February is here and ready to spoil fervent art enthusiasts and culture vultures in the region with some captivating art events. As usual, we have carefully selected several art shows we consider worthy of your attention. Look through our top 10 exhibitions and choose which one to attend at the weekend.
1. Journey Into the Abstract by Ritu Kohli
Until 9 February 2024, Foundry Downtown in Dubai is holding Journey Into the Abstract, a debut solo exhibition by Indian artist Ritu Kohli which invites everyone to explore her deep understanding of nature. It showcases her new works; rich in texture, they demonstrate her mastery of the cold wax medium.
2. Diary by Tammam Azzam
Meanwhile, Ayyam Gallery is housing Diary, a solo show by Syrian artist Tammam Azzam famous for exploring the destruction and reconstruction of an image or space. On display are his latest engrossing art pieces playing with perspective. One will be able to see them until 20 February 2024.
3. Al Riwaq: Dan Flavin / Donald Judd
Qatar Museums Gallery – Al Riwaq presents an exhibition dedicated to the work of American artists Dan Flavin and Donald Judd, two of the most prominent figures of Minimalism. Focusing on their shared engagement with material, colour, and form, the show displays their artworks that span the 1960s through the 1990s. It will end on 24 February 2024.
4. Growing Kopi, Drinking Qahwa: Stories of Coffee in Qatar
While in Doha, you can also visit Growing Kopi, Drinking Qahwa, an educational exhibition on the global history of coffee. It is arranged by the National Museum of Qatar in partnership with the National Museum of Indonesia. The show particularly focuses on coffee cultures in the two countries. Held at the National Museum of Qatar, it will be open to the public until 17 February 2024.
5. MIA: Shattered by Feleksan Onar
One more interesting exhibit on view in Doha is Turkish artist Feleksan Onar’s solo show Shattered. You have the opportunity to admire her sculptures, hand-carved birds made of glass, at the Museum of Islamic Art (they are displayed in the museum’s breathtaking Damascus Room). Shattered delves into such themes as forced displacement and the innate power that can arise from tragedy. The last day of the show will be 7 May 2024.
6. Sharjah Architecture Triennial 2023
The Sharjah Architecture Triennial (SAT) 2023 was launched on 11 November 2023 and will end on 10 March 2024. This time, the exhibition’s theme is “The Beauty of Impermanence: An Architecture of Adaptability”. The show featuring 29 contributors concentrates on the Global South and architects’ solutions for the territory’s conditions of scarcity. SAT is taking place at different locations across Sharjah, such as Al Qasimia School, the Al Jubail vegetable market, the old slaughterhouse, Industrial Area 5, the Sharjah Mall, and Al Madam.
Sharjah Architecture Triennial 02, 2023-2024. Sharjah, UAE.
Courtesy of Sharjah Architecture Triennial Foundation. Photo: Danko Stjepanovic.
7. Ishara Art Foundation: Sheher, Prakriti, Devi
Sheher, Prakriti, Devi, a group exhibition curated by Indian artist and photographer Gauri Gill, contemplates the relationship between cities, the natural environment, and the sacred. It includes twelve artists and collectives working across various contexts of urban, rural, domestic, communitarian, public, and non-material spaces. On view at Ishara Art Foundation, the exhibition will run through 1 June 2024.
8. Vantage Point Sharjah 11
Until 10 March 2024, the Sharjah Art Foundation is hosting the 11th edition of the annual Vantage Point Sharjah (VPS) photo exhibition. VPS supports Africa- and Asia-born early-career photographers (they should reside there or be part of the diaspora). This year, it features four artists (Oumaima Abaraghe, Yashna Kaul, Mohamed Mahdy, Clea Rekhou) and the Postbox Ghana art collective who repurpose found or inherited images and examine the theme of post-colonialism.
9. kanvas: Hatshepsut – The Woman Who Would Be King
The newest digital show organised by kanvas (an immersive event and art space) allows one to dive into the hypnotising atmosphere of ancient Egypt. Visitors can learn about the life of Hatshepsut, the Queen Pharaoh, and familiarise themselves with the beliefs and traditions of the empire. This educational exhibition will be open to the public until 18 February 2024.
10. Media Majlis: MetaWhat?
The Media Majlis at Northwestern University in Qatar explores the metaverse in its latest exhibition MetaWhat?, which will be open to the public until 9 May 2024. In the show, five avatar personalities introduce visitors to today’s online landscape through VR, AR, digital screens, and hologram NFT displays. The exhibits include 100+ collectable items and some rare and valuable objects lent from the Ooredoo company, Qatar Museums, Qatar National Library, and Khalifa Al Haroon.
You might also be interested in visiting Half Light by Fahd Burki.
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