Articles
Thinking out of the box
Art can take many forms. It can encapsulate human existence and emotion within a single video or photograph. It can imitate reality in a sculpture or painting and it can break through and come alive when the artist is physically part of the work.
- By Manal Ismail, Staff Reporter
- Published: 00:36 December 23, 2007
- Image Credit: Atiq-Ur-Rehman/ Gulf News
- Artist Javeria Khalid (left) and Altamash Urooj, with their project at the Dubai Community Theatre, Arts Centre at the Mall of the Emirates.
Students experiment with new techniques and ideas in an avant garde exhibition. Manal Ismail reports
Art can take many forms. It can encapsulate human existence and emotion within a single video or photograph. It can imitate reality in a sculpture or painting and it can break through and come alive when the artist is physically part of the work.
Each artist expresses his/ her underlying emotions at a different level. What may seem untraditional may in fact be the most striking piece of work - one which communicates its message most effectively.
At an age when they are still trying to figure out their identity and become self-aware, young artists can produce the most interesting and stimulating artwork. Having the opportunity to display it strings the whole experience together, providing students a chance for recognition and acknowledgement.
Breaking boundaries
With professional artists from all over the world participating, visual communications students from the American University in Dubai (AUD) had the opportunity to display their work in an exhibition titled "Art for Rent."
Taking place at the Dubai Community Theatre and Arts Centre at the Mall of the Emirates, students exhibited their work with well-known artists from Turkey, Italy, Germany and the US.
The aim of the exhibition, which was produced in collaboration with the Independent Performance Group (IPG) from New York and Area 3 from Barcelona, was to introduce an art form new to the cultural scene in Dubai - performance and electric art.
In her piece "Paradise Lost," Nezaket Ekici from Turkey stands in a black dress amid a circle of 3,000 apples. Symbolising temptation and desire, Ekici holds the apple and draws people to her trying to get them to taste the fruit.
"I was inspired by the story of Adam and Eve," she said. Despite her untraditional style of expressing her art, Ekici caught the attention of many visitors and fellow artists.
"This is a wonderful experience," said Javeria Khalid from AUD. "Never did I think we'd be able to make it this big."
Highlighting issues
Student works reflected a variety of different concerns, some local and others personal. For Javeria Khalid and Altamash Urooj, it was the issue of labourers that struck them as the most important.
Following the theme of the exhibition "Art for Rent," Khalid and Urooj said labourers fit the profile.
In their piece titled "Construction Worker," these two budding artists created what looks like a life-size labourer. However, instead of a head a video showsblurred images of luxurious buildings and landscapes in the region.
"If you think about it, these construction workers are employed for one or two years to work on these beautiful structures and thereafter they leave without any recognition," Khalid said.
"The blurred running video represents the way these labourers only get to see their work for a brief moment - never enjoying the finished product - and it only remains a vague memory in their minds."
Urooj emphasised the irony in the situation, comparing the lifestyle of the workers to that of the people for whom they're building the structures.
"These construction workers work day in and day out on these glamourous, luxurious buildings," he said.
"They create them with their own hands and in the end they are sent back to their life of drudgery. Imagine working on something so beautiful and then not having the opportunity to experience it."
Beautifully demonstrated, Urooj and Khalid sent a pertinent and poignant message through their work.
Washing away stereotypes
Meanwhile, Amira Mehrez, visual communications student from Egypt at AUD, created an unusual and outstanding piece. Titled "Deterge," Mehrez had a running projection of Egyptian women in Egyptian movies from inside a large washing machine.
"Stereotypes of Egyptian women have been a common theme in my life," she said. "In this piece, I'm literally trying to wash away all the stereotypes associated with women from Egypt."
Dubai as a cultural hub
Mehrez, among other student artists, said she would love to pursue her life as a professional artist but obstacles stand in the way, especially those of stereotypes in Arab culture.
Nevertheless, the expanding opportunities for budding artists in the region, especially in Dubai, are unquestionable.
Marina Abramovic, a pioneering practitioner of performance art, highlighted the true meaning behind this exhibition and behind bringing prominent global artists to the region.
"I don't think that it would have been possible to show this kind of work in Dubai in the past," she said.
"The fact that these performance artists are present in the city is very important. It is proof that Dubai is becoming an important new centre for culture on the international map."
Your access to everything in education
