The exhibition, 613, is curated by MORROW collective. It explores the mythology surrounding the pomegranate fruit through the work of three artists, Petra Kaltenbach, Gabriella Anouk and Fareha Zeba. All three of these female artists, are enchanted by the pomegranate fruit. Petra, because it is a symbol of transformation and love. Gabriella, because of the beautiful detail of its jewel-like seeds and Fareha because of its life-giving qualities and fertile symbology.
MORROW collective teamed up with Art In Space, the region’s only multi-sensory gallery, to bring a fully immersive exhibition of sight, sound, taste, emotions and aromas to Dubai. The exhibition features physical artworks and NFTs all brought together with augmented reality and shown on the 360 screen.
Exhibition runs from July 14 – August 1
Exhibition Statement
The pomegranate is an ancient and mythical fruit that carries with it legend and power. In many religious traditions, the fruit is said to have properties that boost fertility and are sometimes smashed in bridal chambers to encourage the birth of many children. Across scripture, the jewel-like fruits are presumed to have 613 seeds, one for each of the commandments in both the Torah and the Bible and in Islamic literature, legend holds that each pomegranate contains one seed that has come down from paradise.
Perhaps because of this mysterious allure, the pomegranate is also known as the forbidden fruit – the one that lured Adam and Eve to fall from the Garden of Eden and which, when eaten by Persephone, the Greek goddess of spring brought about winter.
This exhibition is curated by MORROW collective and hosted in Art In Space, Dubai’s only digital gallery that gives a full sensory experience. The art charts contemporary interpretations of the pomegranate’s significance from three leading female artists and will incorporate sight, sound, taste, touch and aromas
About the Artists
Petra Kaltenbach, growing with the trends of digitization, is the winner of the Gulf News Web 3 awards emerging artist prize. Her themes often explore transformation and metamorphosis. Her recurring motif is the pomegranate fruit, which stands as a symbol of love, wealth, health and divinity across traditions and cultures. Her latest series, NFT_LOVE LETTERS (2022) is a series of visual poems.
They begin life as physical artworks painted and partially printed on mirrored stainless steel and then they take on their digital life with overlaid corresponding videos. The videos are transliterated Arabic terms of endearment, engaging with the deep romanticism of the Arabic culture, that she places at odds with the more rational thinking of her native German culture.
Fareha Zeba was born in 1961 in Dhaka, Bangladesh, where she lives and works today. She has participated in numerous exhibitions, art fairs and biennales across Bangladesh and India and is a founding member of Shako – Woman Artists Association of Bangladesh.
Gabriella Anouk attended Loughborough University and completed a Graphic Communications and Illustration degree. After graduating Gabriella built a successful commission-based art practice. In 2021 she was inspired to change direction in her art practice and express herself more fully, exploring different techniques and subjects.
Because Gabriella’s drawings are created with so much control and are practicing the genre of hyperrealism she says,
It’s important to me that the actual subject I’m drawing isn’t controlled and has an element of disruption and chaos.
