Mouza is one of only four UAE-based artists to be accepted for Tashkeel’s popular Critical Practice Programme last year and worked with a mentor to produce her series of artwork showcasing her visionary blend of traditional illustration and cutting-edge digital artistry. ‘Homepage’ promises to captivate audiences with its bold reinterpretation of digital and cultural narratives, blending past and present in a compelling visual dialogue.
“Tashkeel’s Critical Practice Programme gave me the opportunity to explore the complexities of contemporary life and cultural heritage,” Mouza says. “This exhibition reflects the duality of the digital age — celebrating the opportunities the internet has provided, while also expressing the exhaustion and apprehension that come with a prolonged digital presence. I aimed to capture this nuanced experience, inviting viewers to reflect on their own relationship with the digital world. It’s a portrait of my own experience of the internet in this region during my formative years, all the way to the current day.”
The Tashkeel Critical Practice Programme nurtures and showcases local talent by offering sustained studio support, critique and production for practising contemporary artists living and working in the UAE. As each artist’s year-long programme is carefully built around the individual’s focus areas, the results are always unique and thought-provoking. ‘Homepage’ is a prime example and is sure to inspire artists and the general public alike. The artwork effectively symbolises the chaos and imperfections of the digital age and we believe it will inspire dialogue about our regional digital history and its ongoing influence.
Karam Hoar, Marketing & Communications Manager, Tashkeel
The exhibition will be accompanied by 2 talks and 2 artist-led tours on 29 September and 13 October at the FN Designs Gallery, Alserkal Avenue. The first talk will be between Mouza and her mentor Salem Al Qassimi, while the second will be an open Q&A between Mouza and the audience, moderated by Alia Al Shamsi.
Dates: September 10 – October 15, 2024, 10am – 6pm daily, except Sundays.
Location: Tashkeel at FN Designs, Alserkal Avenue
Artist-led public tours: 29 September and 13 October 1 – 2 PM, FN Designs
For further details, visit tashkeel.org.
About Tashkeel
Tashkeel is an incubator of visual art & design and a commercial consultancy rooted in the United Arab Emirates. Established in Dubai in 2008 by Sheikha Lateefa bint Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Tashkeel’s facilities enable production, experimentation and discourse. Its annual programme of training, residencies, workshops, talks, exhibitions, international collaborations and publications aims to further practitioner development, public engagement and lifelong learning. And its commercial services seek to embed UAE-made art and design in the very fabric of society and the economy. By nurturing the growth of contemporary art and design, Tashkeel seeks to empower the country’s ever growing creative and cultural industries.
Tashkeel’s commercial services include Consultancy, ranging from advisory, sales, design and production services and special projects for a wide range of clients; Training, the development and delivery of art-based learning for the education, cultural, public and private sectors; Membership, providing comprehensive access for the creative community to facilities and studios to research, experiment, make and collaborate; and Printing & Cutting Services of laser-cutting, fine art/photography & risograph printing; and Retail, selling UAE-made art and design products instore and online as well as across a nationwide network of partners.
Tashkeel’s incubator initiatives include: Tanween, which takes a cohort of UAE-based designers through a one-year skills development programme, taking a product inspired by the UAE from concept to completion; Critical Practice, which invites visual artists to embark on a one-year skills development programme of studio practice, mentorship and training, culminating in a major solo presentation; Residencies at Tashkeel or abroad, ranging in duration and often in partnership with international partners; Make Works UAE, an online platform connecting creatives and fabricators to enable designers and artists accurate and efficient access to the UAE manufacturing sector; Exhibitions & Fairs to highlight innovation and excellence, growing audience for art & design in the UAE.
