2 4 - 2 5 A p r i l 2 0 13
Art4sight Art4Sight is a charity art event where donated artwork is exhibited and sold in a fundraising auction to support Noor Dubai’s global programs. Art4Sight was inspired by 12 year old Fatoumata from Mali who regained her sight following eye surgery performed by the Noor Dubai team. The young girl was fascinated by the contrast of colors around her, and amazed the team by painting while still in the recovery stage. With overwhelming support from several prominent artists, local art galleries, and renowned art auctions houses, Art4Sight managed to successfully raise a significant amount of funds for the foundation and helped increase awareness of the ongoing plight of those living in darkness. Art4Sight is now running for the third year where the donated collection is bigger. This year, each donated work comes with a certificate of authenticity.
5
Noor Dubai Foundation Noor Dubai is an international charitable non-governmental, non-profit foundation working with partners to eliminate avoidable blindness and visual impairment. On September 3, 2008, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Dubai, launched the Noor Dubai initiative, a personal initiative from him to the rest of the world. Noor Dubai was launched with the vision of a world free from avoidable causes of blindness. Noor Dubai provides therapeutic, preventative, and education programs to treat and prevent blindness and visual impairment in developing countries on a regional, and international scale. In its first year, and following the great success achieved of reaching out to over 5 million individuals worldwide, a governmental decree from His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, launched the Noor Dubai Foundation, a nongovernmental, nonprofit foundation aiming to eliminate all forms of avoidable causes of visual disabilities globally. To date, Noor Dubai Foundation has reached out to over 6.19 million individuals worldwide.
7
* 201
ALIA HUSSAIN LOOTAH (EMIRATI, B. 1987) “ Rendition ” Acrylic Paint on Canvas 100cm x 150cm Painted in 2010
US $ 4,000 – 6,000 AED 15,000 – 22,000
8
* 202
ABDUL QADER AL RAIS (EMIRATI, B. 1951) “ Al Sakeena- Serenity ” Series Watercolor on Paper 152 cm x 102 cm Painted in 2009
US $ 70,000 – 100,000 AED 260,000 – 370,000
9
* 203
MARTIN BUDNY (POLISH – CANADIAN, B. 1976) “The World as an Object for Aesthetic Contemplation : A Visual Poem” Signed and Numbered on Hahnemule paper This work is number one from an edition of ten 59.4 cm x 42 cm Produced in 2012
US $ 800 - 1200 AED 3,000 – 4,500
“ A visual Poem inspired by the notion of how we experience the world and more specifically how we experience ourselves in the world � (Martin Budny)
11
* 204
KHAMEIS AL HEFAITY (EMIRATI, B. 1981) “ Calm Palm I & II ” Mixed media on canvas (Diptych) 70 cm x 100 cm Produced in 2010
US $ 5,000 - 7,000 AED 18,500 – 26,000
12
13
* 205
SAMIRA BUKHAMSEEN (KUWAITI) “ I see you with my heart – ” أراكم بقلبي (In Memory of my sister Iqbal) Painting on Canvas 100 cm x 100 cm Produced in 2011
US $ 2,000 – 4,000 AED 7,000 – 15,000
14
In Memory of Iqbal: “ This beautiful, innocent child came into this world on the eve of Eid al-Fitr, so we named her Iqbal, an Arabic word that translates into “Arrival”. As the days passed, we came to realize that something wasn’t right with Iqbal’s eyes but it wasn’t until she was examined by the doctors that we realized: “Iqbal was Blind”. The doctors diagnosed a rare congenital malformation in her eyes where the chances of seeing the world around her were very slim. We considered different medical opinions, but they all summed up one fact, the reality that “Iqbal was Blind”. We then prayed to Allah for strength, for guidance, for a miracle but most importantly for mercy to this child. Iqbal grew up as a visually disabled child where her visual acuity did not exceed 10%. She underwent multiple surgeries in an attempt to restore her sight, but these too failed. Despite the dark world she lived in, Iqbal was a much loved child, and a very bright one too. She completed her education, achieving high grades. She was never a quitter, achieving one success after the other. She studied Literature and graduated with honors. Despite her visual disability, she became a regular at the University library, earning herself the title “Book Worm”. She always read with a magnifying lens and at occasions when she got tired she’d sit back quietly trying to listen to other students read.
After graduating, she applied to work at the Al Noor private school for the blind. Iqbal wanted to teach the blind and help them see with their hearts instead of their eyes. She challenged herself to learn Braille within just 2 months. At Al Noor, Iqbal was in charge of students’ activities and the weekly publication of the school’s magazine and brochures. Passionate about teaching Arabic to the Blind, Iqbal used new ways to teach her students. All good things must come to an end, and it was the will of Allah that Iqbal was to live a short life full of sacrifice, determination, perseverance, and trust in God and herself. At the age of 30, she was diagnosed with cancer and passed away shortly after the diagnosis leaving behind a beautiful life in which her sight was in her heart, not her eyes. She saw and achieved her dreams with full confidence and faith in Allah. To the spirit of Iqbal Bukhamseen and to all those who lost their vision, I have commissioned this painting. I was touched by Iqbal, I saw in her the reflection of a beautiful world, for beauty lies in the spirit. The ability to give lies in the desire to give, and we are all capable of contributing to a better world no matter how little. To you my dearest little sister, Iqbal, I say thank you. Thank you for teaching me how to see life.” (Sameera Bu Khamseen)
15
* 206
PATRICIA MILLNS (BRITISH, B. 1950) " .. nothing is impossible with a strong and sincere will… " Steel thread on acrylic box This work is from the “emra’adornment ” series 60 cm sq Produced in 2012
US $ 3,000 – 5,000 AED 11,000 – 18,500
16
“ … nothing is impossible with a strong and sincere will… “ These are the words of the beloved Late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan about the formation of the UAE in 1971, on the 30th National Day. They have been a personal inspiration to me in life and my work to this day, from the first time I heard them all those years ago. The inner circle shows the seven Emirates and all those inspirational words are seen in the outer circles ” (Patricia Millns)
* 207
ALIA HUSSAIN LOOTAH
“ A unique painting produced to commemorate the UAE’s 40th National Day and signed by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. Alia Lootah was inspired by his poetry, specifically the verses:
(EMIRATI, B. 1987) “ Vision ” Acrylic paint on canvas Signed by HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum This work is unique 120 cm x 180 cm Painted in 2012
US $ 6,000 - 8,000 AED 22,000 – 30,000
واليوم له جمد وانسى جمدك العامي.... واللي يبا و النعم الزم ألجلها يتعب صاحب السمو الشيخ حممد بن راشد ال مكتوم (Alia Lootah)
* 208
NAJAT MAKKI (EMIRATI, B. 1956) “Curtains of Light – ”ستائر الضوء Painting on canvas 80 cm x 100 cm Painted in 2012
US $ 20,000 – 30,000 AED 75,000 – 110,000
20
“ To me, the notion of seeing after being blinded all your life resembles the opening of curtains in the morning. I depicted curtain opening throughout different eras such as the Ottoman times and the Fattimid times as seen in the intricate details. ” (Najat Makki)
* 209
MARK PILKINGTON (BRITISH, B. 1951)
“ Sea Splash explores the space between longing and belonging ”
“ Sea Splash ”
(Mark Pilkington)
Photography 86.5 cm x 33 cm Photographed in 2011
US $ 2,000 – 3,000 AED 7,000 – 11,000
21
* 210
WAFA HASHER AL MAKTOUM (EMIRATI) “ Caught in an Illusion ” India Ink on Canson Edition paper 76 cm x 112 cm Produced in 2011
US $ 2,000 – 4,000 AED 7,000 – 15,000
22
* 211
FAISAL AL MALKI (SAUDI) “ Freedom II ” Photography 101.6 cm x 76.2 cm Taken in 2011
US $ 2,000 – 4,000 AED 7,000 – 15,000
* 212
AMMAR AL ATTAR (EMIRATI, B. 1981) Mihrab in Burjuman Mall – Dubai " Prayer Rooms " series Lambda C- print matte Photograph 42 cm x 59.4 cm Photographed in 2012
US $ 1,000 – 2,000 AED 3,600 – 7,200
24
Ammar Al Attar surveyed prayer rooms across the UAE as part of his Prayer Room series. Mandated in public buildings by national legislation, these informal worship areas are ubiquitous, providing the faithful a place for their five prayers a day regardless of their location. While looking at the Mihrab, one cannot help but wonder about the different individuals in these spaces all performing the same spiritual rituals regardless of their backgrounds.
