Maraya Art Centre, an organisation that strives to support emerging artists and designers, today announces its extended programme, as part of the 22nd edition of the Sharjah

Islamic Arts Festival. In addition to Bloom, a solo exhibition by renowned Chinese artist Li Hongbo, the centre is also hosting Arc ZERO, by James Tapscott, and The Spirit of The City, by Ahmed Karaly. Both exhibitions are open to the public on the second floor of the contemporary art space; Maraya Art Centre has also unveiled two new Jedariyahs in Al Qasba, Sharjah, Mural II by Egyptian duo Magdy El Kafrawy and Mohamed Abdel Aziz and The Geometrical Garden by Danila Chauzi.

Exhibitions

Arc ZERO

Inspired by the prevalence of water in Islamic architecture and garden design, Australian artist James Tapscott devised an installation that aims to create a unique spatial experience. Arc ZERO reflects the impact of Islamic Art on the artist’s practice, exploring the impact of materiality and texture on the audience experience through the creation of an interactive experience that presents the materials in an unfamiliar way. The exhibition engages with each individual sense to create a holistic awakening of the senses, fostering a new appreciation for our natural environment and questioning the significance of texture in the facilitation of an experience.

The Spirit of The City

Composed of eight layers of Chiffon fabric that engage with a fixed source of still light, The Spirit of The City is both an installation that questions the definitions of a sculpture by using light as the main material. Egyptian artist Ahmed Karaly creates a different sculpture each year that depicts his interpretation of that year’s spirit. For 2019, the artist chose light, as it represents strength in times of prayer and labour, to represent the spirit of the year. The layers of Chiffon are shaped uniquely in eight uneven layers, that also represent Karaly’s interpretation of the history of Islamic architecture.

Bloom

Curated by Joaline Frizell, Bloom presents paper sculptures of guns and bullets, by Chinese artist Li Hongbo, unfurled in a floral, polychromatic geometric arrangement inspired by the patterns prevalent in traditional Islamic art. Hongbo’s transformation of tools of destruction into a vibrant and delicate landscape provokes questions of established conceptions, removing negative connotations and instilling a sense of optimism for a peaceful future.

Jedariyahs

The Geometrical Garden

An artist that works across drawing, street art and installation, Danila Chauzi has spent over a decade developing a unique three-dimensional graffiti technique. The Russian artist’s practice is inspired by his childhood in Moscow, surrounded by graffiti and the city’s vibrant visual culture. His work, The Geometrical Garden, was designed to transport its audience on a safari-like journey through a series of drawings and has been installed on the exterior of Block D, Al Qasba.

Mural II

Making their return to the Sharjah Islamic Art Festival, Egyptian duo Magdy El Kafrawy and Mohamed Abdel Aziz were commissioned to create a second Jedariyah in Al Qasba. Located across the canal from their original work, the artists’ work explores Arabic calligraphy through a contemporary lens by making use of acrylic brushes and paints, ropes and canvas, to present a new perspective on the development of contemporary Arabic calligraphy design and installation.

Arc ZERO and The Spirit of The City are both open to the public on the second floor of Maraya Art Centre and will run until 21 January 2020; Bloom is open to the public on the third floor of Maraya Art Centre and will run until 22 February 2020.