Under the patronage of Abdul Rahman Al Owais, UAE minister of culture, youth & community development, the Ayyam Art Center in Dubai proudly presents, “Selections from The Samawi Collection,” a large-scale exhibition that will feature several periods of Arab art through three distinct curatorial themes. By identifying particular threads amidst three-dozen seminal works, this museum-quality show will provide unique insight into one of the region’s most significant collections of international art, demonstrating the ways in which the Middle East has increasingly obtained global leverage with a broadening scope of patronage.
“An Istanbul Legacy” opens with an exploration of different contemporary works from a wide array of artistic backgrounds where great attention was given to their contrasting yet complementary styles. The show begins with a selection of works by artist Guido Casaretto. His interest in the relationship between the different aspects of the human self becomes a means of investigating the artificial tension between private and public identity. The sculptures of Ugur Caki, however, tell a different story. They provide a contemporary spin on the Greek deities, but with a zest of humor and wit. Bedri Baykam’s 4D Lenticular works portray beauty by offering a philosophical twist, reflecting various scenes of social discourse.
This is the first solo show in London of the drawings, paintings and sculptures of Selma Gürbüz, one of Turkey’s leading contemporary artists. Hers is a wonderfully original talent that has created a rich body of work. In this small selection, Gürbüz reveals a gestural staging of her past and present, of the earth and sea, art history and real life events, animals and humans and East and West. In a way, “Shadows of My Self” represents the cross-cultural aspect of her place of birth, Istanbul, the city where she lives today.
Selma Feriani Gallery, London, Athr Gallery, Jeddah, and The Mosaic Rooms, London, are pleased to present Ayman Yossri Daydban’s first London solo exhibition entitled, “Identity”. This exhibition offers a compelling insight into the practice of this multi-media artist. Originally Palestinian, Ayman possesses Jordanian nationality and Saudi Arabian residence. Daydban’s work transcends discussions of identity, speaking to the viewer on a more visceral level of the shared human experience of misunderstandings and miscomprehension.
