Music Monday - 3 Act Circus by Noush Like Sploosh

3 Act Circus is an experimental collaborative art project by Dubai based artists including photographers Sherif Mokbel and Mansoor Bhatti, visual artist Fathima Mohiuddin and singer/songwriter Noush like Sploosh. Together they have produced an 'illustrated music video', to launch the release of Noush like Sploosh's first track '3 Act Circus'.

The launch will take place on 31st March at thejamjar which will include the premiere screening of the video, along with 'The Sleepless Love Project' which documents the making of 3 Act Circus. 

Having worked diligently for seven days and nights in a garage, with no financial support, the product of the collaboration is impressive. Using their own equipment, stop-motion animation techniques and adopting a highly experimental approach, these creative individuals have produced an original work of high quality. The piece gives the community an insight not only into the underground artistic talent living in Dubai, but also what happens when these talents are combined.

3 Act Circus music video teaser

 
Three-Act Circus by Noush Like Sploosh 

An exhibition of artworks by Fathima Mohiuddin (some of which feature in the video) will also be on display on the night, accompanied by Sherif Mokbel and Mansoor Bhatti's photographs that make up the animation. The night will end with an exclusive live performance by Noush like Sploosh, as well as live art by Fathima and music by DJ Lobito and DJ Solo.

I love it when artists in Dubai collaborate, so I am really looking forward to the 'unveiling' of the video. Come along this Thursday and show some support to the Dubai music and art scene.

Event details
Date and time: Thursday, 31st March. Doors open at 7.30pm, screening starts at 9pm.
Venue: thejamjar, RKM Properties, St. 17a, Comm 368, Al Quoz 3  (location map)
Phone: +971 4 341 7303
Free entry 

www.noushlikesploosh.com 
www.sherifmokbel.com
www.immb.info
www.fatfolio.com
www.reverbnation.com/djlobito
www.myspace.com/wrigglyscottdjsolo
www.thejamjardubai.com 

Trailer Tuesday - The Mystery of Flying Kicks

© Hind Mezaina

The film featured in this week's Trailer Tuesday will be screened this Thursday, 24th February at thejamjar in Dubai, part of the Sole DXB, an evening dedicated to sneaker culture. It's a short documentary made of photos, videos, voice messages and artwork. This award winning documentary has been screened at several film festivals and this Thursday will be it's Middle East premiere. See you there.

Murder, sex, drugs, art, politics… sneakers hanging on telephone lines have become a powerful urban symbol, inspiring genesis theories both hilarious and sinister. In an effort to get to the truth once and for all we asked the people of earth to help us solve this mystery. Using an on-line call out and a phone message bank, this documentary was made entirely from donated photographs, phoned-in theories, video, vlogs, and animation. The Mystery of Flying Kicks is the result of a unique digital collaboration between the filmmakers and the international public.

www.flying-kicks.com
Details about the Sole DXB event

Berlin-Dubai Festival

thejamjar and the Goethe-Institut in Dubai have collaborated to bring us the first Berlin-Dubai festival this weekend which will include a film screening, a book reading and panel discussions. The festival will introduce us to the cultural diversity of Berlin and some of the challenges it faces - and how some of the same challenges are faced here in Dubai.

28th October: Movie night and panel discussion
Let it Rock is a on the Berlin artists scene, who have made the German capital one of the hippest and most international cities in Europe. The movie gives answers to the question like how do artists live in a surrounding in which they are commercially abused by clever marketing managers in order to promote a certain image?



   

The screening will be followed by a discussion on the topic of culture and commerce and whether they can work together and looking at the impact this has on artists as they are challenged to prevail within the limits of commercialising and avant-garde underground. Participants are German film producer Frank Kuenster and German author Jasna Zajcek, the Emirati artist Ebtisam Abdulaziz and Hetal Pawani, director of thejamjar gallery.

The movie and the discussion will both be in German and English. Arabic translators will be available.

Free admission
Date and time: 28th October, 8 pm
Location: thejamjar, Street 17a, Comm 368, Al Quoz 3 (location map)

30th October: Berlin and Dubai - The Fascination of Multicultural Metropoles
German journalist Jasna Zajcek and German novelist and filmmaker Norman Ohler will read from their books on living in the multi-cultural metropolis Berlin and their experiences with the Arabic region. This will be followed  by a discussion on the challenges and fascinations of multicultural metropolises. Beside the two authors, Mishaal Al Gergawi, Emirati commentator on socio-economic and cultural affairs, and Alexander Smoltczyk, SPIEGEL-correspondent in the UAE, will participate.

The reading and the discussion will both be in German and English. Arabic translations will be available

Free admission
Date and time: 30th October, 2 pm
Location: thejamjar, Street 17a, Comm 368, Al Quoz 3 (location map)

www.thejamjardubai.com
www.goethe.de/dubai

Muqtanayati: One Hundred Treasures

I posted last month a call for submission for an upcoming exhibition called Museum ME. The exhibition has  been renamed to Muqtanayati (مقتنياتي), which means collectibles. The call for submission invited everyone to submit an object which had a link to their life in the UAE, to capture a glimpse into the UAE’s community and its constantly evolving landscape.

