Spring–summer 2017
Sharjah Art Foundation’s (SAF) spring–summer programme includes touring exhibitions and several international co-commissioned and supported projects, alongside Sharjah Biennial 13: Tamawuj (SB13), which is curated by Christine Tohme and remains on view at SAF through June 12.
In addition to exhibitions and events in Sharjah, SB13 includes four off-site projects organised by interlocutors. Kader Attia launched the first project around water in Dakar; Zeynep Öz leads the Istanbul programme on crops (May 13–16); Lara Khaldi addresses the subject of earth in Ramallah (August 10) and Ashkal Alwan examines the culinary in Beirut (October). Additionally, Act II of Tamawuj opens in Beirut in October 2017.
When Art Becomes Liberty: The Egyptian Surrealists (1938–1965) is on view until July 30 at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MMCA) Deoksugung, Seoul, following its inaugural presentation at the Palace of Arts, Cairo in September 2016. The exhibition’s presentation in Seoul is organised by MMCA in collaboration with SAF, and is curated by MMCA.
Joana Hadjithomas & Khalil Joreige: Two Suns in a Sunset is on view at IVAM, Valencia until August 27, on the final leg of its international tour. This major exhibition—co-produced by Jeu de Paume, Sharjah Art Foundation, Haus der Kunst and Institut Valencià d'Art Modern—explores the artists’ engagement with images, history and memory in major works produced since the 1990s.
do it [bil’Arabi] is activated this summer at Riwaq, Ramallah (May 9–16) and Townhouse, Cairo (July 9–August 9). Previous iterations have been presented at Darat al Funun, Amman; Al Riwaq, Manama and Sharjah Art Foundation.
International co-commissions and supported projects
In addition to its own curatorial initiatives, Sharjah Art Foundation has co-commissioned and supported international projects, including three artists’ presentations at the 57th Venice Biennale, VIVA ARTE VIVA.
A foundational figure of contemporary art and culture in the United Arab Emirates, the late Hassan Sharif (1951–2016) participated in seven Sharjah Biennials over the past 25 years. The 57th Venice Biennale includes an extensive presentation of his work, supported by Sharjah Art Foundation. In fall 2017, SAF will present Hassan Sharif’s largest retrospective to date, spanning his incredible output from the 1970s–2016.
The Foundation has also supported the participation of Abdullah Al Saadi and Rasheed Araeen at the 57th Venice Biennale. Al Saadi has participated in four Sharjah Biennials and was featured in a 2014 solo exhibition Al-Toubay at SAF. Araeen’s influential 2014 survey at SAF, Before and After Minimalism, featured early paintings and sculpture, documentation of participatory and performance works and his widely recognised geometric forms, bringing renewed attention to his practice.
At documenta 14, SAF has co-commissioned Naeem Mohaiemen’s moving image works: Tripoli Cancelled (2017) in Athens and Two Meetings and a Funeral (2017) in Kassel. Rasheed Araeen participates in Athens and Kassel with Shamiyaana–Food for Thought: Thought for Change (2016–17), supported by the Foundation.
Wael Shawky continues his exploration of historical narrative in The Song of Roland: The Arabic Version (2017), a large-scale musical and theatrical performance co-produced by SAF, premiering May 26 at the Theater der Welt 2017 Festival and touring in Europe. The project builds on Shawky’s remarkable trilogy, Cabaret Crusades (2010/2012/2015), in part supported by SAF, and his performance, Dictums 10:120 (2013), commissioned for Sharjah Biennial 11.
Radouan Mriziga explores the relationship between dance and construction in 7 (2017), showing May 17–20 at Kaaitheater, Brussels. SAF supported Mriziga’s residency in Sharjah and is a co-producer of the performance with Moussem Nomadic Arts Center, Brussels. The work concludes a trilogy of performances beginning with 55 (2014), included in The Time is Out of Joint (2016), an exhibition at SAF curated by Tarek Abou El Fetouh.
