WAW - we are wondering | Daniel H. Rey | Artpool

with

Lily Wallis

WAW - we are wondering

Dec 17th 2020 -Feb 1st 2021

Lubnah Ansari , Maryam Alhuraiz , Mariam Alkatheeri , Lily Wallis , Ziad Al Najjar , Zeid Jaouni

Curated by:

Daniel H. Rey

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If you could ask anybody anything, what would it be? ‘WAW - we are wondering’ @WAW.exhibit is an exhibition that premiered on December 16th, 2020 at @maisan15 in Dubai, UAE. After six weeks at a physical space, we are thrilled to be the first UAE exhibition to be available on Art Curator Grid as a digital showcase. This takeover highlights what we did, as well as some moments and transformations along the way. In WAW, ‘wondering’ is framed as a collective endeavor: artists and audience activate each other’s curiosity one question at a time. Each artwork has an extended label with a question from the artist to the audience. Wondering, to consider other meanings, also entails interacting with a new cohort of creative wonders. @ZiadNajjar_, Maryam AlHuraiz @MaryamAH_, Mariam Alkatheeri @MariamFolder, Lubnah Ansari @Groovy_Luby, @ZeidJaouni (@aptitud_e), and #LilyWallis are young UAE-based artists exhibiting for the first time, both in-person and online. Through their pieces, they share moments in their practice that carry movement, fluidity, illusion, and hint at self-determined realities. As we reconcile with what 2020 entailed and reinvent in 2021, their artworks grant us lax playfulness while allowing for voluntary introspection. These artists are not trying to “wow” anybody, contrary to the mandate of social media. Rather, WAW is an invitation to wonder collectively while posing new questions to our individual selves. We feel beyond grateful for @RamiFarook’s invitation to take over @maisan15 as well @PaulineFoessel’s introduction to the wider @ArtCuratorGrid team. Exhibiting in person and online is an ongoing exercise of #YouthCuratingYouth, a creative impulse progressively finding a local foothold. This is our first exhibition, this is what #WeAreWondering.

Tags: Ziad Al Najjar , Mariam Alkatheeri, Lubnah Ansari, Lily Wallis, Zeid Jaouni, Maryam AlHuraiz

01.

Lubnah Ansari

"WHEN DID YOU LAST FEEL STUCK?", لبن SERIES 2016

02.

Maryam Alhuraiz

"WHY DO WE HAVE GAPS IN OUR MEMORIES?", INFANTILE AMNESIA 2020

03.

Mariam Alkatheeri

"WHAT FEELING DO YOU GET FROM THIS ARTWORK?", CREATIVITY REVOLUTION 2020

04.

Lily Wallis

"HOW ARE YOU MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD?", UNTITLED 2020

05.

Lubnah Ansari

"WHEN DID YOU LAST ACCEPT ALL THAT WAS FLOWING IN YOUR LIFE?", لبن SERIES 2016

06.

Ziad Al Najjar

"HOW DOES ONE NAVIGATE THROUGH THE UNKNOWN?", LABYRINTH 2020

07.

Zeid Jaouni

"WHEN DOES IT BEGIN?", 100 DAYS OF DESIGN 021/100 2020

08.

Zeid Jaouni

"WHEN DOES IT END?", 100 DAYS OF DESIGN 019/100 2020

09.

Zeid Jaouni

"IS ANYTHING STOPPING YOU?", 100 DAYS OF DESIGN 062/100 2020

10.

Zeid Jaouni

"WHAT IS MOVING YOU?", 100 DAYS OF DESIGN 063/100 2020

11.

Lily Wallis

"WHAT WAS THE SILVER LINING OF 2020?", UNTITLED #2 2020

12.

Lily Wallis

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT?", UNTITLED #3 2020

13.

