This year, Tabari Artspace’s group show at Art Dubai, which runs until Sunday at Madinat Jumeirah, is a celebration of a new generation of creative minds from the Gulf.
The DIFC-based gallery has a long history of highlighting the work of important Arab artists within the region and among the diaspora. Over the past 20 years, not only has it contributed to Dubai’s cultural vision, placing Arab art at the forefront, but it has helped to shape the careers of generations of emerging Arab talents.
For Art Dubai 2023, the gallery is presenting the work of three Gulf artists: Ziad Al Najjar and Hashel Al Lamki from the UAE, as well as Nasser Almulhim from Saudi Arabia.
“Artists of the Gulf have something new to show,” Maliha Tabari, Tabari Artspace’s founder, tells The National. “There's a genuine dialogue that's coming out from the Gulf now. It’s a dialogue that’s really intuitive and really emotional.”
Tabari, who is Palestinian but grew up between the UAE and Saudi Arabia, is passionate about introducing Arab artists to international audiences and changing narratives around Arab art and the Arab experience.
“Our region has something that's very uncertain about it,” she says.
“So, if I'm going to bring a dialogue of young Gulf artists to the fair and have them stand out, I had to feel like there was an uplifting, intuitive thread in all their works.”
Despite having distinct styles and outlooks, Tabari's presentation weaves a thread of continuity through the three artists' works, as they explore their internal worlds within the context of their external environments.
The booth is colourful, with one orange wall displaying 11 works by Al Lamki of varying sizes, another central wall with two large-scale works alongside smaller pieces by Al Najjar and one more with eight paintings by Almulhim, including a sculpture in the centre of the space.
Almulhim’s paintings stand out for their strong graphic elements that are simultaneously playful and precise. The painter and 3D artist produces geometric and organic forms not just as a creative process, but a form of therapy.
“My practice focuses on three main ideas: psychology, spirituality and feminism," Almulhim says.
“The reason I tackle these topics is because I struggled with depression. For me, making art is very personal, very expressive. When I paint, I try to heal myself and heal others.”
Almulhim’s work is intuitive. While made up of very defined geometric shapes, he doesn’t plan his composition as one might suspect. He works organically, "flirting" as he says, with the subconscious to guide him on what works aesthetically.
“That's the fun part of my practice. It’s like discovery, having a conversation with the canvas,” he says.
“Sometimes I'll end up disliking certain forms or I’ll add another colour to cover it then I'll build something on top of that. It's like a subconscious dialogue.”
Almulhim’s sculpture emerges as an extension of his painted works in the physical space. Bold and colourful but also minimal, it dances between abstract and spiritual ideas.
Emirati painter and multi-disciplinary artist, Al Lamki’s work is a refreshing, painterly depiction of Al Ain’s mountainous landscapes. His lush gestures and colour palette is mesmerising and wistful, as he explores the community’s relationship with its natural environment.
Al Lamki, who grew up in Al Ain, developed a strong connection with his home town while living in Abu Dhabi during the pandemic.
“I grew up near Jebel Hafeet and that was like the focal monument of — Al Ain you can see it from anywhere,” he says.
“The mountain actually belongs to the Al Hajar Mountain range, but it shifted and separated itself from the main range. It’s kind of doing its own phenomena in a way.”
Al Lamki spent time visiting the area and observing the changing colours at different times of the day; soaking in how the mountain was shaped through light and different weather conditions. He would also bring back rocks to his studio to study, reimagining them in his paintings and physically working them into the bases of many of his compositions.
Meanwhile, Al Najjar created a series of paintings on canvas that build on the themes he explored in his solo exhibition at Tabarai Artspace in January.
Al Najjar explores connections between the natural, constructed and spiritual realms, creating an interplay between organic and inorganic forms. Painted in an earthy and pastel colour palate in floating compositions, his pieces are guided by an intuitive method of working — with a balance of immediacy and instinct that results in powerful and entrancing pieces.