* 213
SHAMMA AL AMERI (EMIRATI, 1985)
“ A Burj’s Perspective, Series ” Pinhole Photography (triptych) 45 cm x 60 cm (each) Produced in 2010
US $ 3,000 – 5,000 AED 11,000 – 18,500
* 214
FAIZA MUBARAK (EMIRATI) “ Night Wall ” Mixed Media on Wood This work is unique 25 cm x 30 cm x 3.5 cm Produced in 2007
US $ 3,000 – 4,000 AED 11,000 – 15,000
26
“ In the past, books were an inheritance that contained secrets about people and their lives and represented the development of nations. In every book that I paint, I leave an idea and a secret. I wanted my painting of the book to come alive hence I created it in 3D. I also chose to keep the book closed because no matter who read or opened it, some secrets will remain hidden ” (Faiza Mubarak)
* 215
MOUNA CHOUK (SWISS, B. 1972)
“ Women from multiple backgrounds all look for their destiny by choosing the right love ”
" Vision by Women "
(Mouna Chouk)
Painting on canvas 110 cm x 110 cm Painted in 2012
US $ 3,000 – 4,000 AED 11,000 – 15,000
28
* 216
DEBJANI BHARDWAJ (INDIAN, B. 1972) “ Ba Ba Black Sheep Little Miss Muffet ” Pen and ink with colored pencils on paper (Diptych) 45 cm x 72 cm (each) Executed in 2011
US $ 2,000 - 4,000 AED 7,500 – 15,000
“ Stories have no ending, nor do they have answers to the questions they pose. They are inquisitive, honest, and dwell on the mysteries of daily living � ( Debjani Bhardwaj )
* 217
IBRAHIM AL BESHARI (LIBYAN) Lost in old thoughts Photograph 53 cm x 80 cm Photographed in 2013 US $ 1,000 – 2,000 AED 4,000 – 7,000
32
* 218
YACOB AHLI (EMIRATI, B. 1981) " Golden Wave "
“ I saw beauty in the Mihrab of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque reflected in the 24 carat gold glass mosaic features ” (Yacob Ahli)
Photography 80 cm x 53 cm Photographed in 2012
US $ 1,000 – 2,000 AED 4,000 – 7,000
33
* 219
AZZA AL QUBAISI (EMIRATI, B. 1978) " Seeking Identity – Braille Pearls I/I " Wall Sculpture Palm Fronds, Stainless Steel, Local Leather, Fresh Water Pearls Commissioned for ART4SIGHT 2013 This work is unique 110 cm x 110 cm Produced in 2013
US $ 5,000 – 7,000 AED 18,500 – 25,000
34
“ Touched by Noor Dubai’s success in preventing blindness worldwide, I recreated the Iris of an eye as a 3D wall piece, where the pupil is made with Arabic calligraphy inspired by the poem ملحمــة اإلمــاراتof HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, specifically two verses which reflect the endless hardship pre-oil period where our fathers used to go pearl-diving and how hard it used to be ”
غصه ما محاها زالل ّ موسم الغوص كم لها من عيون ٍ دمعها أحمرا (Azza Al Qubaisi)
* 220
FATMA LOOTAH (EMIRATI, B. 1954)
“ This piece is a reflection of the inner strength and beauty of women ”
" Untitled "
(Fatma Lootah)
Acrylic and Charcoal on Canvas 147 cm x 96 cm Taken in 2011
US $ 8,000 – 10,000 AED 30,000 – 40,000
36
* 221
JANET BELLOTO (CANADIAN) " Mira Mare I " Fine art archival print 86.5 cm x 65.5 cm Produced in 2006
US $ 1,000 – 2,000 AED 4,000 – 8,000
37
* 222
MAITHA DEMAITHAN (EMIRATI, B. 1989) “ Thoab " Scanography 114 cm x 81 cm Produced in 2013
US $ 3,000 – 4,000 AED 11,000 – 15,000
38
“ The Arabic letters of the word ثــوبare hidden in the actual cloak / thoab worn by the Emirati woman ” (Maitha Demaithan)
* 223
KHALID MEZAINA (EMIRATI, B. 1985) " Details in the Fabric " Series Silkscreen on textiles 90 cm x 140 cm Produced in 2013
US $ 2,000 – 3,000 AED 7,000 – 10,000
* 224
AMARTEY GOLDING (BRITISH, B. 1988) " Ladies of the Moon " Charcoal on Canvas 222 cm x 198 cm Produced in 2012
US $ 2,000 – 4,000 AED 7,000 – 15,000
40
“ Ladies of the moon was inspired by the old stories that personified the sun and the moon. The piece addresses our tendency to humanize the things around us and develop narratives in order to relate to them. The two characters portrayed are twins, the two sides of the moon ” (Amartey Golding)
* 225
ZEINAB AL HASHEMI (EMIRATI, B. 1986) From the “How much are you worth? You are worth more than that “series Mixed Media (Diptych) 84 cm x 59.4 cm (each) Produced in 2012
US $ 2,000 – 3,000 AED 7,000 – 11,000
* 226
EBTISAM ABDULAZIZ (EMIRATI, B. 1975) " My Home – My Studio " Black Pen on Canvas 70 cm x 90 cm Executed in 2012
US $ 2,000 – 4,000 AED7,500 – 15,000
42
“ Having studied mathematics, numbers are special to my life. The dominos document car plate numbers as mathematical equations that were collected on my daily journey from my home to my studio ” (Ebtisam Abdulaziz)
* 227
eL Seed (FRENCH, B. 1981) “ Record I am an Arab “ Spray Paint and Acrylic on Canvas (9 pieces) 31 cm x 122 cm (each) Executed in 2011
US $ 10,000 – 12,000 AED 40,000 – 44,000
eL Seed is known for his distinctive style of Arabic street art “ Calligraffiti which combines Arabic calligraphy and Graffiti. He used this style to decorate the tallest minaret in Tunisia with a verse from the Holy Quran that tackles intolerance post the Tunisian revolution. Recently during “Art Dubai”, eL Seed designed a unique scarf for Louis Vuitton that was sold exclusively in the UAE, and another unique piece will be made available in Paris later on during 2013.
