Zayed University Students Uproot Emirati Conceptual Arts

Zayed University Students' showcased several conceptual artworks during their partake at the 35th Annual Exhibition of the Emirates Fine Arts Society, which was inaugurated Under the Patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah.

The exhibition, which takes place at the Sharjah Arts Museum from 24 Jan 2018 till 18 Mar 2018, showcases multiple artworks submitted by several artists from the UAE and GCC, and other countries worldwide.

Conceptual art, is art for which the idea (or concept) behind the work is more important than the finished art object. It emerged as an art movement in the 1960s and the term usually refers to art made from the mid-1960s to the mid-1970s.

“It is a fantastic opportunity to reconnect youth with artists who served at the Emirates Fine Arts Society to create a sense of community, and also understand that Zayed University students actually enjoy a rich history of Arts in their own culture," said Ann-Maree Reaney, Dean of the College of Arts and Creative Enterprises at Zayed University.

Influenced and energized, each student responded to one of the artists who served at the Emirati Fine Arts Society, by either restoring old works or redecorating previous ideas.

“As Dean of the CACE, I believe it’s necessary that the students realized their own history and understood contemporary art practices that took place in the Emirates, and that they are part of the succession of that as cultural leaders in the United Arab Emirates,” Reaney added.

Rawdah Al Kutbi, a Senior CACE Student at Zayed University, said, “The artist that inspired me was Mohammed Kazem, a contemporary Emirati artist who works primarily with video, sound art, photography, found objects and performance art. Kazem is one of the five conceptual Emirati artists whose work was recognized as a group in the 2002 exhibition “5 UAE” at the Ludwig Museum, Aachen."

"Following his footsteps, I found myself around abandoned areas, where I deeply unrooted personal belongings and memories left by those who breathed there ages ago.  I collected blood samples, magnified fingerprints, and passport photos, to emerge a new personal series,” she said.

Nour Nasser, Senior ZU CACE student, said, “My artwork relies on Hassan Sharif, Emirati Artist, whose work reflects interactively with society and with everyday life, reflecting the way people walk and their vision of things, their passion for life, and their reactions. His artwork includes paintings, drawings, and collage. Also, he uses objects and industrial materials or mass-production items and he weaves these objects together with rope, coil and twinropes.”

“What inspires me is that his artwork shines from leftover objects that we do not need. I want to create new arts applying similar methods, I placed left-overs of laser-cut on a wooden board with laser-cut holes. I covered some of these holes with different colored fabrics and some were threaded. Additionally, the wood surface was painted with assorted colors to enrich its texture,” she added.

Rawan Habib, Zayed University graduate, said, “I was inspired by Emirati Artist Fatma Lootah, who release several art artworks that portrayed suffering children during wars and mass destructions. In contrary, I decided to plant freedom in their lives. I created a delightful environment where I placed my character on the shore, where he enjoys the delightful sea breeze and the gentle touch of sunlight, happy, peaceful and full of life.”