Dubai Ladies Club hosts special ‘Art Conversation’ with Paolomaria

Last week, Funoon, the art & culture division of Dubai Ladies Club, which is a member of Dubai Women Establishment, hosted its third ‘Art Conversation’ session with Italian installation artist, Paolomaria. The open discussion was well attended by young emerging artists, students, members of the media, as well as distinguished members of the local and international art community. Admission to the event was free for men and women. 

The interactive session offered art students a platform for the exchange of ideas and expertise related to the art, culture and education. Paolomaria shared his journey into art, the obstacles, highs and his relationship with his work. With sincerity and a morbid sense of humour dug deep into his own ‘memories’ and fantasies, shedding light on the themes of installations.

The discussion began with a look at the artists that have influenced Paolomaria’s entire career. Among others it included trailblazing European artists such as Josef Beuys, Lucioamelio, Janniskounellis, Anselm Kiefer, Christian Boltansky and Alberto Burri. The speaker also discussed various art movements that have inspired many of his recent installations influence such as Art Pauvre – an object-art based artistic movement that originated in Italy in 1960s, and employed simple raw materials in order to provoke a confrontation of forms and material in a metaphorical sense.

Similarly, the emotionally charged nature of everyday objects is Paolomaria’s main inspiration. His recent installations have depicted dusty clothes strewn on a canvas, an odd group of adults’ and kids’ shoes placed on the wall, and weary-looking furniture sitting in front of photos of people that have an eerie sense of being forgotten and stored for too long.

The conversation then flowed to Paolomaria’s own process which comprises gather objects, found everywhere from general departmental stores to flea markets, and then spend time altering them to add a layer of the past. To demonstrate the process, he shared props and pieces from collections, delving into the various steps he took to give them the sense of something “that has a memory”.

‘Art Conversations’ is a monthly series of open discussions on Art facilitated by leading luminary art experts from the local and international art scene. The series are being organised by Funoon, the art & culture division of Dubai Ladies Club, to provide a platform for the exchange of ideas and expertise related to the art, culture and education. The topics will focus on assisting emerging artists to further develop and improve their creative and conceptual thinking, art critique, art appreciation and Aesthetics.

These monthly Tuesday evening lecture series will continue through the year a variety of guest speakers from a the art field as they explore and expand the boundaries of creative visual practice today. All lectures will take place at Dubai Ladies Club on the first Tuesday of the month.  Admission to these events will be free for all interested men and women. 

Tuesday, 2 August, 2011

Sheikh Sultan Al Qassimi - Art collector and Founder of Barjeel Art Foundation 

Sultan Sooud Al Qassemi has played an integral role in establishing various platforms to recognize and promote art from diverse corners of the Arab world. As an art collector, his private collection of contemporary Arab artwork can be seen in rotating public exhibitions. Al Qassimi will discuss the varied aspects of an art collector's social responsibility and the evolution of collecting in the UAE over the past thirty years.  

Tuesday, 6 September, 2011

Roberto Lopardo - Professor of Photography, American University in Dubai 

Roberto Lopardo is the former Dean of Visual Communication and professor of photography at the American University in Dubai. Currently, he is employed as a full-time artist and his latest artistic endeavours centre around the MAPS [mediated photographic studies] Project. Lopardo will introduce the book ‘Seven Days in the Art World’ - that provides a thorough overview of what it means to work, play and suffer in the art world – in relation to his own experiences making and marketing artworks in New York and Dubai. Thereby providing to the audience with a real world scenario of what may await a future budding Emirates based artist. 

Tuesday, 4 October, 2011

Sumayyah Al Suwaidi – Digital Artist 

In 2001, Sumayyah Al Suwaidi became the first female digital artist from the UAE, quickly building a reputation for her innate ability to transform seemingly normal and boring photographs into masterpieces of emotions and sensuality. Al Suwaidi will talk about the ideas and motivations behind her individual studio practice as well as shed light on the rise of a new art medium - digital media. The session will take a non-technical look at issues surrounding digital media through the lens of digital art. 

Tuesday, 1 November, 2011

Ramin Salsali – Art Collector 

Iranian Art Collector, Ramin Salsali’s private collection consists of over 400 pieces in a variety of mediums with a focus on Iranian, Emirati & Arab artists. He was recognized at Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Patrons of the Arts award in 2010 and 2011. In September 2011, Salsali will open the first private museum in Dubai to display his private collection as well as host other collectors from the region. Salsali will speak about his new initiative which is set to become the first non-profit support and advisory centre for all collectors in the region. 

 ‘Conversations’ will be one of several new art initiatives launched by Funoon – the art division of Dubai Ladies Club. The newly reinvented art division was established to guide and solidify the role that arts and other cultural resources play in defining and enhancing the social fabric and quality of life of people living in the UAE. Funoon with work local, regional  and international foundations to enhance the UAE’s  reputation as a cultural destination through programs that educate and expose the public to a rich and diverse range of cultural expressions through a variety of initiatives.