“They are three young emerging Gulf artists that are paving the way for the upcoming younger generation,” says Tabari.
“They are the new change makers of the narrative of the Gulf. Each and every one of these artists is going to empower other artists in a certain way.”
Art Dubai runs at Madinat Jumeirah until Sunday. More information is available at artdubai.ae
Scroll through more images of Art Dubai 2023 below
North Pole stats
Distance covered: 160km
Temperature: -40°C
Weight of equipment: 45kg
Altitude (metres above sea level): 0
Terrain: Ice rock
South Pole stats
Distance covered: 130km
Temperature: -50°C
Weight of equipment: 50kg
Altitude (metres above sea level): 3,300
Terrain: Flat ice
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Fifa%20World%20Cup%20Qatar%202022%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EFirst%20match%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENovember%2020%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFinal%2016%20round%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDecember%203%20to%206%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EQuarter-finals%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDecember%209%20and%2010%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESemi-finals%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDecember%2013%20and%2014%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFinal%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDecember%2018%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
About Proto21
Date started: May 2018
Founder: Pir Arkam
Based: Dubai
Sector: Additive manufacturing (aka, 3D printing)
Staff: 18
Funding: Invested, supported and partnered by Joseph Group
Results
Men's finals
45kg:Duc Le Hoang (VIE) beat Zolfi Amirhossein (IRI) points 29-28. 48kg: Naruephon Chittra (THA) beat Joseph Vanlalhruaia (IND) TKO round 2.
51kg: Sakchai Chamchit (THA) beat Salam Al Suwaid (IRQ) TKO round 1. 54kg: Veerasak Senanue (THA) beat Huynh Hoang Phi (VIE) 30-25.
57kg: Almaz Sarsembekov (KAZ) beat Tak Chuen Suen (MAC) RSC round 3. 60kg: Yerkanat Ospan (KAZ) beat Ibrahim Bilal (UAE) 30-27.
63.5kg: Abil Galiyev (KAZ) beat Nouredine Samir (UAE) 29-28. 67kg: Narin Wonglakhon (THA) beat Mohammed Mardi (UAE) 29-28.
71kg: Amine El Moatassime (UAE) w/o Shaker Al Tekreeti (IRQ). 75kg: Youssef Abboud (LBN) w/o Ayoob Saki (IRI).
81kg: Ilyass Habibali (UAE) beat Khaled Tarraf (LBN) 29-28. 86kg: Ali Takaloo (IRI) beat Emil Umayev (KAZ) 30-27.
91kg: Hamid Reza Kordabadi (IRI) beat Mohamad Osaily (LBN) RSC round 1. 91-plus kg: Mohammadrezapoor Shirmohammad (IRI) beat Abdulla Hasan (IRQ) 30-27.
Women's finals
45kg: Somruethai Siripathum (THA) beat Ha Huu Huynh (VIE) 30-27. 48kg: Thanawan Thongduang (THA) beat Colleen Saddi (PHI) 30-27.
51kg: Wansawang Srila Or (THA) beat Thuy Phuong Trieu (VIE) 29-28. 54kg: Ruchira Wongsriwo (THA) beat Zeinab Khatoun (LBN) 30-26.
57kg: Sara Idriss (LBN) beat Zahra Nasiri Bargh (IRI) 30-27. 60kg: Kaewrudee Kamtakrapoom (THA) beat Sedigheh Hajivand (IRI) TKO round 2.
63.5kg: Nadiya Moghaddam (IRI) w/o Reem Al Issa (JOR).
'Manmarziyaan' (Colour Yellow Productions, Phantom Films)
Director: Anurag Kashyap
Cast: Abhishek Bachchan, Taapsee Pannu, Vicky Kaushal
Rating: 3.5/5
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Company profile
Company name: Dharma
Date started: 2018
Founders: Charaf El Mansouri, Nisma Benani, Leah Howe
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: TravelTech
Funding stage: Pre-series A
Investors: Convivialite Ventures, BY Partners, Shorooq Partners, L& Ventures, Flat6Labs
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Racecard
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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More coverage from the Future Forum
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RESULTS
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 2,200m
Winner: Arjan, Fabrice Veron (jockey), Eric Lemartinel (trainer).
