8 March 2021
Aknoon Art Gallery in collaboration with Stal Gallery presents: selection of artworks from international artists featuring online from 8 march 2021.
ARTISTS
Elmira Abolhassani
Elisabeth Gschiel
Marta Wasilewska-Fragnowska
Budoor L Riyami
Marlene Gollner
Riham Noor Al Zadjali
CURATOR:
Marjan Habibian
______
نمایشگاه آنلاین آثار هنرمندان
بیست بیست
کیوریتور:
مرجان
(اسامی هنرمندان)
CONCEPT:
It all started from twenty twenty, or much earlier.
Twenty twenty became a mirror for reflection. A station for stillness and looking back.
We seven female artists, after a year of forced global lockdown, came together.
We linked and displayed seven perspectives, seven philosophies and cultures, and the different effects of social conditions on our feelings, dreams, and concerns through various mediums.
Our main concern in this project is the impact of community conditions on the individual and on their social life.
Concerns such as environmental pollution, political issues, the identity and daily communication of millions of people through social networks, to show individual and social apprehensions and dreams, through the numerous symbols or the interaction between the visible and the hidden perceptible of the human body.
Stepping outside, seeing a city returning to life, hearing its noise again and having the freedom and social liberation without restraint.
Concerns about travel, home, nostalgia and being homesick.
Budoor Al Riyami
Budoor Al Riyami is an Omani artist. She graduated from Sultan Qaboos University Muscat, Oman. She won the Grand Prize at the 13th Asian Art Biennale in 2008 with her innovative work; a video installation entitled "The Peak of Burning" which is one of the very few artworks employing modern technologies on display at the event. Riyami participated also in The Circle Show in 2005 and 2007 which is taking the lead in encouraging new forms of art in Oman and in the Gulf. She also works in other mediums such as painting and sculpture but currently prefers photography and video installation to other mediums.
Talking about working with high tech mediums Riyami says, "In the Stone Age man used to draw on stone. Then why shouldn't we use modern technologies when science has developed?" On her approach to art, Riyami said that she tries to stir the viewers' sensibilities with her works. In her words, "The viewers should be allowed some space so that they can interpret art in their own ways. As an artist I can give them some clues on any particular issue. But, they should decide how to react."
Having worked with NGO's, communities, the arts and the media, she enjoys encouraging thought and amplifying voices. Her work has been presented to the UN as well as having performed and exhibited her art work and films in numerous countries.
Recently, she left her media career in London to move to Muscat to work on her art. With freedom of speech & expression being central to most of her works, she chose to come to the Middle East because of the limitations here within these realms. An education she believes she has to experience in order to better inform her own understanding.
Marta Wasilewska-Frągnowska
Born in Olsztyn on 28th of August 1983. She graduated the State School of Arts in Olsztyn. Studied Artistic Education in the field of Fine Arts at the University of Warmia and Mazury and received Master’s degree with honours in painting. The Diploma work entitled "Marina" was created under the supervision of Professor Z. Droński (2008).
In 2009, the President of Olsztyn awarded her the scholarship. She completed the Ph.D. in Art from the University of Jan Kochanowski in 2013.
The author of numerous solo exhibitions, for instance: Centre of Culture and International Cooperation, "Światowid" (Elbląg, 2007), "Obora" Gallery (Glotowo, 2008), Cultural Centre (Dobre Miasto, 2008), Polish–French Centre (Olsztyn, 2010), Municipal Centre of Culture (Ząbki, 2012), One Painting Gallery, the Museum of Warmia and Mazury (Olsztyn, 2012), "Sztuka na piętrze" Gallery (Olsztyn, 2012), "Schody" Gallery (Warszawa, 2014), "BWA" Art Gallery (Olsztyn, 2015).
The Artist also participated in many of group shows: "Jazzteaval" (Dobre Miasto 2009, 2012), "The Master and Apprentice" (Reszel, 2012), "History with Nature in the Background" - Atelier of Auditorium the Faculty of Humanities (Olsztyn, 2013), "Artforum" Gallery (Offenburg, Germany 2013).
The latest works depict human, but not in a literal way. Her aim was to show individual and social apprehensions and dreams, through the numerous symbols. The Artist is trying to tame the deepest fascination and longings. Painting is also a kind of struggle with the primal force and energy, which is pulling the man to nature and special places in search of fulfilment and sacrum.
The latest artworks: www.marta.wf
Marjan Habiban
I have always been inspired by nature, and by people – their attitude to life, and to the society they live in. When I was eight years old, a revolution took place in my country; eight years of war then followed. Restrictions were imposed on me, and fear entered my life. I asked myself philosophical questions: What is the meaning of life? Why are we here? I have always been inspired by expressionism. I search for answers in my daily life and in people’s faces. I try to read their stories, I try to get an insight into the way they feel about their lives. I look into their eyes and at their expressions, searching for an understanding of their emotions and feelings. What’s behind their smile? My artistic journey began to be shaped when I started at Graphic Design College. In my paintings, I try to express my personal highs and lows – and those of the society I’m living in. To some extent that’s a reflection of the development of art, both in Iran, and in the wider world. They are my response to the way I view society. I started painting with oil, then moved on to acrylic and mixed media. Putting thick layers of color suit my temperament and the way I like to express myself through my work.
Sometimes I have nothing much in my mind – these are the times when I just enjoy starting with an abstract surface, and letting ideas flow onto it by themselves; as they develop, I feed them from my imagination.
The people I live with are the most influential characters in my art. Their philosophy of life – and all the little things which matter so much to them in their daily lives – are the inspiration for my work.
2013 I moved to Austria and to a new culture, to be among new people. They are the new influence on my life and work.
I love drawing: the last few years have seen figurative painting taking a bigger place in my work.
Riham Noor Al-Zadjali
Co-founder of “Art With Refugees”
A traveling exhibition of artworks by refugees and international artists in support of sustainability projects helping refugees become independent of charity organizations. Art With Refugees exhibited in Greece, Spain, Oman, USA, Belgium, & Germany.
Studied Fine Arts and Art History at the Paris American Academy and the American university of Paris.
Exhibited in Paris, Germany, & Oman.
Experiments with painting, photography, digital media, & conceptual art.
Taught art at Bweju Charity School, Zanzibar, & at the refugee squats in Athens, as well as in art workshops for people with Down syndrome and intellectual disabilities, the blind, and the physically disabled, in collaboration with the British counsel & the Academy for special skills.
Participated in delegations and residencies, such as the British Counsel Oman delegate to the Conversion Art Festival in London 2018.
Art residency at Leipzig International Art Programme, Germany 2019.
Art residency programme commissioned by the wapping project, London, and the British council 2019.
Marlene Gollner
Lives and works in Graz.
Artwork, Authentic Movement, Body Work.
The human body as a vessel and place of experience is the focus of my interest. What wants to become embodied, become visible and be seen?
Body perception, dream images and experiences of being are the starting points of these processes.
Making the resonance and interaction between the visible and the hidden perceptible is my field of exploration.
Elmira Abolhassani
Lives and works in Lisbon, Portugal.
She holds a master of glass art, science, and technology from the Lisbon fine art university.