Sky Over The East International Museum Day 2014 IN REVIEW O Sky over the East! Whose abaya floats over The tides of knowledge, Creations, dreams and visions. From above, she has witnessed a history Replete with days of glory, but with Bitterness and hindrances as well. The same sky that first distilled The legend of creation, And first inscribed its alphabet Upon the chronicles of time. Facing page: selected works from the exhibition by artists Abdul Qader Al Rais, Abdullah Al Muharraqi, Baya, Ali Al Abdan, Fateh Moudarres, Chafic Abboud, Jafar Islah, Louay Kayali, Paul Guiragossian, Mohammed Melehi, and Laila Shawa. Under the patronage of His Excellency Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahyan UAE Minister of Culture, Youth & Community Development Sky Over The East: Works from the Collection of Barjeel Art Foundation presented by Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation Emirates Palace Gallery Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates 29 May - 27 June 2014 Primary Strategic Partner The Leadership of Abu Dhabi has demonstrated In partnership with Barjeel Art Foundation, its commitment to arts and culture in the 2030 ADMAF sought to shine a light with this Vision – and in particularly the need to invest exhibition on the history of the 20th century as in museums for the 21st century. ‘Sky over seen through the eyes of the Arab world’s leading the East’ highlights the shared objective of the artists, mindful that the visual arts strengthens Leadership, Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation understanding, ambition and identity. and Barjeel Art Foundation to create prominent As with all ADMAF exhibitions, admission to public platforms that elevate the understanding ‘Sky Over The East’ was free and accompanied and appreciation of the visual arts in the United by a comprehensive catalogue, workshops (for Arab Emirates and beyond. Exhibitions such schools and children) and guided tours as well as as this are preparing the audiences for the great an ‘In Conversation’ series featuring Barjeel Art institutions that shall soon rise from the sands of Foundation Founder, Sultan Sooud Al Qassemi; Saadiyat Island. featured Emirati artist and researcher, Ali Al After all, museums are the guardians of our Abdan and Manal Ataya, Director General of collective memories and our distinct cultural Sharjah Museums Authority. This presented in identities. They are creative platforms ensuring partnership with Emirates Writers’ Union and that we learn from the lessons of our past. New York University Abu Dhabi Institute. International Museum Day is a global initiative The title of the exhibition came from the 1953 highlighting the importance of museums song ‘Prayer of the East’ (Du’aa Al Sharq) by in nurturing cross-cultural understanding. Mohammed Abdel Wahab. The lyrics are based Its founder, ICOM is a non-governmental on a poem by Mahmoud Hassan Ismail that organisation maintains formal relations with highlight the collective aspects of the Arab spirit UNESCO, an ADMAF Strategic International and allude to a metaphoric sky under which Arab Cultural Partner. communities exist. His Excellency Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahyan UAE Minister of Culture, Youth & Community Development President & Patron, Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation Every day would be International Museum Day if Sooud Al Qassemi. With great vision and exquisite a person attempted to visit every one of the world’s taste, he has assembled remarkable works created 55,000 museums in a lifetime. The ancient Greeks during the last 86 years by 49 artists from 12 Middle who conceived of a special place for the Muses Eastern countries. The Sharjah-based foundation of their mythology could not have imagined contributes immeasurably to the cultural literacy the breath-taking popularity of their concept. of the region and encourages contemporary Every member of the expatriate population in artists by making their work publicly accessible. the United Arab Emirates comes from a country Now on view in Abu Dhabi, works collected by with museums. And, of course, the considerable Sultan Sooud Al Qassemi testify to the truth of number of museums in the UAE continues to the Museum Day spirit, ‘Museum Collections grow as the country expands its Make Connections’. global view and recognises the The exhibited works stir The scope and variety of the immense contribution of museums our memories, ignite our exhibition allow viewers to make to cultural appreciation. curiosity, and excite our connections among countries, We have welcomed the imagination. cultures, artistic themes, creative international realisation that techniques, intellectual interests - the Muses are peripatetic and that they can be in short, among important visions that inform our honoured in a wide variety of suitable settings if