CANVAS GUIDE

Artist Interview

Zsolt Bodoni

For his first solo exhibition in the Middle East, Hungarian artist Zsolt Bodoni explores childhood games and how systemic education shapes youth.

Through this show at Dubai's Green Art Gallery, Zsolt Bodoni uses King Give Us Soldiers as a reference to the games children that play, a seemingly innocent title that...

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Preview

EAST AND WEST MEET IN ISTANBUL

The Contemporary Istanbul fair brings together the Art Istanbul week for a broad range of gallery and museum shows.

Over the last decade, Istanbul has increasingly been at the forefront of the emerging Middle Eastern art market. The much-lauded Istanbul Biennial has played its part in...

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REVIEW

'Historical Relayerings'

A fascination with personal and collective history is explored in Referencing History, a group show at Green Art Gallery exhibiting works by Eastern European artists with three renowned Middle Eastern names.

Three swimmers seemingly prepare to dive into a vast sea. They are suspended in air in the midst of what appears to be an old disintegrating warehouse. One overhead window provides...

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SPOTLIGHT ON

Hassan Massoudy

This Iraqi calligrapher imbues his delicate lines and exquisite shapes with references to Islam as well as poets and philosophers throughout history. Canvas speaks with Hassan Massoudy about his literary and religious influences.

You grew up in Najaf, Iraq but left the country in 1969 to study in France. What role does your homeland play within your work? I still remember the first years of my life in Najaf -...

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Preview

Beirut Art Fair: Bigger and Better?

The Beirut Art Fair is rebranded and now in its third edition, showcasing its largest-ever number of participating galleries and varied programming.

Every year, the Lebanese Diaspora flock to Beirut from all over the world to begin their annual summer holidays, as do European travellers and plane-loads of Gulf tourists. While...

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Review

Depth Beneath the Surface

Algerian artist Driss Ouadahi portrays the lost idealism of early 20th century architecture through detailed depiction of gridded glass-clad skyscrapers in "Breathing Space"," his exhibition at Lawrie Shabibi Gallery running until 14 March.

A glimpse of the city of Algiers is reflected through the glassy windows of a tall modern skyscraper. Colonial-era apartments are juxtaposed with contemporary edifices, clay...

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ONE ON ONE

Release Me If You Dare

In Palestinian artist Laila Shawa's show 'The Other Side of Paradise' at October Gallery, she explores the occupied Palestinian woman through video footage of a failed female suicide bomber and colourful mannequins.

It was in 2007 that Laila Shawa first came across the documentary The Cult of the Suicide Bomber. Intrigued by footage of a young Palestinian woman captured on CCTV being searched...

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SPOTLIGHT ON:

Sheikha Alyazia Bint Nahyan Al-Nahyan

Emirati documentary filmmaker and painter Sheikha Alyazia Bint Nahyan Al-Nahyan creates art inspired by the history and heritage of her homeland. Canvas speaks with the artist about her recent body of work and thoughts on being a woman artist in the UAE.

Colourful narratives about Middle Eastern culture are central to Sheikha Alyazia's oeuvre comprising broken canvases and mixed media installations. Through unique...

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ARTIST INTERVIEW: AL BRAITHWAITE

Mirrors as well as portraits of Middle Eastern royalty are found in the works displayed in Transgressions, your current exhibition at XVA Gallery. What made you choose such a medium and technique for these new works?

The technique sheds light on my creative process and the way that I look at the different events and objects that surround me. I aim to create artworks that can hold many positions...

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ONE ON ONE

Nazif Topcuoglu's 'Innerscapes' running at Dubai's Green Art Gallery from 11 January - 5 March presents recent works by the Turkish photographer. Canvas speaks with the artist about his artistic process, inherent symbolism and creative influences.

Unlike your previous works which portray adolescent women in highly theatrical backdrops, the photographs on show in Innerscapes depict underplayed background and seemingly...

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