43
* 228
MAISOON AL SALEH (EMIRATI, B. 1988) “ Yola! “ Sculpture This work is unique 20 cm Height Produced in 2010
US $ 500 – 700 AED 1,800 – 2,600
46
* 229
JALAL ABUTHINA (IRISH)
“ Charles Bonnet Syndrome is when healthy people experience hallucinations as a result of complete or partial blindness in one or both eyes ”
“ Case 4 “ Photograph 75 cm x 50 cm Photographed in 2010
(Jalal Abuthina)
US $ 500 – 700 AED 1,800 – 2,600
47
* 230
KHAWLA DARWISH (EMIRATI) “ 4-Forever “ Mixed media This work is unique 148 cm x 92 cm Produced in 2011 - 2012
US $ 3,000 – 5,000 AED 11,000 – 18,000
48
“ The theme of personal misfortune came from having lost both my father and brother to heart complications. I re-appropriated the cardiovascular heart in my art as an object to explore and understand the tragedy and how to overcome it ” (Khawla Darwish)
* 231 (EMIRATI, B. 1981)
“ I produced State of Mind after being inspired by the Emirati quote:
“ State of Mind “
اللي ضاري على القرص ما تسده النتفة
Digital Art 100 cm x 92 cm Produced in 2013
(Hamdan Al Shamsi)
HAMDAN AL SHAMSI
US $ 2,000 – 3,000 AED 7,000 – 10,000
49
* 232
FARID AL RAIS (EMIRATI, B. 1981) “ History ” Watercolor on Paper commissioned for ART4SIGHT 2013 This work is unique 76cm x 56cm Painted in 2013
US $ 1,500 – 2,000 AED 5,500 – 7,000
50
“ History shows a transition that depicts the past history of the UAE as it merges into a new era.” ( Farid Al Rais )
* 233
SAMIRA BUKHAMSEEN (KUWAITI) " I miss you so much – " افتقدك كثريا Oil painting on Canvas 83 cm x 60 cm Produced in 2011
US $ 1,000 – 2,000 AED 4,000 – 7,000
51
* 234
RUBEN SANCHEZ (SPANISH, B. 1981) “ Cacique en la Sombra “ Acrylic on Canvas This work is unique 80 cm x 100 cm Produced in 2013
US $ 800 – 1,200 AED 3,000 – 4,400
52
* 235
MONA FARES (GERMAN, B. 1985) “ Line after Line “ Painting on canvas This work is from the “Schall” series 120 cm x 160 cm Painted in 2011
“ Growing up and witnessing the ever-changing landscape of Dubai, I was inspired by its power, human energy and the voices you hear everywhere ” (Mona Fares)
US $ 3,000 – 5,000 AED 11,000 – 18,000
53
* 237
AMINA AL ABBASI (BAHRAINI, B. 1988) " The Arabian Dagger " Acrylic and Oil Paint with Swarovski Ruby Crystals This work is unique 110 cm x 95 cm Produced in 2012
US $ 3,000 – 5,000 AED 11,000 – 18,000
56
“ The traditional dagger is designed by calligraphy and embedded with ruby Swarovski crystals to portray strength, courage and beauty. Once felt, it can be recognized without the need to see it with one’s own eyes ” (Amina Al Abbasi)
* 238
MANAL AL DOWAYAN (SAUDI, B. 1973) “ A Hand Claps, A Hand Waves III “ Hahnemule paper on inkjet with silkscreen ink 70 cm x 200 cm Produced in 2009
US $ 5,000 – 7,000 AED 18,500 – 26,000
58
“ This artwork was inspired by a poem by the famous Elie Abu Madi titled: Oh how you complain – كــم تشــتكي- which addresses the idea of positive thinking and the energy that can be generated from just that ” (Manal Al Dowayan)
* 239
MOUNA CHOUK (SWISS, B. 1972) “ Love Story “
“ The painting Love Story depicts the reunion of a couple that the power of love brought back ” (Mouna Chouk)
Painting on canvas 120 cm x 120 cm Painted in 2012
US $ 3,000 – 4,000 AED 11,000 – 15,000
59
* 240
REBECCA RENDELL (BRITISH, B. 1983)
“ Crystal Chalk “ Photograph This work is number one from an edition of five 99.5 cm x 100 cm Photographed in 2013
US $ 2,000 – 3,000 AED 7,000 – 11,000
60
“ This photographic documentation depicts a selection of chalk rocks that I collected in the River Thames in London where I hand carved the crystal forms from the chalk. ” (Rebecca Rendell)
* 241
LATEEFA BINT MAKTOUM (EMIRATI , B. 1985)
“ Transition - ” التحول Photography This work is number one from an edition of three 100 cm x 79.27 cm Executed in 2013
“ This artwork depicts a moment of pause and reflection for the artist. Elements in the image utilize places and characters from past work by the artist, yet their context is different, they are now in a moment of transition.” (Lateefa Bint Maktoum)
US $ 5,000 – 7,000 AED 18,500 – 26,000
61
Supporters:
Established in January 2008 in Nad Al Sheba, Tashkeel is an independent resource for artists and designers living and working in the United Arab Emirates. Tashkeel is committed to facilitating art and design practice , cross-cultural dialogue and creative exchange. Members have access to studio facilities for painting, graphic design, photography, printmaking, textile printing, jewelry and 3D practice. In addition to the studio resources, there are journals and a reference library, members room and exhibition gallery. Tashkeel also organizes workshops in creative practice, open to both members and nonmembers.
