QUOZ on 10th November 2012

On Saturday, 10th November, all the galleries situated in Al Quoz (an industrial part of Dubai) will take part in a one day event called QUOZ which invites anyone interested in arts and culture to explore the 30 creative spaces within the area.  

There will be a wide range of free events and activities including talks, panel discussions, guided tours, workshops for adults and children, film screenings and performances. It will take place from 10am till 10pm (galleries will close at 8pm) and everybody is welcome. 

It's an opportunity for the community to meet gallerists, some of their artists and learn about the process behind the art creation and curating.

Al Quoz is a bit of a mystery to people that aren't familiar with the art and culture community in Dubai. I know people who always get lost trying to find their way there, or who think it's full of pretentious art crowd (which on some nights it is). But I hope QUOZ will attract new visitors and dispell the mystery of the place. 

The complete list of galleries, line up of events and map can be found on QUOZ's Facebook page. Don't be fooled by the map though, some of the venues are not within walking distance. There will be an ArtBus doing regular rounds, so you can hop on/off whenever you want. Just make sure you read the details on QUOZ's Facebook page. 

I am really looking forward to this event and here's my list of galleries and events I recommed you don't miss. I just hope there will public seating areas to rest between all the gallery hopping. 

Galleries within Al Serkal Avenue: 

CARBON 12 
Iris was a Pupil - James Clar  

Waves by James Clar
James Clar is a media artist who used to be based in Dubai. He is now living in New York, but he will be in Dubai for his solo exhibition in Carbon 12. Between 3-6pm he will be in the gallery to meet visitors to talk about his work in Iris was a Pupil which is about 'the sensation of visual stimuli, the constant challenge of finding new viewpoints, and the demand to keep seeing things from fresh perspectives'. Read more about the exhibition here. 

GALLERY ISABELLE VAN DEN EYNDE 
Any Resemblance to Actual Persons, Living or Dead, is Purely Coincidental - Zoulikha Bouabdellah 

Zoulikha Bouabdellah's work explores the rift between public and private, the visible and the unspoken. For this show, she reflects on reality through the guise of fiction, with film, works on paper, installation and sculpture. The show is named after the illuminated billboard work that welcomes, warns and appeases the audience upon entry with the words ‘Any Resemblance to Actual Persons, Living or Dead, is Purely Coincidental.’ Between 3-6pm, Gallery director Tessa de Caters will walk you through the exhibition and explain the work. Read more about the exhibition here. 

GREEN ART GALLERY 
A Permanent Record For Future Investigation - Nazgol Ansarinia, Talia Chetrit, ImanIssa, Mehreen Murtaza and Hajra Waheed 

Mehreen Murtaza, The Ethopian Emperor arrives in Jerusalem Taken either by the American Colony Photo Department or its successor, the Matson Photo Service, 2012, Hahnemühle Matte Cotton Smooth Inkjet Paper, 15.24 x 20.32 cm

The artists included in this exhibition take on the history of image-making and the notion of the image as historical document. They challenge our understanding of the image as truth through an investigation of form and a conjuring of a variety of historical references. For these artists, the meaning of objects and spaces are dependent on the context in which they exist.

The idea of truth or reality in an image is assumed to be subjective and malleable. The lines between documentation and fiction are blurred; narratives are not linear and archives do not follow rules of logic. Read more about the exhibition here. 

Between 3-6 pm, there will be a guided tour with gallery director Yasmin Atassi. 

GREY NOISE 
House of Cards – Danilo Correale, Julian Göthe, Niklas Goldbach and Judith Hopf 

The idiomatic phrase 'house of cards' can be traced back to its first use by poet John Milton in 1641, already reflecting on the structural defects within systems built on a shaky foundation and held together only in an insubstantial and fragile manner.

Little has changed in today’s meaning of the metaphor, though within the neoliberal era the complex global interdependence of systems and their balances of power have taken on a new dimension of inherent instability. For what applies to the card game applies even more to the structural and socio-political levels within systems: The taller the house of cards, the bigger the fall.

The exhibition House of Cards aims to explore heterogeneous artistic examinations and gestures towards this given fragility. The selected works by Danilo Correale, Julian Göthe, Niklas Goldbach and Judith Hopf decidedly reflect on current political, economic, cultural or gender-related conditions using various mediums such as sculpture, print, video or photography. 

Read more about the exhibition here. 

GULF PHOTO PLUS 
Vivid Dreams and Fragile Machines  - Brooke Shaden 

Each photo in this series of photographs by Brooke Shaden expresses its own narrative, describing a curious world where dreams and nightmares merge.  Each image peers into the lives of characters that the viewer will find both intriguing and bizarre.  

Taking advantage of your imagination, Shaden leads you down a rabbit hole where vast landscapes and rich hues barely contain larger than life protagonists who appear to be both troubled and freed.  

Read more about the exhibition here. 

LAWRIE SHABIBI 
Collision - Moataz Nasr  

Moataz Nasr - Merge and Emerge, 2011 Three Video channels 6'25'' ciascuno, loop
Moataz Nasr's work explores the fragility and complexity of current social, economic and political conditions. Taking as his starting point the surroundings of his native Egypt, he translates his observations into the universal language of human despair and suffering - but also of love and hope.

His art is, on the one hand, lyrical and playful and on the other a daring account of the debilitating suffering of everyday life. Read more about this exhibition here.  