Lily Wallis

"WHAT ARE YOU CUTTING OUT OF YOUR LIFE IN 2021?", ENGAGE YOURSELF 2020

Lubnah Ansari

Abu Dhabi - United Arab Emirates

India

Lubnah Ansari is an Indian multidisciplinary artist based in the UAE. Specializing in photography and film, Ansari has presented her work in Los Angeles, Hong Kong, Jaipur and Abu Dhabi. A social advocate and experimental filmmaker, she is a dual recipient of NYU’s Innovative Leadership Award (2018) and NYU Film Grant (2020). Her short “A Quarantine Production” was selected for an upcoming documentary by Bob Saget. Ansari writes for The Gazelle, an Abu Dhabi-based independent publication. Besides completing her B.A. in Sociology and Interactive Media at NYU Abu Dhabi, she is curating a grassroots exhibition on South Asia-UAE cultural interplays. About Lubnah's work: Is the personal, political? My work meditates on the negotiation between personal identity and the socio-political surrounding. Informed by South Asian diaspora politics and the Islamic faith, my practice further questions how predetermined circumstances shape one’s humanity. I employ photography and film to dissect everyday observations of discomfort, and capture tensions between the individual and social system. The لبن series is an exploration of how I interact with my name and the age-old structures that it encompasses in different diasporic societies. Across mediums, my compositions are schematic, inviting the audience to inhabit spaces of constant speculation

Elsewhere: 

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Maryam Alhuraiz

United Arab Emirates

Maryam is a mixed media artist who studies Visual Arts at New York University in Abu Dhabi. Her art revolves around the concepts of memories, childhood and trauma. The mediums she uses are photographs, thread, paint and unwanted objects. She’s currently working on her senior capstone, which is an extension of the work presented in the WAW exhibit. This work will be presented in an exhibition at The New York University Arts Center. About Maryam’s work: “I am an emerging artist still studying for a bachelor's degree in visual arts. I am expected to graduate in May where I will be showcasing my final art exhibition at New York University’s Arts Center. I am currently in a mentorship program with Warehouse421 and Gulf Photo Plus where I will be showcasing my photographs about Mina Zayed at the end of January 2021. I love to constantly explore different mediums and how I can incorporate them into my work.” What does It mean for you to exhibit for the first time? “It feels surreal to be given an opportunity where I can present my art during a pandemic. I am grateful that I have been chosen by a curator who appreciates the works of emerging artists and supports them in their journey. Having my work exhibited for the first time opened my eyes to the different perspectives spectators have to offer.” How do you think you artists in the UAE should be supported? “Emerging artists should have a community and platform where they can comfortably work and be recognized. As an emerging artist the art scene feels very intimidating to put yourself out there in the community.”

Elsewhere: 

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Mariam Alkatheeri

Dubai - United Arab Emirates

About Mariam’s work: “My photography is based on expression editorials and I'm driven by a passion of capturing the beauty of each individual person. This photoshoot was the first photo shoot I had after quarantine! I called this art piece ‘Creativity Revolution’ because it really identified what i was feeling after being locked down for more than a month!” What does it mean for you to exhibit for the first time? “I create art to express what I have within me and to share it with people, so for my work to be showcased and hanged in a place where people can have memories and stories is crazy! This opportunity motivated me to create more and proved the fact that what i’m creating is appreciated!” How do you think young artists in the UAE should be supported? “I think giving young artists in the UAE platforms and opportunities like waw exhibition will show appreciation to their art and will definitely support them!”

Elsewhere: 

Lily Wallis

Dubai - United Arab Emirates

USA

Lily Wallis is an American artist born and raised in Dubai, UAE. Lily's digital collage work is informed by her own relationship with nature and experiences of youth. A former intern at AlSerkal Avenue and The Institute of Emerging Art, she will be attending Bryn Mawr College in 2021. About Lily's work: "Digital collage is the medium that most speaks to me in my practice as it allows me to fully manipulate and express my ideas creatively. I have been involved in this practice for the past two years, but I still recognize that I have so much to learn in the digital art realm. My practice is ongoing and I hope to always have art be a filter through which I feel empowered and can use as a tool to perceive the world." What does it mean for you to exhibit for the first time? "Exhibiting my work for the first time was overwhelming in the best way. It was so exciting to see my pieces in a professionally curated format and to receive external validation for my work. I also love seeing my art in a capacity that is so different from the process of making it – creating these artworks was a very individual process and I loved seeing and talking about them with others, and having them shown in such a vibrant setting." How do you think young artists in the UAE should be supported? "I would appreciate if there were more resources and exposure opportunities for young artists in the UAE. There is no lack of encouragement upon meeting other artists, however, I wish they were more programs or platforms in place for young artists to be able to establish connections with other artists and industry players."