Christie’s is a name and place that speaks of extraordinary unparalleled service and expertise. Founded in 1766 by James Christie, Christie’s conducted the greatest auctions of the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries, and today remains a popular showcase for the unique and the beautiful. Christie’s offers over 450 sales annually in over 80 categories, including all areas of fine and decorative arts, jewelry, photographs, collectibles, wine, and more. Price tags range from $200 to $80 million. Christie’s has 53 offices in 32 countries and 10 salerooms around the world including in London, New York, Paris, Geneva, Milan, Amsterdam, Dubai and Hong Kong.
Zabeel Ladies Club is a new and unique concept in the world of health, beauty and culture for women. ZLC offers its privileged members a variety of customized services that address the needs of women in an exclusive and private environment. The ZLC was established under the notion of defining and refining beauty for the elite women; addressing women of all ages, occupational backgrounds and personal interests, and managed by experts in the fields of health, nutrition, fitness, and the latest trends in fashion, beauty and etiquette.
62
Supporters:
Photography Competition Sponsor:
Media Supporters:
63
BIOGRAPHIES Abdul Qader Al Rais: Born in Kuwait in 1951, Abdul Qader Al Rais is credited with bringing the UAE’s contemporary art movement to the rest of the world. Al Rais’s extraordinary talent was obvious in his detailed pencil and watercolor sketches from a young age. Al Rais paints landscape and architectural scenes inspired by traditional Emirati neighborhoods, buildings and forts using a photorealistic style. Al Rais is the first recipient of the Sheikh Khalifa Prize for Arts and Literature and is a member of the Emirates Fine Arts Society and is a pioneer of the fine art in the UAE. He has won numerous appreciation certificates and has his own collections in local and global museums such as the British Museum, Qatar’s Museum of Modern Art, Kuwait Museum of Modern Art, Sharjah Art Museum and Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts. His artworks are exhibited in many countries around the world. In 1990, his works were showcased in Bologna, the first country from which he started before he became a globally well-known artist. Alia Hussain Lootah Born in Dubai, UAE IN 1987, Lootah is a full time working artist who graduated from Zayed University with a Bachelor’s degree in Public Relations and Advertising concentrating in Creative Design. She also took several courses in painting and art foundation. Her art mainly revolves around abstract paintings; her practice also merges with a more realistic type of art and mixed media. Lootah’s work was displayed in The Ara Gallery, Tashkeel, and Sikka Art Fair 2011 and 2012. She has also won first place in an NBD & Tashkeel competition and has been shortlisted for Sheikha Manal’s Young Artist Award in 2010. Amartey Golding Born in London, UK in 1988, Amartey Golding studied Art and Design during 2005 – 2006, and Architecture during 2007- 2010 at Central Saint Martins, but he left Architecture before finishing his degree to pursue art. Amartey celebrates the perspective and solutions of the naïve mind and marries it with mature implementation, to produce artworks and installations that evoke wonder and engage the imagination. Golding has worked at Galerie Michael Nolte and mostly works with charcoal and photomontage, predominantly focusing on form. His exhibitions include “Charcoal Diary”(2009), “One for Sorrow, Two for Joy” (2010), and “Thorns have Roses”(2011). Amartey’s work has been shown in London, Dubai, Lebanon and Germany and can be found in collections worldwide. Amina Al Abbasi Born in Sydney, Australia in 1988, Bahraini native Amina Al Abbasi studied Banking & Finance and is currently working in a bank in Bahrain. Al Abbasi always had a fascinating eye for art since a young age. Al Abbasi’s work is contemporary with a traditional twist. She focuses on cultural themes and tries to find a common ground between traditions and modern techniques and modern display of interior resulting in her signature method which she calls “Cross technique”. Al Abbasi is a member of Bahrain Art Society and her work has been displayed in Qatar and Bahrain. Recently her solo exhibition has been in Souq Waqif Art Centre in Doha. Ammar Al Attar Born in Dubai, UAE in 1981, Ammar Al Attar lives and works in Ajman. He carries a Masters in International Business from the University of Wollongong, and a Bachelors in Business Information Technology from Dubai’s Higher Colleges of Technology. He has attended local and international photography courses. His work has been shown throughout the UAE and in the Thessalonika Museum in Greece. Al Attar has been selected for the 2013 Artist in Residence (AiR) program, a partnership between Art Dubai, London’s Delfina Foundation, the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority and Tashkeel. The artist is shortlisted for the International Emerging Artist Award. Azza Al Qubaisi Born in Abu Dhabi, UAE in 1978, Azza Al Qubaisi went on to graduate from the London Guildhall University in 2002 majoring Jewelry Design Silversmithing and Allied Crafts. She is well known for her artistic creations and recognized for her social contributions. Her series of sculptural works range from jewelry to public space installations made from a variety of materials including gold, gem stones, leather, asphalt, palm branches and metals. Al Qubaisi is also the winner of the British Council YCE Award 2011 in Design and Fashion and the first person to win two Emirates Women Awards in 2011 in two categories: Business and Social contribution. Debjani Bhardwaj Debjani was born in Kolkata, India in 1972 and completed her Master’s in Business Management in India. She started her career as a financial analyst in New Delhi and later moved to the field of Arts in the year 2000. She is a selftaught multidisciplinary artist and expresses herself through sculpture (clay, felt paper), illustration, papercuts and printmaking. Her works are mostly figurative and deal with people. Debjani moved to Dubai in 2007 and had her first solo exhibition “Spindle Shuttle Needle” in Tashkeel House Bastakiya in 2011. She has illustrated two childrens books
64