The final selection has been made and the exhibition will open on Thursday 14th October and on for one week only at thejamjar.

The one hundred objects selected and presented in this temporary collection are categorised by artifact, domesticity and art, each accompanied by a story of its own.

‘Muqtanayati: One Hundred Treasures’ embraces the diverse range of experiences of those currently living in the UAE. Through these stories we are able to understand a place, its people, its values and its traditions in a moment of time. 

I'm glad to report my submission was accepted. I won't say what it is, you will have to turn up to see for yourself.

There will be music by the Freshly Laced crew on the opening night and will carry on at the after party in Casa Latina, Ibis Hotel, Al Barsha. Everybody is invited.



Exhibition details:
Dates: 14th-21st October 2010
Location: thejamjar, KM Properties, St. 17a Comm 368, Al Quoz 3 (location map)
Phone: +9714 3417303

www.thejamjardubai.com

Museum ME - call for submissions

Construction by Hind Mezaina

Museum ME is a new exhibition that will be held at thejamjar from 14th-21st October that  aims to present a snap shot of the United Arab Emirates and the shared experiences of its community by inviting everyone to submit an object which relates to the UAE’s history.

It's your chance to be part of a unique and special exhibition, so I urge you to look through your old things and find that special something that can be part of this exhibition.

The UAE is a place of multiple nationalities and cultures and it would be great to see this reflected through objects that can tell a story and show a shared history of a place that many think of as transcient.

Curated by Sonia Brewin (artist) and Rachael Brown (Head of Special Projects at thejamjar), they will select 100 objects and present them in categories of history, domesticity and art, placing sentimental tokens on the same level as historical artifact, weaving together the personal fragments into a cumulative patchwork tapestry of the UAE’s identity.

I sat with Sonia and Rachael recently to talk about this exhibition and asked them what inspired this idea, what they hope to achieve with this exhibition and its importance as a community project. (This is my first video interview for the blog and I plan to do more of this - so please excuse the sound quality and I promise I will lower my voice in future recordings.) 

I am very excited about this exhibition (I was also thrilled they used one of my photos to advertise the event - yes a bit of shameless self promotion here). I love the fact that this is open to everyone in the country to take part and not exclusive to the art community and I can't wait to see the final selection.



How to take part?
Send the following to: museumuae@thejamjardubai.com by 1st October 2010.
- An image (JPG) of the object being submitted.
- A description of its importance to the UAE in no more than 150 words
- Measurements in centimeters, height x width x depth
- Estimate of object’s age

Related articles:
TimeOut Dubai  
Gulf News
 

www.thejamjardubai.com

AMOR - A Magazine of Random

AMOR (A Magazine of Random) is a new limited edition experimental magazine that celebrates creativity. Published on a quarterly basis, the first issue is out this month and features five people from the art scene in Dubai sharing their lives and what they do best.

Published by Fn (art in Arabic) a Dubai based design studio (they recently organised the FAKiE exhibition), I'm really glad to see they've launched this magazine. I'm a magazine junkie and hate hearing things like "print is dead". So if you feel the same, I urge you to show some support and buy yourself a copy.

Click to read more ...

Review: Miroir Noir at Mahmovies

Film still from Miroir Noir

Miroir Noir, a music documentary about Arcade Fire was screened at the closing night of Mahmovies winter season on 17th Feb. It is a beautiful film, on so many levels.

It follows the band during rehearsals, concerts and many random moments in various locations. It doesn’t contain any actual dialogue between the band members and the viewer, so there’s nothing like the band explaining what they do, what this song means, etc. You are thrown straight into the band’s music and their interaction amongst themselves – which is the real dialogue they are having with us, the viewer.

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Mahmovies! at thejamjar: Miroir Noir

Next Monday will be the closing night of Mahmovies! Music for the Eyes season. If you’ve been followng this blog, you will know I am a big fan of Mahmovies, so I know I will miss these special movie and music nights on Mondays, till the next season is announced.

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Review: Camp Ka Champ at Mahmovies

Updated on Thursday, February 18, 2010 at 1:23AM by The Culturist

Photo by Shady Enbashi - www.juxtapoza.com

Last night's Mahmovies at thejamjar was a very special night in Dubai. It started off with Sita Songs the Blues - which isn't what made the night special. It was the live singing performance after it that captured everyone's hearts.

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Mahmovies! at thejamjar: Sita Sings the Blues and Camp Ka Champ

The third week of Mahmovies! Music for the Eyes will be very special. A delightful animated musical and a live performance by an unknown but talented group of competition winners from a singing competition called Western Union Camp Ka Champ (Champ of the Camp) held at the various Dubai labour camps. You must not miss this one, it will break down a lot of barriers.

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