Thursday, 23 October 2008, Dubai:
Under the Patronage of His Excellency Dr.
Omar Bin Sulaiman, Governor, Dubai International Financial
Centre (DIFC) and Managing Director of the Dubai Culture and
Arts Authority, Dr. Lamis Hamdan Al Shamsi, Board Member of
the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority yesterday opened
Artsawa, a contemporary art gallery located in Dubai.
Nestled within the industrial area in the
Al Quoz district within a transformed warehouse, Artsawa, is
dedicated to promoting world-class regional contemporary art
to a global audience. With an inspiring, interactive space
for artists, and art-lovers, the gallery is all set to
become the hub of contemporary art in Dubai.
Commenting on the
opening, H.E. Dr Omar Bin Sulaiman said,
“We welcome the launch of this new
gallery, which contributes to Dubai’s efforts to create a
world-class infrastructure for art and culture. The Dubai
Culture and Arts Authority wholeheartedly supports
Initiatives such as Artsawa, which help to create a rich
environment for art to flourish. By providing a platform for
artists to showcase their art and connect with the
community, Artsawa adds great
value to Dubai’s cultural and artistic scene”.
Dr. Lamis Hamdan Al Shamsi said: “The
opening of Artsawa will help to enhance appreciation and
awareness of contemporary Arab art both in Dubai and the
larger region. The gallery will serve to encourage both
established and promising artists, and raise exposure for
their works among art connoisseurs, collectors and investors
in the region. Initiatives like this will enable art and
artists to play larger roles in shaping and guiding the
society.”
Artsawa was conceived by its owner, Amel
Makkawi. Having recognised the potential in the market for
serious art, Makkawi set out to create a platform for
artistic talent from across the region. Amel has built a
reputation for selecting and promoting Arab artists who have
extraordinary and individual stories to tell through their
art. The opening event featured the works of renowned Arab
artists such as Mohamed Abla, Ahmed Askalany,
Ibrahim el Dessouki,
Mahmoud al Obaidi, Camille
Zakharia.
Speaking about the gallery, Amel
commented, “Artsawa is the embodiment of my dreams and
aspirations for the promotion of art in the region. The
English translation of “sawa” in spoken Arabic is “together”
and on that theme, Artsawa will facilitate the interaction
between art and the public across a wide range of media.
Our mission is dedicated to promoting world class
contemporary art from the region among a global audience.”
Set in a warehouse that has been
transformed into a distinctive state-of-the-art 12,000 sq ft
art platform with over 3,000 ft of linear wall-space,
Artsawa promises to be the perfect backdrop to showcase the
works of the region’s contemporary artists. The beautiful
gallery area combines with a library and video lounge to
provide an inviting, personal space for artists and art
enthusiasts to interact
Amel continued, “Art comes from the soul
and is key to documenting the story of the individual
artist’s real life experiences, it is a reflection of our
society. Artsawa will provide the perfect platform for these
stories to be told and for everyone to enjoy.”
Artsawa will realise its mission by
hosting of a series of innovative exhibitions. With up to 15
exhibitions annually, it will not only be one of the largest
but also most active art platforms in the UAE and the
region, In addition, Artsawa will have educational programs
and publications that address current issues and practices
in the Art world.
About the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority
The Dubai Culture and Arts
Authority is mandated to create a rich environment for
Emirati heritage, visual arts, theatre, music, literature
and poetry in order to further position Dubai as a vibrant,
Arabian global city for the arts. The Authority was recently
launched in March 2008 under the directive of HH Sheikh
Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Prime Minister and Vice
President of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Dubai.
The Authority operates under the chairmanship of HH Sheikh
Majid Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum
Media Contacts:
Amira Abdulla
E-mail:
amira.abdulla@difc.ae
Iman Ahmad
Regional Media Relations Manager
Dubai International Financial Centre
Tel: +971 50 2058021
E-mail:
iman.ahmad@difc.ae