SALSALI PRIVATE MUSEUM 
IRAN: RPM Vol. 1  - Ali Bahktiari   

I am looking forward to this the most. There will be talk about IRAN: RPM Vol. I, a book that rescues from obscurity a selection of vinyl covers from the soundtracks of Iranian films, 1965-1974.

The book is compiled by Ali Bakhtiari and focuses on specific vinyl covers that were designed for Iranian movie soundtracks. The talk will take place from 4.30-5.30pm and you could get a signed copy of the book after the talk. I really hope we get to hear some of the music as well. More information about the book can be found here.  

SATELLITE  
Build Re-Build - Hazem Harb 

Hazem Harb's work deals with a number of core themes including war, loss, trauma, human vulnerability and global instability. 

He continues to explore his own brand of multi-media, conceptual art using all the tools at his disposal. 

Between 3-6pm, you can meet the artist Hazem Harb who will discuss his post-residency exhibition ‘Build Re-Build'.

www.satellitespace.org/2012-11-5-10-Build-Re-Build

SHELTER 
INKBLOT EXHIBITION, FILM SCREENING AND POP UP BOOK STORE

3 Act CircusAmal   

Dubai International Film Festival will be hosting an exhibition called Inkblot at Shelter and between 5-7pm film, they will screen two films:  

• Three Act Circus by Noush Like Sploosh - a playful melodrama told in the format of an illustrated song
• Amal by Nujomm Al Ghanem - a documented story of a Syrian artist’s experience in the UAE

Additionally, there will be a pop up bookshop by Art Dubai and Jashanmal Bookstores featuring a selection of art publications including artist's books, monographs and magazines. 

SHOWCASE GALLERY 
Beyond Rhythm - Francesca Galliani  

Artist Francesca Galliani will be signing copies of her book ‘The Inside of Angola’ between 2-4pm alongside her exhibition ‘Beyond Rhythm’.  

Here's an interview with the artist about the exhibition. 

www.showcaseuae.com

THE FRIDGE
TACIT - LIVE PERFORMANCE 

 

At 7.30pm, The Fridge will host a live musical performance by Tacit, Dubai’s new electronic duo Aeron Kin and Yasser Anderson who will 'break down the conventions of traditional sonic boundaries'.

Galleries around Al Quoz:

THE THIRD LINE 
Extimacy -  Hayv Kahraman 
Learning by Heart – Arwa Abouon  

Hayv Kahraman, Disembodied 6, 2012, Oil on panel with rawhide inlay and polycarbonate, 244 x 117 cm

Hayv Kahraman's latest exhibition at The Third Line tackles the complex relationships between gender and identity constructs; geopolitical and physiological boundaries; and, the perception of self vis-à-vis the demands of conformity within society. Read more about the exhibition here.

A second exhibition in the same gallery, Learning by Heart by Awra Abouon explores the artist’s own private journey in matters of spirituality, personal dynamics and human nature’s quest towards understanding faith. Read more about the exhibition here.

There will be a guided tour between 3-6 pm for both exhibitions. Hayv Kahraman is one of my favourite artists, so I strongly recommend you check out her latest exhibition.

Arwa Abouon, I'm Sorry / I Forgive You (Diptych), Digital prints and Graphically Ornamented frame, 101.6 x 76.2 inches each 

THE CARTOON ART GALLERY 
Graffiti Art from the Streets of San Francisco 

'From the Streets of San Francisco: Graffiti art of the City' is an exhibition depicting the culture of street art. 

The Cartoon Art Gallery will also be hosting a lecture and a workshop from 12-2 pm. Visual FX and Animation instructor Morris Mozingo will present a lecture on the ‘History of Animation’ followed by an animation technique workshop.

THEJAMJAR 
pre-titled  - Walid Al Wawi 

Walid Al Wawi is thejamjar's latest artist in residence. He has embraced the space with words, creating an ephemeral experience. Read more about this exhibition here. 

Additionally, between 10-2 pm, people of all ages are invited to drop by thejamjar and contribute to the creation of ‘Looking Through’, a public art mural.

www.thejamjardubai.com

J+A GALLERY 
Carrara and more - Bertram Kober 

J+A Design Gallery will be hosting Bertram Kober's Carrara and more and the photographer, who is also a 2011 Venice Biennial winner will be present between 12-2pm to meet visitors and to talk about his work.

The Courtyard

The Courtyard is the first gallery/community space that opened in Al Quoz in 1998. It's a lovely complex which gets overlooked. Do step inside, and enjoy this quirky pastel coloured building. In addition to a few galleries that can be found there, you can also enjoy the weekly farmer's market between 11am and 1pm organised by Ripe. 

So there you have it, that's my list. To keep up to date with the latest updates and news, do follow QUOZ on Facebook (Facebook.com/QUOZhappens) and Twitter (@QUOZhappens). I must say the Twitter account just keeps tweeting the dates and posting images of the map and the programme and not really engaging effectively with its followers. That might change closer to the date, but for now, I find the Facebook account more useful. 

Spread the word and hope to see you at QUOZ. 

www.facebook.com/QUOZhappens
www.twitter.com/quozhappens
www.alserkalavenue.com

[Images and exhibition information via the various gallery websites.]

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.

Click to read more ...

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.

Click to read more ...

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.

Click to read more ...