The first edition of a key art exhibition will be held from October 13 to 16 under the patronage of Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, Wife of His Majesty King Hamad of Bahrain and President of the Supreme Council for Women. 

 

‘ArtBahrain’, set to take place at a specially constructed marquee in Manama, will feature works from acclaimed artists from around the world and their Bahraini peers and will aim to further enhance the art scene in Bahrain, said a statement.

 

The expo aims to be a meeting place for artists, gallerists, cognoscenti and art lovers from around the world to share space, ideas and inspiration, it said.

 

Taking part in the exhibition will be the Bahrain Arts Society whose section in the exhibition will showcase the works of some of the biggest names in the kingdom’s art scene.

 

Ali Al Mahmeed, chairman of the Bahrain Arts Society and a renowned artist himself, was very supportive of the initiative and said he “was confident that ArtBahrain would do well for the Society and Bahrain in general; offering an international art-loving audience the opportunity to encounter and engage with Bahraini art, and for Bahrainis to be introduced to international artists and their work.”

 

Top Bahraini galleries that will take part will include Al Riwaq, Hend Gallery, Busaad Art Gallery, Art Divano and Amina Gallery. The event will also feature local artists including Jamal Abdul Rahim, Fayeeka Al Hassan, Sheikha Marwa Bint Rashid Al Khalifa, Shaikha Lulwa Bint Abdulaziz Al Khalifa, Uzma Dadabhai, Fuad Al Binfalah and Mariam Fakhro.

 

Kaneka Subberwal, ArtBahrain co-founder, said: “Bahrain is fast emerging a major stakeholder in the art world and it is pertinent that we partner with these global institutions to allow the arts community to flourish.

 

“It is my deep conviction that events like ArtBahrain will go a long way in encouraging art investment into the country. One of the reasons is that Bahrain has a refined appreciation and talent for art, which makes it a great location for an international art fair.” 

 

Subberwal is the Founder and Managing Director of Art Select, an art advisory that has curated the fair. 

 

Also on the agenda at ArtBahrain will be a series of interactive workshops and forums conducted by experts to encourage new collectors and the next generation of artists, said the statement.

 

Art investors of various backgrounds will share their first-hand experiences with visitors on collecting with the goal of elevating awareness about the art world. 

 

The visitors to the fair will also be invited to enjoy the first ever Art Lounge at an art fair, which aims to be an interactive platform, both social and cultural, encompassing a bookshop, an art supplies store and an artists’ working arena.

 

As part of the Art Bahrain project a book published by Miracle Graphics and authored by Renaud Siegmann will be launched especially for the event. 

 

The fully illustrated book will serve as a portfolio for 33 of Bahrain’s most prominent artists alongside personal interviews with them. 

 

The book will offer a unique insight into the kingdom’s emerging art scene and gives an opportunity to discover the long time commitment of modern and contemporary Bahraini artists as well as the new generations of mid-career and emerging artists.

 

“As far as I have been involved as a critic and curator with the emerging art scenes, Bahrain holds a special place in terms of creativity in the Middle East and the global art community, not only are these Bahraini artists inspired by their own culture and traditions but their original and most recent works have given a rise in Arab art around the world,” Siegmann added. - TradeArabia News Service