Mirage City Cinema, 2013

Apichatpong Weerasethakul and Ole Scheeren
Mirage City Cinema, 2013
Cinema-architecture space
Commissioned by Sharjah Art Foundation

Overview

Sharjah, United Arab Emirates—Sharjah Art Foundation (SAF) announces the preliminary schedule of speakers, events, and exhibitions for the 2014 March Meeting (MM2014), taking place 13-16 March, in Sharjah, UAE.

Conceived by Sharjah Biennial 12 (SB12) curator Eungie Joo as an integral part of the Biennial—opening in March 2015—the seventh annual MM2014 is a four-day symposium including presentations about past projects in Sharjah and the UAE, introductions to the work of artists who will be commissioned for SB12, sessions for collective research and analysis, keynote presentations by leading figures in the region, and time for informal conversation.

As a departure point for SB12, MM2014 sets a tone of collaboration and exchange for the coming year. This year, SAF will host eight correspondents who will respond to the meetings through writing, photography, and other diaristic forms.

March Meeting 2014 will coincide with exhibitions of work by Rasheed Araeen, Susan Hefuna, and Wael Shawky, on view 13 March through 13 June, 2014. SAF-commissioned films Traitors (2012) by Sean Gullette, and Revisiting Tarab (2013) by Fouad Elkoury will screen at SAFʼs Mirage City Cinema during MM2014, along with Wael Shawkyʼs Cabaret Crusades (2010-2013) on 22 March. Also opening on 16 March is the March Project featuring new commissions by early career artists, curated by SAF President and Director Hoor Al-Qasimi.

MM2014 and related events are free and open to the public.
Register at register@sharjahart.org.


About Sharjah Art Foundation (SAF):
Sharjah Art Foundation brings a broad range of contemporary art and cultural programmes to the communities of Sharjah, the UAE, and the region. Since 2009, SAF has built on the history of cultural collaboration and exchange that began with the first Sharjah Biennial in 1993. Working with local and international partners, SAF creates opportunities for artists and artistic production through core initiatives that include the Sharjah Biennial, the annual March Meeting, residencies, production grants, commissions,exhibitions, research, publications, and a growing collection. SAFʼs education and public
programmes focus on building recognition of the central role art can play in the life of a community by promoting public learning and a participatory approach to art.


Media Contact:
Sharjah Art Foundation
Alyazeyah Al-Reyaysa
T: +971-6-544-4113, ext. 25
E: alyazeyah@sharjahart.org

Fitz & Co
Katrina Weber Ashour
T: 212-627-1455, ext. 232
E: katrina@fitzandco.com

  • Thursday, 13 March

    9:30am - Welcome by Abdullah Al Owais (Sharjah Department of Culture and Information)
    Introduction by SAF President Hoor Al-Qasimi and SB12 curator Eungie Joo

    10:30 am - Sustained engagementsTarek Atoui, CAMP, and Abdullah Al Saadi

    2:00 pm - From Here #1: Doryun Chong (M+ Museum) on “Tokyo 1955-1970: A New Avant Garde”

    2:45 pm - Case studies #1: Developing a language of cultural productionLeonor Antunes, Abraham Cruzvillegas, Michael Joo, and Wael Shawky

    5:00 pm - Discussion session led by Sarah Rifky (Beirut) and Eungie Joo

    6:30 pm - Opening Reception: Exhibitions of works by Susan Hefuna, Wael Shawky, Rasheed Araeen

    10:00 pm - Screening of Traitors (2012) by Sean Gullette

  • Friday, 14 March

    2:00 pm - Keynote #1: History of cultural production and institutions in Sharjah – Hisham Al Madhloum (Sharjah Directorate of Art)

    2:45 pm - Case studies #2: Engaging with a place, a moment, a built environment – Iman Issa, Hassan Khan, Rayyane Tabet, and Danh Vo

    5:00 pm - Keynote #2: Christine Tohme (Ashkal Alwan) in conversation

    5:45 pm - Collective research session #1: “International Art Exhibition in Solidarity
    with Palestine”
    Kristine Khouri and Rasha Salti

    8:00 pm - Collective research session #2: From Gulf to Gulf to Gulf (2013) – Screening and discussion with CAMP

  • Saturday, 15 March

    10:00 am - From Here #2: On building a collectionRodrigo Moura (Instituto Inhotim) and Hoor Al Qasimi (SAF)

    11:30 am - Keynote #3: Tarek Abou El Fetouh

    1:45 pm - Case studies #3: After HistoryBasel Abbas and Ruanne Abou-Rahme,Nikhil Chopra, Ntone Edjabe, Cinthia Marcelle, and Adrián Villar Rojas

    4:00 pm - Collective research session #3: Samia Rab (American University in Sharjah)

    4:30 pm - Discussion session led by Kaelen Wilson-Goldie

    8:30 pm - Collective research session #4: The Ugly One – Screening and discussion with Eric Baudelaire

  • Sunday, 16 March

    10:00 am - From here #4: Imagining the future – Mohammed Hafiz (Athr Gallery), Sarah Rifky (Beirut), Gabi Ngcobo (Center for Historical Reenactments), Zeynep Oz (SPOT)

    12:00 pm - Closing discussion session

    6:00 pm - Opening Reception: the March Project

    8:00 pm - Collective Research #5: Revisiting Tarab (2013) Project – screening of film by Fouad Elkoury and discussion with the filmmaker and Tarek Atoui