“World Tales”(2009) and “A Magic Place”(2008). She lives in Muscat since 2011 and exhibits in Muscat and Dubai. Ebtisam Abdulaziz Born in Sharjah, UAE in 1975, Ebtisam Abdulaziz is a multidisciplinary Emirati artist and writer based in the UAE. Reflecting her Bachelor’s Degree in Science and Mathematics, Abdulaziz incorporates issues of identity and culture through installations, video, photographs, performance pieces and works on paper. Abdulaziz has exhibited as part of the Inaugural UAE and ADACH Pavilions at 53rd Venice Biennale, as well as at the 7th & 10th Sharjah Biennial; Languages of the Desert, the Kunst Museum, Bonn, Germany; Dubai Next, in Basel 2008; Arab Express, at The Mori Art Museum, Tokyo; 25 years of Arab Creativity, The Institut du Monde Arabe, Paris; Inventing the World; The Artist as a Citizen, Benin Biennial 2012, Kora Centre Benin. Abdulaziz is a member of the Emirates Fine Art Society and Tashkeel editorial team, was a participant in the 2007 Emirates Foundation Grant Program Art Panel, and has recently been selected as one of the artists for the 2013 Artist-in-Residency program. She currently works and lives in Sharjah. eL Seed Born in 1981, elSeed is a French artist of Tunisian parents and formally educated in Business. In his youth art was simply a hobby but he became more involved in the street art scene after arriving to North America in 2006. His often monumental works are a mixture of street art and Arabic calligraphy. This “Calligraffitti” is the product of a double marginality, that of an oriental artist seeking a voice in the occidental world and that of street art struggling to legitimize its presence in the contemporary art scene. This duality enables the reconciliation of two supposedly opposite worlds and two supposedly clashing cultures. El Seed’s art was born on the streets of Paris and now adorns walls across every continent. Faiza Mubarak Born in Abu Dhabi, UAE, Faiza is an established painter and sculptor and teacher and was mentored by many prominent artists in her career. She is the first Emirati artist to complete a residency in Cite des Artes in France. Faiza pioneers new ideas in her work. A participant in many workshops and exhibitions such as the Biennale in Australia (2009), Abu Dhabi Art Fair (2009) and Emirati Expressions (2009) including a special contemporary art project in Dijon France, Faiza has also delivered workshops to university students in the UAE. A member of the Emirates Fine Arts Society and the Architectural Heritage Revival Society, Faiza also has exhibited her work in Australia. Faiza is currently studying for a Master in History of Art in Paris-Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi and will exhibit her work at the UNESCO in Paris, France in 2013. Last year, Faiza was one of 4 chosen Emirati artists to commission a piece under Nja Mahdouie’s where it was sold in auction for Noor Dubai Foundation. Fatma Lootah Born in the 1954 in Dubai, Emirati artist and activist Fatma has been living in Verona, Italy since 1984. Lootah left the UAE in 1979 to “see something else”. She earned a Bachelors of Fine Arts in Baghdad University then went onto Washington DC for higher studies in arts. She considers Pablo Picasso as the greatest artist of all time. Lootah has devoted her life to art and her artwork has been displayed in many countries worldwide including Italy, France, Switzerland, Austria, Morocco, UAE. Faisal Al Malki AlMalki has given up his job in a Saudi investment company to pursue his dream. His shots have been featured in esteemed publications such as Popular Photography, Digital Camera World, JPG Magazine and Fotoblur. He has won many prestigious recognitions including “Photographer of the Year” at the Masters Club in Los Angeles in 2009 and “Fine Art Photographer of the Year” at the Lucies NYC in 2008, as well as first prizes in the PX3 Awards in Paris and the Australian International Circuit. Farid Al Rais Born in Dubai UAE in 1981, Farid Mohammed loved sketching from a very young age. A computing and information systems graduate, Al Rais remains a committed painter and sketcher. He put his artistic career on hold while he completed his university studies. Al Rais stopped painting for a total of five years. His mother encouraged him to resume his hobby and fulfill his need to express his passion and love for art. As a result, Al Rais resumed painting in 2006 and began experimenting with new forms, styles and expressions. He has received support in his artistic practice from Abdul Qader Al Rais and Mattar Bin Lahej. One of his main objectives is to renew and revisit contemporary classicism in the UAE. Al Rais’s works have been exhibited at Emirates Palace, Mubadala and Ghaf Gallery, as well as other prominent venues. Hamdan Buti Al Shamsi Born in Al-Ain city in the UAE in 1981, Hamdan in a visual artist whose interest in art started at a very young age. He
is s self-taught photographer, graphic designer and amateur writer. His mother nicknamed him “Qurtas” (sheets of paper) because since childhood he only bought coloring books during his visits to the local grocery store. He pursued his passion throughout his education, winning prizes as he progressed eventually leading him to focus on photography and graphic design. He has participated in a group of exhibitions around the UAE and contributed to the community through voluntary work in photography. AlShamsi has been commissioned by ADACH to digitally paint 5 walls for Al Qattara Art Centre. He has also been commissioned by Emaar properties to create artworks for The Loft Towers residential complex and Boulevard Plaza. He has numerous achievements from painting one of the life-size F1 replica cars during the Abu Dhabi Formula 1. Ibrahim Al Beshari Al Beshari is a 33 year old self-taught Libyan Photographer whose passion started as a hobby with his interest in capturing beauty in his surroundings. Encouragement from a friend convinced him to take this hobby to a more professional level. Al Beshari is keen on globe-trotting as a means of broadening his horizons to show the world how he views beauty. Jalal Abuthina Jalal Abuthina was born in Dublin and is an award-winning Libyan – Irish visual artist and photographer with over 10 years of photography experience between Dubai and Canada. He is currently based in Dubai. Among his accolades, in 2004, Abuthina was the grand prize winner of the inaugural “Art of Can” Redbull Creativity Competition for the Middle East and North Africa region. His diverse, distinct, and at times, highly provocative photographic work, has been exhibited within the U.A.E as well as across North America, Europe and Asia. Abuthina’s photographs have also appeared in numerous international art and photography publications, which include the likes of Beautiful/Decay magazine, Dazed and Confused magazine, Detnk.com, Canvas Middle East, Canon Middle East, and Contemporary Practices magazine. In 2011, Abuthina produced and co-published a limited edition publication entitled “District 333: Beyond the Surface”, which is currently the U.A.E’s only printed expos’e of illegal graffiti from the Emirate of Dubai. He currently works between the commercial photography world, tourism, and the arts. Jalal Luqman Born in 1967 in Abu Dhabi, Luqman is the first Emirati digital artist, first freelance graphic designer, and first contracted Emirati web designer. He graduated in 1993 and started designing drawing logos. He has had major exhibitions in New York, Tokyo, Kuwait, Morocco, Abu Dhabi, Cairo and Dubai. For two decades, Jalal has conducted many workshops in schools colleges and universities for the promotion of Art in the UAE. In 2006, he co-founded the Ghaf Gallery, the first contemporary art gallery in Abu Dhabi. Janet Bellotto Born in Toronto, Janet Bellotto is an Associate Professor and Assistant Dean of the College of Arts and Creative at Zayed University, Dubai. She is also the Artistic Director of ISEA2014. Janet graduated from the Sculpture/Installation program from the Ontario College of Art & Design, Toronto, and received an MFA in Sculpture/Studio Arts from Concordia University, Montreal, Canada. Her practice encompasses sculpture, installation, photography, video and performance. Bellotto continues to write and curate, while exhibiting both locally and internationally, and engages in projects that promote cultural exchange. Recent exhibitions include: 2011 The Lure, De Luca Fine Art Gallery, Toronto; Untitled