The gallery "YAY" invites You 11.06.2015 to an exhibition entitled "The Unbearable lightness of being". The exhibition will be featured the works by four artists from the Middle East and North America. In cooperation with Dubai's Cuadro gallery, artists Camille Zechariah, Mohammed Ahmed Ibrahim, Roberto Lopardo and Manal Al – Doveyn will be presented their works made in various techniques, including photography, print and sculpture. In the works presented explores the relationship between memory,and identity of the individual house, and the work titled "Mapping Baku" (Mapping Baku),which were created by Roberto Lopardo, executed specially for this exhibition.
The exhibition will be opened for visitors since 11.06.2015 till 31.08.2015.
The work of Roberto Lopardo "Mapping Baku», is specially ordered for the exhibition in the gallery "YAY",and it is his thirteenth installation from a series of Mappings. The project Mappings is photographic performance, which the artist is performing within 24 hours, every minute takes one photo shots. The resulting photographs are mounted in sequence on a stand with lights – lightbox – form and 24 rows (one for each hour of photography) for 60 photos in each (with each minute photography). The artist does not need any pre-defined route; rather, he photographs the urban landscape and its objects as they naturally appear in front of him. Thus obtained a series of photographs gives the viewer the opportunity to see inside the visual mystery of the city – its colors, textures, habits, interactions, and energy. Previously, the project was held in cities such as Istanbul, Jeddah, Bahrain, Doha, Jerusalem, etc.
Manal Al – Doveyn creates the photographs by way of a series of black – and-white images that recreate the memories of previous generations. Being from bloodline a family engaged in the oil sector, and personally having worked in the oil industry before becoming an artist, al – Doveyn in the series of photographs "If I'd forget, you do not forget me" reconstructed memories of their countrymen from the generation of her father. Through photos his documents the memories and conversations, captures objects that belonged to the oil – men and women – across Saudi Arabia, and creates their own history and stories. Camille Zechariah in the series: "if so – get out!" has documented his journey when he during the civil war 1985 left Lebanon. As in the works of al-Doveyn, his works are also being reconstructed meeting people and cities, exteriors and interiors. Mohammed Ahmed Ibrahim displays his sculptures and collages from his series Turãb. Ibrahim creates abstract contours and shapes that reflect his relationship with nature and, as if to say, "Feeling the unity with nature, one begins relieving itself of all sorts of layers, piece by piece, and begins to create works of art".
About the artists:
Roberto Lopardo, 1976, Brooklyn, New York. Lopardo has received a master's degree in fine arts at the Rhode Island School of Design, has a teacher's certificate,which was issued by Brown University, and a bachelor of arts majoring in Politics", issued Westminister College. Original Lopardo taught at the Arizona school for the deaf and the blind, at dine College on the territory of the Navajo reservation, in the Rhode Island School of Design and at the University of Arizona. He is the former head of the American University in Dubai, as well as a Photography Professor at the same University. The works of Lopardo was exhibited at many reputable exhibition venues, including the RISD Museum, and the American Consulate in Dubai, the Tenri Institute in New York, Paris Video-Appart, Berlin, Emerson gallery and Sultan gallery in Kuwait. Recently, Roberto has become a scholarship at New York University (NYU).
Manal Al-Dovan, Saudi Arabia. Al-Domain has a master's degree in system analysis and design. Before fully switch on creativity, ten years she has worked as a creative Director of an oil company in Saudi Arabia. She has experience in several art residencies, including a trip to London at the Delfina Foundation's program in the Cairo programme of The Town House gallery in Dubai on the programme of Cuadro gallery. Works Manal have been included in international exhibitions including the Venice Biennale in 2011 and 2009, Berlin Biennale 2010, an independent exhibition in the festival of Contemporary Istanbul 2010. Her works are in the permanent collection of the British Museum, the County Museum of art Los Angeles, Museum of contemporary Arab art Mathaf, the National Museum of fine arts of Jordan, the Foundation of Abdul Latif Jamil, the State administration for culture and heritage Abu Dhabi (ADACH), the Fund and Nadour Barjeel Foundation. Works by Manal al-Dowayan are exhibited in the Cuadro gallery in Dubai. She currently lives and works in his native Dhahran (Saudi Arabia) and Dubai (UAE).
Camille Zechariah, 1962, Lebanon. Zachariah has graduated from NSCAD University (Nova Scotia College of Art and Design) in Halifax (Canada) in 1997 and received the degree of bachelor of fine arts. Before that, in 1985 he has graduated from the American University of Beirut with a bachelor's degree in technical Sciences. Zechariah has received the first prize at the International Competition in 2006 and 2007, were included in the shortlist for the Jameel prize award 2009. The work of Zechariah has been exhibited throughout North America, Europe and the Middle East, including the Victoria and albert Museum in London, the Canadian Museum of civilization in Quebec, the National art gallery of Bangladesh, the Museum of Islamic Culture in Sharjah and Sharjah Biennale, Appliance Museum of art in Florida, Bin Matar House in Marrage, national Museum named after king Abdul-Aziz in Riyadh, Museum Bait Al Zubair in Muscat, Loutro ton Aeridon in Athens, Institute of Culture and Creativity in Tehran, gallery Acte 2 in Paris FotoFest in Houston and the Center for Multicultural Arts in Halifax. The series of works of Zechariah called "seaside promenade" was exhibited in the Bahrain pavilion at the Venice Architecture Biennale in 2012. This exhibition was nominated for the Golden lion for best national pavilion. Zacharias was invited to participate on behalf of the Kingdom of Bahrain is also in the Venice Art Biennale in 2013.
Mohammed Ahmed Ibrahim, 1962, Khorfakkan, UAE. Ibrahim has a degree in psychology, which he has received at the University of Al -Ain. He was Art-resident of Center Le Consortium Art in Dijon (France). His work has been exhibited globally, including at the Biennale of Sharjah 1993, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2003 and 2007, the Museum of Art of Sharjah in 1996 and 2005, at the Biennale Dhaka 1993 and 2002, the exhibition of the Society of fine art Emirates in Moscow in 1990, the Dutch Art center Sittard in 1995, at the Biennale of Cairo in 1998, the Institute of the Arab World in 1998, at the Havana Biennale 2000, Ludwikowski Forum Germany in 2002 in the Bonn Museum of Art in 2005 at the Venice Biennale 2009. Ibrahim was awarded the First prize for sculpture at the Biennale of Sharjah 1999 and 2001. His works are in prestigious collections, including the Arab Museum of Modern Art in Qatar, the Museum of Art in Sharjah, and Dutch Art centre of Sittard.
