NFT’s, and performance. She utilises new technology techniques to create unique experiences of interactive art. Her bright artworks executed in a sharp style incorporate elements of symbolism and portray cartoonish characters. In her art, in which surrealism and expressionism are combined, Chekh explores various social topics including human relationships and experiences. The artist also wants her creations to bring a sense of positivity to the world.
Apart from the artists mentioned above, the exhibition features Maria Faridi; Ali Ebrahim; Armin Hosseini (Crib Decore); Nairika Danapour; Akshay Arora; Ali Bahmani; Jasbir Saggu; Nidal Khaddour; Axel; Asareh Ebrahimpour; Zahra Khalid; Aanya Das; Tarek Basha; Sarah El Hawary; Abda Fayyaz; and Sara Abbaspour.
To learn more about the THEM exhibition, please visit its official web page.
We would also recommend you to read our article about three NFT female Arab artists. Besides, you might be interested in visiting An Odyssey of Identity.
