18th Islamic Arts Festival in Sharjah
by Kenan Šurković, Art Historian
Islamic Arts Festival is hosting 43 exhibitions, showing 300 works by 36 artists from 17 countries
image HH Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah Inaugurates 18th Islamic Arts Festival in Sharjah / Photo © Islamic Arts Magazine
Islamic Arts Festival launched on December 16, 2015 at the Sharjah Art Museum and was inaugurated by His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah. The Festival will continue until January 16, 2016. The launch was also attended by Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Sharjah Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler, and Sheikh Abdullah Bin Salem Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, among others.
Following his arrival at Sharjah Art Museum, Sheikh Sultan and the attendants toured the festival galleries and listened to artists explain their displayed works of art. Islamic Arts Festival is hosting 43 exhibitions, showing 300 works by 36 artists from 17 countries.
‘Light’, this year’s theme of Islamic Arts Festival in Sharjah, aims to show the depth and importance of Islamic Arts by presenting a contemporary interpretation of the concept.Due to its serenity and aesthetics light has always been appreciated in Islamic tradition and arts; a true source of creativity as we can observe in architecture, painting, sculpture, pottery and calligraphy. The concept evokes two essential levels, form and content.
image HH Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi tours 18th Islamic Arts Festival in Sharjah / Photo © Islamic Arts Magazine
image Chris Wood explains her work to HH Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi / Photo © Islamic Arts Magazine
The Festival is presenting light-based artworks by 36 internationally acclaimed artists: Ibrahim Ahmed (Egypt), Eric Standley (USA), Elana Herzog (USA), Bruce Munro (UK), Ben Johnson (UK), Pete Moorhouse (UK), James Nizam (Canada), Dev Harlan (USA), David Reumüller (Austria), Rashad Alakbarov (Azerbaijan), Zarah Hussain (UK), Zamir Suleymanov & Aydan Mirzaeva (Azeraijan), Zaman Jassim (Saudi Arabia), Sara Chaudhry (UK), Samantha Holmes (USA), Sameh Al Tawil (Egypt), Suzan Drummen (Netherlands), Soner Ozenc (UK), Simeon Nelson (Australia), Shahida Ahmed (UK), Shamma Salim Bin Saif (UAE), Amr Fikri (Egypt), Faiq Ahmad (Azerbaijan), Fabrizio Corneli (Italy), Farid Rasulov (Azerbaijan), Chris Wood (UK), Christopher Swift (South Africa), Lulwah Al Hamoud (Saudi Arabia), Lita Cabellut (Spain), Mohamed Shoukry (Egypt), Musaed Al Hulis (Saudi Arabia), Naser Salem (Saud Arabia), Vahid Ezzat Panah (Iran), Yelena Filipchuk (USA) & Serge Beaulieu (Canada) and Rasha al-Qaim (Egypt).
Highlights from the Opening
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- Sameh Al Tawil explains his work to Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Bin Sultan Al Qasimi / Photo © Islamic Arts Magazine
The Festival is a translation of Sharjah’s vision of supporting Islamic arts to new prospects to ensure their revival and presence among all generations. It also reflects the emirate’s keenness on taking care of the artistic heritage of the Islamic civilisation, which takes an important place among its fields of interest and priorities. The programme contains a number of exhibitions, seminars and workshops, some of which will be supervised by international artists and also screenings of art-specialized films. The Festival is held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah and organized by Department of Culture & Information, Sharjah.
Stay tuned; as we will continue to provide more coverage of the exhibitions from Islamic Arts Festival in Sharjah.