Original, CDA Projects, Istanbul, Contemporary Crosscurrents: Portraits and Electronic Arts, Streaming Museum in Dubai (www.streamingmuseum.org); A Cozy Lie, Redhead Gallery, Toronto; 2010 – 12th Cairo Biennale, Cairo, Egypt; Drowning Ophelia, Stratford Gallery, Stratford; 2009 – Point of Encounter, Tashkeel, Dubai; 2008 – In-Situ, The JamJar, Dubai; WAVE, The LAB, New York City; 2007 – Dehisce, kkprojects, New Orleans, USA. Khalid Mezaina Born in Dubai, UAE in 1985, Khalid Mezaina is a graduate in Visual Communications from the American University of Sharjah, Khalid entered the art world through full-time placements in art organizations, including the Sharjah Art Foundation & currently at Tashkeel in Dubai. Being in the art community inspired Khalid to participate in group exhibitions, projects, & residencies, both in the UAE and internationally. Khalid launched ‘krossbreed’ in 2010, which is an independent, interdisciplinary studio and brand, involved in product design. krossbreed products range from t-shirts, prints, stationary, wallpaper, furniture and more to come. Khameis Al Hefaity Born in 1981 in the village of Sakamkam in Fujairah UAE, Khameis is the youngest son. He studied in the UK where he obtained his Bachelor’s degree. Khameis covered the first Emirates Media Conference that was held in London. He has been heavily involved in organizing photography exhibitions since 2006 . He is also a member of Emirates
Fine Art Society , UAE Photography Society, Abu Dhabi International Photography Society and many more. An established photographer, he won 2nd place in Sheikh Majid Bin Mohammed Youth Award in Photojournalism. Khawla Darwish Born in Dubai, UAE in 1986 Khawla Darwish graduated from Zayed University , College of Art & Design in 2010 with a Bachelors degree in Early Childhood and Kindergarten Studies. Khawla has been granted the title: Official Ambassador for Art for the DubaiExpo2020. Khawla has shown her art in many exhibitions throughout her career most notably the 53rd edition of the Venice Biennale in 2009. She took part in a residency program in DCTAC , which culminated in an exhibition. Khawla has also participated in Sikka Art Fair in Dubai for the past 2 years. Khawla is a member of Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation and frequently delivers workshops to orphaned children in Dar el Ber society.. Lateefa Bint Maktoum Born in Dubai, UAE in 1985, Lateefa Bint Maktoum graduated from Zayed University in 2007 with a Bachelor’s degree in Visual Arts. She has been exhibiting her work since 2004 beginning by creating public artworks in addition to creating artwork for charitable causes such as Medecins Sans Frontiers, Madrasati Palestine, ART4Sight for Noor Dubai Foundation. In 2006 Lateefa won first prize in the Ibdaa Media Student Awards in the digital photography category, and in 2010 was awarded the Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Patrons of the Arts awards. In 2012 she was awarded the CEO outstanding contribution to the arts by ITP. Her first gallery show was Perceptions at the Third Line gallery in 2006 in Dubai. In 2007 Lateefa started curating exhibitions. The first exhibition that she curated, entitled Minus Reality, was shown at Art Attack gallery and showcased the work of 30 UAE-based artists. It was this show that sparked the idea of the need for a studio for artists and designers living and working in the Gulf, leading to the establishment of Tashkeel. Lateefa’s first international exhibition was in 2008, when she contributed to a group show entitled No Such Place 2, curated by Canadian artist and curator Janet Bellotto and held at the Roger Smith Hotel in New York. She has also participated in the DNC Slideshow exhibition in Denver Colorado, showcasing her photography work. In 2008 she showed in the Community Darkrooms with “Educating Artists Online” showing in Syracuse New York. In 2009 she exhibited artwork alongside other Emirati artists at Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi in Emirati Expressions curated by Anne Baldassari. In September 2009 Lateefa exhibited her work in Arc Biennale Brisbane, Australia as well as exhibiting in La Colomba restaurant in Venice Italy. In 2010 and 2012 Lateefa exhibited in the Bastakiyah Art Fair, as well as Art Dubai in 2011 and 2012 with Tashkeel. She also showed in the group show at the Expo 2010 UAE pavilion in Shanghai Better City Better Life. In 2011 Lateefa was one of three artists from the region selected to exhibit in the UAE pavilion at the Venice Biennial curated by Vasif Kortun also in 2011 she was an exhibiting artist part of Emirati Expressions curated by Stephen Shore at Manarat-alSaadiyat Abu Dhabi. Lateefa’s artwork is included in private collections nationally and internationally. Lateefa has been the honorary patron of START since January 2008. Maitha Demaithan Born in Dubai in 1989, the Emirati artist Maitha Demaithan works with several mediums: photography, scanography, painting, drawing and photo transfers. The first drawings she created were sketched in the sand, which then formed her appreciation for color, texture, line and shadow. Demaithan’s most successful exhibition was in 2009, “Documentation” at Tashkeel where her first scanned self-portraits appeared. Later in 2009, she participated in “Across the Gulf”, a group show that took part in the Brisbane Biennial. Other group shows include “Emerge” in Venice, “Emirati Vision” exhibition in Berlin, and the “Biladi” exhibition in the UAE Pavilion during the Shanghai Expo 2010. Maisoon Al Saleh Born in Dubai, UAE in 1988, the up-and-coming Emarati artist and entrepreneur is active in her practice both in Dubai and internationally. She graduated from Zayed University in 2010 with a degree in Interior Design. Al Saleh’s first solo show took place in the Maraya Art Centre in Sharjah (2010). A founder of PunkArabia, Maisoon’s controversial work has an unusual preoccupation with the human skeleton. A multitalented artist, Maisoon has worked in interior design, graphic design, as an art teacher and has even founded her own fashion brand. Al Saleh’s work has been exhibited in the UAE in various exhibitions including Art Dubai, Emirati Expressions in Emirates Palace Abu Dhabi, Macedonian Museum in Greece, Palazzo TE Museum in Italy, Centro Cultural Centro Granada in Spain, and her work has been included in many shows in the USA. Manal Al Dowayan Born in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia in 1973, AlDowayan took a range of courses in differing art institutions in Bahrain, Dubai, Saudi Arabia and London. She is currently part of the British Council International Cultural Leaders Program. AlDowayan was an artist in residence at the Delfina Foundation in London (2009), at Cuadro Fine Art Gallery (2010), and at The Townhouse Gallery in Egypt (2011). AlDowayan has participated in numerous group exhibitions including the Edge of Arabia exhibitions (2008 – 11), the Venice Biennale (2009 and 2011), the Berlin Biennale (2010) and Contemporary Istanbul (2010). She has also exhibited