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Ziad Al Najjar

Chicago, United States of America

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Ziad Al Najjar is an Emirati and American interdisciplinary artist, working in painting and sculpture. His recent work explores space and abstraction through experimenting with forms, colors, and patterns. Every space and entity in his artworks manifest his environment, either at home or growing up, carrying traces ofm emotions, memories, and events—an unraveling autobiography. He is a full-time student at the School of The Art Institute of Chicago, working towards a Bachelor of Fine Arts (2023). He received a scholarship from the UAE Ministry of Higher Education and a Creative Honors Scholarship from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. In 2019 he exhibited in SAIC’s annual Art Bash. In the summer of 2020, he co-founded artist studio and collective nine01 in Dubai, UAE where he is working to later host an exhibition of the work produced in the space. In the fall of 2020, he debuted in Dubai’s independent scene as a featured artist at maisan15. A series of his paintings will be displayed at the 2021 Sikka Art Fair in Dubai. About Ziad’s work: “I explore ways of representing and understanding the physical environment and the association of a space to interpersonal experience. By way of painting and drawing each piece of mine differently experiments with depictions of an environment, using linear elements, space and light, gestural mark-making, and colors. I depict objects and forms primarily found in my domestic environments within my artworks' finite surrounding. My exploration of spaces and objects is a self-reflection of my interpersonal relationships; as a result, the absence of figural representation allows for a component to take on the role of people, the objects are personified and become the figures that occupy a space. Every element in my artworks is a manifestation of my environment, either at home or growing up, carrying traces of emotions, memories, and events—an unraveling autobiography. What does it mean for you to exhibit for the first time? “It means I can show a piece of my practice to an audience and see how people engage with the artwork.” How do you think young artists in the UAE should be supported? “I think that this exhibition is an example. The show being curated by a young artist and for the purpose of showing young artists who are exhibiting for the first time. Also, how a space like Maisan15 is eager to utilize their space for such shows.”

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Zeid Jaouni

Dubai/New York

Palestine

Zeid Jaouni, a 20 year old Palestinian designer, based in Dubai and New York City, is currently studying at Parsons School of Design, majoring in Communication Design. With his graphic work, he focuses on creating bold, striking, and obscure pieces of work allowing the viewers to think deeper beyond what is seen. He is also heavily inspired by his cultural background, enabling his work to speak louder than words. About Zeid’s work: “I am a design student studying at Parsons School of Design in New York City, majoring in communication design, which revolves around the idea of speaking and communicating to the world through design. It could be done with graphic design, web design, branding, and so much more. Since this is my field of study, my interest has recently been growing rapidly and I just have a curiosity in becoming better because of the passion I have for it. Not only do I have an interest in this field of design, I am also into mixed media art, ever since I was younger, I would always love to paint, sculpt, draw, and build objects for my enjoyment, and I am glad to say that these interests grew into something much bigger. With the work I have exhibited, they are 4 digital posters that were a part of a personal project I challenged myself with during the time of quarantine. This project is called ‘100 Days of Design’ where I would create a poster a day for 100 days, then collect them all into a single book. This project has taken me places I never thought I’d reach, and it just proves that hard work always pays off!” What does it mean for you to exhibit for the first time? “It has always been a dream of mine to exhibit my work in such a way where the public are allowed to interact with it. I am very happy and grateful to be given this opportunity, it motivates me into wanting to create and to display more, to improve and inspire the public as well as many young and experienced artists.” How do you think young artists in the UAE should be supported? “Exhibiting young artists’ work in the UAE is a great way of exposure and an experience that will live on. Continuing this form of exposure will bring more appreciation to not only artists in the UAE, but more specifically the young and growing artists who will be the artists of the future, who have the potential to create a change. The art scene in the UAE is slowly growing, therefore, creating an impact with the younger generation will exceed the art growth in the region in the upcoming year/future. Social media is a very dominant form of communication in today's world, so I believe online exhibitions have strong potential, although being able to see something physically has a different effect than digitally, and people could decide their preferences for themselves! Either way, exhibitions in any form will always have great potential.”

