Dubai, 27 April 2010: The Dubai International Financial Centre’s fourth Art Nights @ Gate Village scheduled to be held on the evening of 28 April promises to provide yet another artistic and cultural feast with a range of exhibitions and performances stretching across the disciplines of visual and performing arts, fashion and design.
Galleries participating in the event include Artspace; Cuadro Fine Art Gallery; Opera Gallery; The Empty Quarter and The Farjam Collection. Apart from exhibition openings and curatorial tours, Art Nights will also feature a guided tour of the 2010 Abraaj Capital Art Prize winning works, a charity art auction, a comedy skit, a live digital art project and video art.
The highlights of the evening include:
7:00pm
‘Fragrance from the Sufi Garden’ at The Empty Quarter
The Empty Quarter Fine Art Photography Gallery will present ‘Fragrance from the Sufi Garden’ – an exhibition of the photographs of American artist Shems Friedlander.
The 13th century Sufi master Jalaluddin Rumi spoke of the inner reality and the hidden meaning of everyday life - the sound of thunder, the flowers, snow, and all of nature. Through his works, Friedlander depicts the process of seeing through one’s inner being into a world of continuous impressions and being present in a moment of active awareness recorded by the camera.
7:30pm
A 30-minute guided tour of the this year’s Abraaj Capital Art Prize winning works
Works that are part of the tour include: ‘Enter the History of a Myth: The Small Dome of the Rock’ a video installation inspired by the historic monument created by Algerian artist Kader Attia (Algeria); ‘Marvel at The Myths and Legends Room: The Mural’, a photographic panorama of life in Cairo by Egyptian artist Hala Elkoussy; ‘Experience The Feast of the Damned’, a work that combine epic works on canvas, paper, ceramics and video by Lebanese artist Marwan Sahmarani.
8:00pm
Curatorial Tour and Exhibition of the recent works of Bahraini artist A. Rahim Sharif at Cuadro Fine Art Gallery
Cuadro Fine Art Gallery will unveil ‘Recent Works’, a solo show by Bahraini artist A. Rahim Sharif. The Show will open with a curatorial tour led by the artist and Gallery Director Bashar Al Shroogi.
8:30pm
Art Nights Auction
An auction of seven works created at previous Art Nights and the DIFC Walk 2010 held last month in partnership with Bank Sarasin Alpen and Alpen Capital. All profits will be divided between a Dubai-based charity organisation and the participating artist. The auction is part of DIFC’s efforts to support independent and emerging artists by offering them a platform to showcase their works. Half of the proceeds from the auction will go to the participating artist, while the other half will be donated to the Dubai Autism Center – a non-profit organisation serving children with Autism Spectrum Disorders, their families and care givers. The proceeds from the 4 artworks commissioned by Bank Sarasin Alpen and Alpen Capital will be donated to Dubai Cares.
Surprise timing
Live Public Improvisation by Dubomedy Arts
A community of performing artists from Dubomedy Arts will perform an original skit any time between 8.00 and 10.00 pm.
Artspace
An exhibition of the works of artists represented by Artspace including Dr. Omar El Nagdi, Zakaria Ramhani, Joe Kesrouani, Hussein Madi, Kamal Boullata and Adel El Siwi.
Opera Gallery
Opera Gallery will exhibit diverse new works added recently to its collection.
Iran Inside Out at The Farjam Collection
The Farjam Collection will present Iran Inside Out, an exhibition of Iranian contemporary art. The exhibition explores the artistic expression of young Iranian artists working both within and outside of Iran. Held first in New York and Chicago, the Dubai event features highlights from the US exhibitions alongside a selection of the finest contemporary Iranian art drawn from Dr. Farhad Farjam’s collection.
Visitors can enjoy the works on display while savouring a range of Iranian pastries and tea, which will be served from 7.00 pm onwards.
Digital Interactive Art through Apple iPAD
A digital interactive art experiment, organised by emerging young artist Aleksandra Shatohina, will give participants an exciting opportunity to take part in the creation of a large digital art piece titled “The Art of Communication”. Aleksandra will combine classic art skills with modern technology to provide a new visual experience for participants and viewers. The project is co-ordinated by Dubai-based software company, Bamboozle.
Video Art by Chittrovanu Mazumdar
A video art piece by contemporary Indian artist Chittrovanu Mazumdar will be showcased at the Gate Village. Actress Richa Kapoor lies trapped within our gaze and also wanders free in a space we cannot access or control.
’Digital Works’, an exhibition of photographs by Indian artist Chittrovanu Mazumdar – DIFC Precinct Building 2, Bridge 2, Lobby.
The harsh, topography of rural Jharkhand has long been an important feature in the work of Chittrovanu Mazumdar, who has repeatedly explored its strange, enigmatic, almost lunar vistas. It forms the entire focus of this latest show in which three series of photographs - landscapes and earthscapes – will be presented along with a single channel video piece and a floor projection.
Designer home furnishings by Andrew Martin showcased at its store in the Gate Village
A captivating selection of quirky yet stylish home furnishings will be on display at Andrew Martin’s showroom in the Gate Village.
