DUBAI: A new exhibition on contemporary Arab art, featuring more than 40 pieces, has opened at the School of Oriental and African Studies in London.
The 21st-century artworks, which include paintings, photographs and sculptures, are from the notable collection of the Barjeel Art Foundation in Sharjah, UAE.
Among the showcased participants at the exhibition, displayed at the university’s Brunei Gallery, are the Palestinian installation artist Mona Hatoum, Moroccan-Spanish painter Anuar Khalifi, Emirati photographer Lamya Gargash, and multidisciplinary Saudi Arabian artist Manal AlDowayan.
“Hudood: Rethinking Boundaries.” (Photography by Mohamed Somji, courtesy of Barjeel Art Foundation, Sharjah)
Entitled “Hudood: Rethinking Boundaries,” the show runs until Sept. 21 and explores the topical themes of identity and displacement.
“The exhibition delves into how boundaries influence personal and collective identities, particularly in the context of displacement and migration,” the foundation’s creator Sultan Sooud Al-Qassemi, who began teaching at SOAS in 2023, told Arab News.
“It also explores how political and social constructs of boundaries impact individuals and communities, reflecting on themes of conflict, unity, and division,” he said.
“Hudood: Rethinking Boundaries.” (Photography by Mohamed Somji, courtesy of Barjeel Art Foundation, Sharjah)
The exhibition takes place amid anti-immigration riots in England and Northern Ireland, the most violent in the UK in over 10 years.
Significantly, this exhibition has been curated by eight SOAS students, who chose their theme based on personal conversations. They also decided to go for an Arabic title for the show, meaning “boundaries.”
Al-Qassemi said: “The students’ diverse perspectives and innovative ideas brought fresh insights to the exhibition, ensuring it resonated with a wider audience.
“Hudood: Rethinking Boundaries.” (Photography by Mohamed Somji, courtesy of Barjeel Art Foundation, Sharjah)
“This student-led approach also offered them a unique opportunity to engage directly with contemporary art and curatorial practices.
“Throughout the process, we discovered the students’ keen analytical skills and their ability to think critically about complex themes, which enriched the exhibition in unexpected ways.”
Last year, a wide selection of the foundation’s modern artworks was showcased in the British capital at the Christie’s auction house. But this year’s viewing has a different procedure and flavor.
“We are happy to showcase the collection in London for the second year running,” said Al-Qassemi. “London is a major hub for visitors from the Arab world in the summer season so it is an opportunity for them to see art from their region while there.”
