This art exhibition is bridging the Gulf and Japan

Courtesy of Christopher Benton
Courtesy of Christopher Benton

Curated by Swiss-Japanese artist Sophie Arni, the “East-East Vol. 4: The Curio Shop” exhibition aims to showcase a new dialogue between artists from the Arabian Gulf and East Asia. The Japan-based exhibition, that ends on July 24, features 14 artists from the Gulf region and Japan.

  1. Almaha Jaralla
    Almaha Jaralla
    Born and raised in Abu Dhabi, Jaralla’s inspiration comes from deconstructing facets of her own upbringing in a conservative Emirati family.
  2. Hashel Al-Lamki
    Hashel Al-Lamki
    An artist and painter based in the UAE, Al-Lamki co-founded Bait 15, an artist-run studio and gallery space in Abu Dhabi.
  3. Khalid Mezaina
    Khalid Mezaina
    The artist’s works reflect his personal interests, including comic books, music and dance, and traditional costumes and textiles from around the world.
  4. Aisha Al-Ali
    Aisha Al-Ali
    The Abu Dhabi-based painter and multidisciplinary artist has exhibited her works locally and internationally, including in Venice and Sharjah.
  5. Meryem Meg
    Meryem Meg
    Based in the UK, the Algerian-Bulgarian artist works with mediums such as painting, video installations, and bookmaking, and in recent years has been studying the principles of wabi-sabi (an ancient aesthetic philosophy rooted in Zen Buddhism).
  6. Salman Al-Najem
    Salman Al-Najem
    An artist and cultural leader based in Bahrain, his work deals with the divine and spiritual, and often derives inspiration from recognizable motifs of his local environment.