Elsewhere: 

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Press Release

Dubai, UAE - 27 December 2020 WAW - we are wondering is currently open at Dubai’s maisan15 until January 31st, 2021. The exhibition was conceived by upcoming curator Daniel H. Rey who selected 6 UAE-based artists to present to the public for their first time. With ages ranging from 18 to 22, the artists include Ziad Al Najjar, Maryam AlHuraiz, Mariam Alkatheeri, Lubnah Ansari, Zeid Jaouni, and Lily Wallis who are working with collage, textile, painting, photography, graphic design, animation, and video art. In WAW, the artists ask the audience questions. Centered around the idea of wondering, all artworks in the exhibition, a majority of them produced during lockdown, are accompanied by labels with which the artists pose questions to the guests. “These visceral questions, entirely generated by the artists, invite the audience to reflect on this past year and revisit their intentions as 2021 unfolds,” notes Curator Daniel H. Rey. The questions range from confusion to childhood to personal victories to our responsibility for the environment. WAW is part of #YouthCuratingYouth, a concept currently developed by the curator. Rey has based his recent curatorial projects at Jameel Arts Centre,in support of 101 at Alserkal Avenue and now maisan15 under the concept of curating within one’s own age group. “We are young artists with young spaces in a young country, this “triple youth” is a powerful engine to catapult artistic careers from the Global South.” The artists in WAW are UAE citizens as well as long-term residents with ties to Palestine, India, Hong Kong, and the United States. Dropping the “wow” for the WAW. Contrary to the mandate of social media to amuse one another with content, assigning a new spelling to the “wow” allows for engaging further with the artworks. Rey mentions that “As digital natives, young artists are quite vulnerable to the algorithm-driven expectations. The idea of WAW, essentially wondering, is a gentle reminder that wondering is a collective exercise that we partake in as social beings. What if instead of amusement we pursue critical thinking?” The show also hopes to connect the audience with Dubai’s new creative wonders. As the third exhibition taking place at maisan15, it is consistent with the idea of showcasing works by emerging artists who are active in the UAE community. The shows at maisan15 change every 6-8 weeks, allowing the audience to engage with the cuisine and new art on a regular basis. This time around, the artworks in the show all have some degree of movement in themselves, even if there are fixed, 2D images. The exhibition is an opportunity for the artists to be more present in Dubai’s independent art scene. When creative platforms are independently proposed, what lessons can youth and those around them internalize? For WAW to come to life support has come from multiple directions. The exhibition has been made possible thanks to the invitation of maisan15 founder and in-house curator Rami Farook, the mentorship of independent curator Munira Al Sayegh, and the curatorial advice of artists Aliyah Alawadhi and Zuhoor Al Sayegh.

More Info

Other contributors: Aliyah Alawadhi, Emília Vieira Branco, Munira Al Sayegh, Rami Farook, Stavros Antypas, Talal Al Najjar, Zuhoor Al Sayegh, Ver & Rex (install team)

The National, "'We are wondering': Young artists ask the audience questions through Dubai exhibition"

https://www.thenationalnews.com/arts-culture/art/we-are-wondering-young-artists-ask-the-audience-questions-through-dubai-exhibition-1.1144340#4

https://www.thenationalnews.com/arts-culture/art/we-are-wondering-young-artists-ask-the-audience-questions-through-dubai-exhibition-1.1144340#4

Mille, "Maisan 15’s Latest Exhibition is Asking All the Right Questions"

https://www.milleworld.com/masian-15-exhbition-dubai-we-are-wondering/

https://www.milleworld.com/masian-15-exhbition-dubai-we-are-wondering/

Gulf Today, "Exhibition discovers talents of new artists"

https://www.gulftoday.ae/news/2021/01/09/exhibition-discovers-talents-of-new-artists

https://www.gulftoday.ae/news/2021/01/09/exhibition-discovers-talents-of-new-artists

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