understanding of the past. Philippe de Montebello, we are faultlessly careful. the former director of the New York Metropolitan Thus, with abundant diligence, the Barjeel Art Museum of Art declared that “a museum is the Foundation in cooperation with the Abu Dhabi memory of mankind”. To be sure, the exhibited Music & Arts Foundation has transported works stir our memories, ignite our curiosity, and outstanding elements of the Barjeel Collection excite our imagination. The mythological Muses, from the Maraya Art Centre in Sharjah to the personifying knowledge and the arts, would feel Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi where they will most welcome at Sky Over The East and would be on display for a month in commemoration of sing in appreciation and thanks to Sultan Sooud Al International Museum Day. Qassemi as well as in joyful praise of the Barjeel The Barjeel Art Foundation manages, preserves Art Foundation and the Abu Dhabi Music & Arts and exhibits the personal art collection of Sultan Foundation for their stunning achievements. Hoda I. Al Khamis-Kanoo Sultan Sooud Al Qassemi Founder Founder Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation Barjeel Art Foundation ADMAF is proud to join the world’s museums and as seen through the eyes of leading artists of We are very pleased to collaborate with the Abu to a wider public appreciation of the visual arts. heritage organisations in celebrating International the Arab world. I express my sincere thanks to Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation on a large-scale I would like to express my thanks to H.E. Hoda Museum Day 2014. This outstanding global Sultan Sooud Al Qassemi whose unwavering exhibition of 20th-century Arab art. The selection Al Khamis-Kanoo whose steady vision and initiative highlights the importance of these commitment to the arts has led to an inspiring of works displayed provides a glimpse into the devotion to the development of creativity and dynamic institutions in nurturing cross-cultural collection that reflects the joy, the passion, the diversity of subjects that preoccupied artists in the arts within the United Arab Emirates has led understanding and reminds us of the unique role knowledge and the learning one can acquire from the Arab world over the past 86 years, while also to a truly inspiring and multi-faceted, public, museums hold in today’s world. As the guardians the preservation of Arab artistic expression. highlighting relationships that existed among cultural platform. I hope Sky Over The East of our collective memories, museums are creative Sky Over The East highlights both foundations’ cultural production in different countries, and stirs up curiosity in its audience and encourages platforms ensuring that the lessons of our past shared objective to create prominent public across several decades. them to pursue further research into distinct art contribute to a brighter, prosperous future. They platforms that elevate the understanding and I hope that the exhibition encourages a wider movements, individual artists or historic events help us connect to our distinct cultural identities appreciation of the visual arts in the United Arab discourse on Arab art and sheds light on the work addressed in this exhibition. while exploring the universal bonds of humanity Emirates and beyond. I wish all those who visit of leading masters from the region, many of that connect us. this specially curated exhibition and attend its whom are still practicing today. Geographically I am delighted that in partnership with Barjeel talks and workshops an enlightening and, above spanning over 12 countries and two continents, Art Foundation, ADMAF is able to shine a light all, enjoyable experience. the selection of art presented calls attention to a on the fascinating history of the 20th century shared identity of Arab nations, while contributing Seminal works by Dia Al Azzawi (Iraq), Ismail Fattah (Iraq) and Sami Mohammed (Kuwait). Sky Over The East - Impact Summary More than AED980,000 ($267,000) of media 55 artworks from 50 artists coverage generated from 12 countries spanning 86 years of Arab history (1914-2000) This exhibition joined 35,000 other events around the world celebrating First partnership project International Museum Day between two leading non- profit arts organisations in the UAE 374 adults & children attended the series of talks, workshops and 1,687 exhibition visitors Barjeel Art Foundation is an independent, United Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation (ADMAF) guided tours Arab Emirates-based initiative. Its guiding principle believes that the visual arts enhances knowledge, is to contribute to the intellectual development of the nurtures ambition and strengthens identity. Throughout art scene in the Arab region by building a prominent its 18-year history, ADMAF has celebrated the and accessible art