regionally and internationally. She won an international call for artists for the Imagining Ourselves anthology in 2003, which was managed by the International Museum of Women in San Francisco. Her photograph “Pointing to the Future” was exhibited in New York at the 49th session of the United Nations Commission on the status of Women (CSW) in 2005. Her “I Am” series was exhibited at the Clinton Public Library in Little Rock, Arkansas. Manal AlDowayan’s work is part of the permanent collections of the British Museum, the Jordan National Museum of Fine Art, the Abdul-Latif Jamil Foundation, the Delfina Foundation in London, the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (ADACH), the Nadour Foundation in Germany, and the Barjeel Foundation in Sharjah. Mark Pilkington Born in the UK in 1951, Mark Pilkington studied Fine Art before completing an MA in Photography at the Royal College of Art, London in 1977. Mark taught photography at a number of UK colleges before moving to the UAE in 1997. He currently teaches practical and history of photography at the College of Architecture, Art and Design, American University of Sharjah in UAE. Mark’s work explores alienation. He uses himself in his photographs as a protagonist in an otherwise umpopulated scene. His work has been exhibited internationally and extensively in the UAE including the Sharjah Biennale 6 and 7 and two solo exhibitions at Tashkeel in Dubai. Martin Budny Born in Baghdad, Iraq in 1976 to Polish – Bulgarian parents, Martin Budny is an artist working in mixed media, performance and installation. Budny grew up in Europe and North East Africa before immigrating to Canada with his family in 1987. Much of his work adapts anthropological strategies to explore creative play and draw poetic narratives from personal and cultural experiences while revealing the process of self-construction within the socioeconomic structures that surround everyday life, international travel and constant displacement. Martin Budny is an MFA candidate at Transart Institute in partnership with the University of Plymouth in the UK. Mona Fares Born in 1985, Mona Fares is of German – Egyptian heritage who studied with some of the most respected of the Emirates’ most respected artists and designers. She completed a BA in Art & Design in 2007 from the Latifa College. Extensive participation in European exhibitions, exchanges, courses and residences have further developed her training and in 2011 Mona Fares was awarded a German Fashion scholarship from the Goethe Institute. She has participated in a number of local to international art exhibitions and fashion shows. As a creative entrepreneur, she has launched her fashion label “Neon Edge” in 2009. She is also co-founder of nbx2010 “the moving art space”, a shipping container which she and her partner have transformed into a moving art space and which tours around the cities of the UAE. Mouna Chouk Born in Lausanne, Switzerland in 1972 to a Swiss mother and a Tunisian father, Mouna Chouk’s influences are both oriental and occidental. She spent her childhood in Lausanne but later left for Tunisia where she studied business. She is a member of the Tunisian Federation of Plastic Arts and has participated in many exhibitions in Tunisia and Switzerland. Chouk’s artwork is displayed in public collections such as the Ministry of Culture of Tunisia, Dar Cherait Museum Tozeur, as well as in private collections in Tunisia, France, UAE, Canada, USA, Switzerland and England. Currently, attracted by color, she devotes herself to painting and focuses on composition and color effects. Rich with her dual culture, her paintings reveal a sensitive colorist who listens to “the melody of the World” as said by Claudel. Najat Makki Born in 1956 in Dubai, Najat Makki has gained worldwide success and recognition within the UAE and outside the Arab world as being one of the foremost female Emirati contemporary painters. She decided to pursue the arts at a young age and in 1977 became the first Emirati female to gain a government funded scholarship to study art abroad. Makki went on to the College of Fine Arts in Cairo where she obtained her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Relief Sculpture and Metal and in 2001 received her PhD in Philosophy of Art. Makki is a member in the Emirates Plastic Arts Society, GSCC Art Friends Society, Al-Jidar Association, Dubai Cultural Council. Najat Makki won many awards in the Sharjah Biennale, the GCC Biennale and Al Mahhaba Biennale in Syria. Patricia Millns Born in England in 1950, Patricia Millns carries a BA in Fine Art (Painting) and an MA in Art and Design History. Her studio has been based in the Middle East for over 28 years . Her work, initially inspired by the complexity and repetition of imagery within Islamic art and design systems developed into the rich symbolism of the cultural, textile and olfactory heritage of the reason. Patricia is on the Patrons Board of Art Dubai, Advisory board of the American University of Dubai, GMAA Oman, Member of the Emirates Fine Art Society and an honorary member of the Oman Fine Art Society. Patricia exhibited at the World Congress of Women Beijing, United Nations, British Museum in London, Carousel de Louvre in Paris, DIFC Dubai, Cultural Foundation of Abu Dhabi, Alexandria National Library and National Museums of Egypt,
Sharjah, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman. Patricia also represented the UK at the Sharjah, Cairo and Alexandria Biennales. She was commissioned by the British Council to create a special performance for the state visit of HM The Queen’s UAE visit in 2010. Her patrons include HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, HM Sultan Qaboos Al Said, HRH Prince Charles Prince of Wales, HH Sheikha Paula Al Sabah, HH Sheikh Majid Al Sabah and Ramin Salsali. Rebecca Rendell Born in South Wales, UK in 1983, Rebecca studied Fine Arts at Swansea Institute before obtaining a Bachelor’s Degree in Textile Art at Southampton University UK. After graduating, Rebecca worked for various artists in the UK until relocating to the UAE. She currently lives in London and is studying a Master’s degree in Chelsea College of Art and Design for one year. Rebecca specializes in mixed media and uses found objects. She uses patterns in her process and applies them to the item. She likes to bring a new lease of life to materials. Rebecca has shown her work in the UK, Australia and the UAE and is a returning artist to ART4SIGHT. Ruben Sanchez Born in Madrid, Spain in 1981, Ruben Sanchez moved to Barcelona 10 years ago and currently resides in Dubai. Sanchez is a self-taught artist with a strong graphic style that resonates through all his projects. Coming from the graffiti and skateboard culture, he mostly works with acrylics and spray paint over canvas, woods or walls but his variety of mediums includes digital illustration, graphic design, animation and video. He has been the art director of Spain’s Alai Skateboards and Barcelona’s The DC Embassy, but his works can be seen in walls and galleries around the World and as collaborations with brands and collectives, most of them related with skateboarding. Samira Bukhamseen Kuwaiti artist Samira Bukhamseen holds a degree in Geology from the University of Kuwait and has a very deep passion for drawing and painting. She started by sketching with pencils, but later on advanced her techniques and began to learn the basics of painting. Through her exposure to international arts, she developed her sense and style and began to excel in depicting facial expressions and body language. Bukhamseen participated in local and international exhibitions and her first solo exhibition was held in 2011 and included 62 paintings