The event, which took place on 2 September 2024 at the UAE Embassy in Seoul, featured a panel discussion with Emirati artist Mohammed Kazem, who is currently in residence at SeMA Nanji Residency, and the Gahee Park. The discussion offered insights into Kazem’s artistic practice and inspirations, as well as the Emirati art community and cultural landscape.
Under the honorary patronage of His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Founding Honorary Patron of Abu Dhabi Festival.” we present the third edition of the pioneering cultural diplomacy initiative ‘Art @ Embassies’, which promotes cross-cultural exchange, artistic dialogue and expressions from the UAE. The ‘Art @ Embassies’ initiative celebrates the country’s contribution to the arts, culture and creative industries, strengthening its position as an incubator for creativity and a leading destination for global creative talent.
Her Excellency Huda Alkhamis-Kanoo, Founder of Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation
“The first Art @ Embassies initiative in Seoul, previously in Paris and London, features an insightful panel discussion with Emirati artist Mohammed Kazim, one of the five founding of contemporary conceptual artists in the UAE, interviewed by Gahe Park, curator of the Seoul Museum of Art,” H.E adds.
“In partnership with the UAE Embassy in Korea, we are working to stimulate creative thinking and build bridges of dialogue and human connection to strengthen ties between the UAE and Korea and enhance our cultural diplomacy efforts as two countries with a shared determination to lead sustainable innovation,” H.E concludes.
Throughout its history, the UAE has maintained a long and proud tradition of sponsoring the arts. The country’s wise leadership is keen to encourage creativity and creative people, with the knowledge that a single spark of originality can ignite tremendous progress and innovation.
UAE Ambassador to the Republic of Korea HE Abdulla Saif Ali Slayem AlNuaimi
H.E added: “I am pleased to pay tribute and express appreciation to His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, for his generous and continuous honorary patronage of this event over the past years. The steadfast support of artistic endeavors is integral to the UAE’s strategic vision, which ensures long-term prosperity for the country and its people.”
H.E concluded: “We trust this occasion will contribute to showcasing the strong cultural aspects of UAE public diplomacy, creating greater opportunities for international cooperation and exchange among the countries, peoples, and cultures of the world.”
Mohammed Kazem (b. 1969, Dubai) is a leading figure in the UAE, acknowledged as one of the ‘Five’, an informal group of Emirati artists at the vanguard of conceptual and interdisciplinary art practice. Over almost four decades, his trailblazing practice has encompassed painting, photography, video, and installation. Acclaimed for his distinctive exploration of themes such as identity, place, and movement, he has pioneered varied approaches, including the use of GPS coordinates as a visual language.
Kazem has exhibited widely in the UAE and internationally, including at Sharjah Art Foundation, Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, Guggenheim New York, the Yinchuan Biennale, and the Gwangju Museum of Art. He represented the UAE at the Venice Biennale with a solo presentation in 2013 entitled Walking on Water and, in 2015, as part of the group exhibition 1980 – Today: Exhibitions in the UAE.
The panel discussion is part of ADMAF’s ‘Art @ Embassies’ initiative, which aims to enhance the longstanding relationship between the United Arab Emirates and the Republic of Korea through cultural diplomacy. By facilitating cross-cultural exchange and creating opportunities for Emirati creative talents both at home and abroad, the initiative also supports ADMAF’s vision of nurturing the arts, education, culture, and creativity for the benefit of society and the advancement of Abu Dhabi’s cultural vision.
The event marked the first step in the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in Abu Dhabi in May between ADMAF and the Seoul Metropolitan Government. The MoU aims to foster partnership and exchange in the fields of culture, arts, and education and promote mutual understanding and respect between the two cities.
For more information about ADMAF and its initiatives, please visit www.admaf.org.
About Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation (ADMAF)
Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation (ADMAF) was established in 1996 as one of the earliest cultural foundations in the Gulf region and Arab World. ADMAF supports the sustainability and creativity of the cultural industry and contributes to enriching Abu Dhabi as a cultural beacon. For more information, please visit the ADMAF website at: www.admaf.org.
About Abu Dhabi Festival
Founded in 2004, the Festival was generously granted the patronage of the President, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, from 2007 to 2011. The first Abu Dhabi Festival was held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the former Minister of Information and Culture (currently the UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs). Abu Dhabi Festival is the festival of “Bilad Al Khayr”, the land of blessings, the land of Zayed, and embraces the values of dialogue, tolerance, respect and peace.
For more information, please visitwww.abudhabifestival.ae.