5.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,400m
Winner: Jap Nazaa, Royston Ffrench, Irfan Ellahi.
6pm: Al Ruwais Group 3 (PA) Dh300,000 1,200m
Winner: RB Lam Tara, Fabrice Veron, Eric Lemartinal.
6.30pm: Shadwell Gold Cup Prestige Dh125,000 1,600m
Winner: AF Sanad, Bernardo Pinheiro, Khalifa Al Neyadi.
7pm: Shadwell Farm Stallions Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 1,600m
Winner: Jawal Al Reef, Patrick Cosgrave, Abdallah Al Hammadi.
7.30pm: Maiden (TB) Dh80,000 1,600m
Winner: Dubai Canal, Harry Bentley, Satish Seemar.
Sheer grandeur
The Owo building is 14 storeys high, seven of which are below ground, with the 30,000 square feet of amenities located subterranean, including a 16-seat private cinema, seven lounges, a gym, games room, treatment suites and bicycle storage.
A clear distinction between the residences and the Raffles hotel with the amenities operated separately.
The Settlers
Director: Louis Theroux
Starring: Daniella Weiss, Ari Abramowitz
Rating: 5/5
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
ALRAWABI%20SCHOOL%20FOR%20GIRLS
%3Cp%3ECreator%3A%20Tima%20Shomali%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EStarring%3A%C2%A0Tara%20Abboud%2C%C2%A0Kira%20Yaghnam%2C%20Tara%20Atalla%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERating%3A%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
RESULTS
Welterweight
Tohir Zhuraev (TJK) beat Mostafa Radi (PAL)
(Unanimous points decision)
Catchweight 75kg
Anas Siraj Mounir (MAR) beat Leandro Martins (BRA)
(Second round knockout)
Flyweight (female)
Manon Fiorot (FRA) beat Corinne Laframboise (CAN)
(RSC in third round)
Featherweight
Bogdan Kirilenko (UZB) beat Ahmed Al Darmaki
(Disqualification)
Lightweight
Izzedine Al Derabani (JOR) beat Rey Nacionales (PHI)
(Unanimous points)
Featherweight
Yousef Al Housani (UAE) beat Mohamed Fargan (IND)
(TKO first round)
Catchweight 69kg
Jung Han-gook (KOR) beat Max Lima (BRA)
(First round submission by foot-lock)
Catchweight 71kg
Usman Nurmogamedov (RUS) beat Jerry Kvarnstrom (FIN)
(TKO round 1).
Featherweight title (5 rounds)
Lee Do-gyeom (KOR) v Alexandru Chitoran (ROU)
(TKO round 1).
Lightweight title (5 rounds)
Bruno Machado (BRA) beat Mike Santiago (USA)
(RSC round 2).
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
T20 WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS
Qualifier A, Muscat
(All matches to be streamed live on icc.tv)
Fixtures
Friday, February 18: 10am Oman v Nepal, Canada v Philippines; 2pm Ireland v UAE, Germany v Bahrain
Saturday, February 19: 10am Oman v Canada, Nepal v Philippines; 2pm UAE v Germany, Ireland v Bahrain
Monday, February 21: 10am Ireland v Germany, UAE v Bahrain; 2pm Nepal v Canada, Oman v Philippines
Tuesday, February 22: 2pm Semi-finals
Thursday, February 24: 2pm Final
UAE squad:Ahmed Raza(captain), Muhammad Waseem, Chirag Suri, Vriitya Aravind, Rohan Mustafa, Kashif Daud, Zahoor Khan, Alishan Sharafu, Raja Akifullah, Karthik Meiyappan, Junaid Siddique, Basil Hameed, Zafar Farid, Mohammed Boota, Mohammed Usman, Rahul Bhatia
