Alserkal Art Week returns with a programme that will delight the curious from 26 February to 5 March 2023, showcasing first-in-the-region exhibitions and shows, the largest concentration of contemporary art galleries in the region, strong international programmes, and well-established artists. Rana Begum’s, Dappled Light, will open proceedings on 26 February at Concrete, marking the artist’s largest solo exhibition in the region to date. Elsewhere, the week of experiential exhibitions will feature some of the MEASA region’s most exciting artists at Alserkal Avenue galleries such as Ayyam Gallery, The Third Line, Custot Gallery, Leila Heller Gallery, Volte Art Projects and more.
Alserkal Art Week favourites such as Alserkal Lates, Majlis Talks, and Slow Art Walks also return to prompt intriguing discourse and meaningful connections. Pictet Wealth Management is the lead partner of Alserkal Art Week March 2023.
Highlights of Alserkal Art Week March 2023
Dappled Light | Solo exhibition by Rana Begum | Opening 26 February at Concrete
Rana Begum’s Dappled Light will be Alserkal Avenue’s first artist solo exhibition. Begum’s work will explore the interaction of light, colour and form in dialogue with OMA’s Concrete, responding to the building’s architectural conversation with light and form, captured in its minimalist lines. The unmissable works on display will include No. 1228 Mesh (2023) a large-scale suspended mesh ‘cloud’, and No. 1079 Painting Large (MG) (2021), an epic ten-metre wide colour-field canvas. The exhibition is curated by Dr Cliff Lauson.
Alserkal Lates | Majlis Talks, Slow Art Walks and more | 28 February at Alserkal Avenue
Alserkal Lates will return to illuminate the Avenue after dark with new exhibitions, art installations, talks and art walks from 4pm to 10pm on 28 February.
Majlis Talks, curated by Mahnaz Fancy, will bring together artists, curators, researchers and art-world professionals for an evening of thoughtful and inspiring conversations. Starting at 4pm and running across six 25-minute sessions, this year’s Majlis Talks will see conversations with Fatima Ali, Lubnah Ansari, Loa Haagen Pictet, Nadine Abdel Ghaffar, Sara Raza, Rana Begum and Dr Cliff Lauson.
Aligned with ‘alternative ways of being’ and mindfulness, Alserkal Art Week Slow Art Walks invite the visitor to take the time to slow down and reflect, not to rush to unpack or understand. We’ll be joined by critical voices from the arts—both emerging and established—to welcome audiences to spend an evening with artworks in the Avenue. This spring’s two walks will last 45 minutes each starting at 7:30pm and 9:30pm, and will be led by Dr Jill Magi and Auguste Nomeikaite.
Other Alserkal Art Week events | Exhibitions, open studios, Tree School and guest projects
Alserkal Arts Foundation’s 2023 Spring Cycle Residents, a multidisciplinary cohort that includes Shada Safadi, Mhamad Safa, Jalila Haider, and Masaru Iwai, will be holding a Residents Open Studio programme on 4 March 2023 from 11:30am to 1:30pm at the foundation. During the programme, visitors will enjoy 15-minute presentations by each of the residents followed by brunch.
During Alserkal Art Week, Alserkal Arts Foundation will also present The Tree School, a gathering place for groups and individuals interested in learning from each other and in sharing common urgencies based on lived experiences. Developed by Sandi Hilal and Alessandro Petti, who work under the name DAAR—Decolonising Architecture Art Research, the Tree School can last for days, months, or years, depending on the participants’ interests.
During the week, The Tree School sessions will be held in four locations across four days: 27 February at Creek Park, 28 February at Warehouse 51 in the Avenue, 1 March at a desert location, and 2 March at Mazmi Coffee & More. The meeting point for each session will be at Alserkal Avenue with transportation arranged to the externally located sessions.
8+ galleries from Alserkal Avenue will also participate in Art Dubai, including Ayyam Gallery, Carbon 12, Custot Gallery, Green Art Gallery, Gulf Photo Plus, Lawrie Shabibi, Leila Heller Gallery, The Third Line, and Zawyeh Gallery.
For more information on Alserkal Art Week, please visit https://alserkal.online/programme/alserkal-art-week