of women. Shamma Al Amri Born in 1985 in Dubai, Shamma Al Amri holds BA in Arts & Sciences and is currently completing a Master’s Degree in Innovation & Management. Shamma emerged as an artist during her early years of study and presented her works both nationally and internationally. Her work is multidisciplinary ranging from photography, painting, mixed media and digital works. Her distinct photography style using a pinhole camera and traditional film has gained her wide notice and has been published in the Burj Khalifa documentary Opus. Shamma is also co-founder of nbx2010 “the moving art space”, a shipping container which she and her partner have transformed into a moving art space and which tours around the cities of the UAE. Last year, Shamma was one of 4 chosen Emirati artists to commission a piece under Nja Mahdouie’s where it was sold in auction for the Noor Dubai Foundation. Wafa Hasher Al Maktoum Born in Dubai, UAE, Wafa Hasher Al Maktoum developed a creative mind and an artistic eye at the age of 6 when she first picked up a camera during a school trip to the zoo. She attended the Latifa School for Girls where she studied art and in 1997 attended the Higher Colleges of Technology where she earned her degree in Business Administration in 2001. Throughout, she kept up to speed with what’s going on in the art world by exhibiting in group shows such as “40 Poems from the Desert” and taking art classes. In 2003 she enrolled in the Latifa College for Arts and graduated in 2007. In 2009, AlMaktoum launched FN Designs, a multi-disciplined design studio in Dubai. In 2011, the artist showed her work in a solo exhibition “In Dreams”. Yacob Ahli Born in Dubai, UAE in 1981, Yacob Ahli never planned to become a photographer, neither did he expect to become passionate about this discipline. The sound of his friend’s SLR shutter during a trip to Thailand got his attention and opened the gates for him to the world of photography. Ahli is an Emarati banker who graduated from the Emirates Banking Institute. He had a purely business background and no interest in the visual arts. However, all this has changed and he started seeing things through a different perspective searching for interesting faces, moments and nature through his travels. Zeinab Al Hashemi Born in Dubai, UAE in 1986, Zeinab Al Hashemi is a young visual artist with a BA in Arts & Science, specializing in Mixed Media from Zayed University. In 2010, she showed her work in the UAE Pavilion in the Shanghai Expo. In 2011, she exhibited in Poems from the Desert and UAE: A Work of Art at the Ara Gallery, Sikka Art Fair, Mind Made in Dubai, and DUCTAC. She also participated in the Abu Dhabi Airport Centre project or the F1. Al Hashemi uses a genre of design from elements of popular culture. She believes that art is not limited to an art audience only but that it should spread cultural awareness to a wider public .
65
The ART4SIGHT 2013 Photography Competition showcases the skills and imagination of professional photographers, as they share their techniques and personal interpretation of blindness and other topics/issues. In light with the above, talented photographers are invited to share their vision and talent with the community while educating, and inspiriting attendees/ viewers from all around the world.
The Exhibition, with its third year run and first year for the competition, hopes to keep growing, and to provide opportunities for people to learn about blindness, and emphasizes on their responsibility towards visual impaired individuals.
Winners of the Art4Sight 2013 Photography Competition
First Place
Mario Cardenas, Philippines
67
Second Place
Jihad Aravassery, India
Third Place
Nadeem Rasheed, Pakistan 68
THE JUDGES Lateefa Bint Maktoum
Dr. Manal Taryam
Lateefa bint Maktoum is the founder and director of Tashkeel, a public studio for artists and designers living and working the UAE. She graduated from Zayed University in 2007 with a bachelor’s degree in visual arts. She is a visual artist and a curator who aims to promote art from the UAE and she has been the honorary patron of START since January 2008. Since 2004, her works have been exhibited in the UAE in public spaces as well as at charity auctions. She was awarded many prizes including the Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Patrons of the Arts awards in 2010. Her works have been exhibited at The Third Line in Dubai. Lateefa’s first international exhibition was in 2008, in a group show held at the Roger Smith Hotel in New York. She has also participated in the DNC Sideshow exhibition in Denver, Colorado. In September 2009 Lateefa was selected to exhibit in “Across the Gulf” as part of the Arc Biennale, in Brisbane, Australia. In 2010, her works were presented at the 2010 UAE pavilion in Shanghai. Her works are included in many private collections internationally.
Manal Taryam, graduated from the Dubai Medical college in 1997 & joined the Department of Health and Medical services. In 1999, Taryam joined the Ophthalmology residency program at the University of Cologne in Germany and graduated in 2005, she then continued her fellowship at the Retina Department. Taryam returned to the UAE in 2006 to work at the Dubai Health Authority, she is currently a member of the Vitreo-retina team at Dubai Hospital and a member of the Ethic committee. In 2007 she was elected president of the Emirates Ophthalmic Society and participated in organizing many educational and awareness campaigns aswell as conferences. She is the founder of the Emirates subspecialty Clubs including the Emirates Retina Club (ERC). She is board member at the Middle East & African Council of Ophthalmology, and a member of the advisory board at Foresight, an NGO active in the field of research for Retinitis Pigmentosa. In 2007, Taryam wasappointed, by the UAE minister of health, general secretary of the National Committee for prevention of blindness. In 2008, Dr. Manal Taryam was appointed the Chief Executive Officer of the Noor Dubai Foundation, which targets prevention of blindness globally.
Khalil Abdul wahid Well known in his official position as the Visual Arts Manager at Dubai Culture & Arts Authority, Khalil Abdulwahid is also a respected Emirati artist with his works exhibited across the Arab world as well as internationally in Holland, France, Germany, Korea, Greece, Japan and USA. With an arts career that spans of over two decades, he has juried various art competitions including the 3rd Sharjah International Biennial for Children’s Arts 2012, Sheikha Manal Young Artist Award 2012, Sharjah Calligraphy Biennial 2012, Sheikha Latifa Bint Mohammed Award for Child Creativity, and the 12th Asia-Pacific conference “Giftedness 2012”. He was also curator of the 30th annual exhibition of the Emirates Fine Art Society.
Mouza Al abbar With a double major in Economics and Finance from the American University of Sharjah, Mouza is a Board Member of the American University of Dubai’s School of Design and an external critic for the American University of Dubai. She is a creative entrepreneur, art enthusiast and the face of modern Emirati youth, Mouza Al abbar is the founder and owner of The Ara Gallery, the co-founder of Symphony Style and the Chief Executive Officer of two specialised divisions of Symphony Style - Retail is Detail and Cravings with Couture.
69
Noor Dubai Foundation Toll Free 800 633 (NDF)
www.noordubai.ae