SHARJAH ISLAMIC ARTS FESTIVAL (SIAF) 2018-2019 ‘Horizon’ - Expansion of Artistic Views and the Convergence of Cultures

Under the patronage of HH Sheikh Dr. Sultan Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member, Ruler of Sharjah, the Cultural Affairs Department at the Sharjah Department of Culture has organized the 21st edition of the Sharjah Islamic Arts Festival (SIAF). The opening of the SIAF at the Sharjah Art Museum was inaugurated by Sheikh Abdullah bin Salem Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, on December 19, 2018.

Sharjah (UAE) once a year, in December, becomes the center of contemporary Islamic art. The festival brings together dozens of artists from all over the world by exhibiting their works, conveying experiences and developing ideas on aesthetic concepts that have their source in Islamic art. Of course, the question here is what is contemporary Islamic art and whether it is an art that can only be dealt with by Muslims. Islamic Arts Festival from the beginning has cultivated the idea of an open art space and treated Islamic art and aesthetics as a sufficiently open universe of creative ideas in which everyone can participate. Indeed, half of the artists come out of the Arab and Muslim world, however, all participants speak a common language of art that alters differences and connects people on a humanistic basis. Therefore, this festival provides more experience. No culture in the world can or should be closed, and people have been giving the best through history only when they collaborated with each other, regardless of their origin.

Kaz Shirane, Truth/Fake installation, Japan / Photo © Islamic Arts Magazine

It is precisely this year's theme 'Horizon' that points to this. The expansion of artistic and spiritual horizons is essential in the time of today's globalization, where art itself should be the link of unification. The art we can see at the festival is inspiring and delighting with its quality and the excellent selection of invited artists. The theme 'Horizon' was obviously wide enough and attractive so our exhibitors offered us a unique spectrum of shapes presented through traditional and contemporary visual techniques; from the most common drawings up to the use of advanced optics, sensors, light projections, photographs, new types of materials, various installations, etc. And yes, in most of the works we can feel the inspiration found in Islamic art, largely abstract, giving the possibility of non-transparent transformations, being timeless and applicable, as many as a thousand years ago and today. Therefore, Islamic art is attractive to contemporary artists, no matter where they came from. One of the most interesting aspects of the festival is the Art Talk, a dialogue between the artists and the audience, during which the artists discuss the experiences that encouraged them to create the exhibited artworks. will take place at the Radisson Blue Hotel on December 22, 2018.

The Sharjah Islamic Arts Festival is presenting 238 activities in the form of exhibitions, lectures, and workshops. More than 25 organizations assisted in the coordination of the festival projects. 55 exhibitions take place at various locations: at the Sharjah Art Museum, Al Majaz Waterfront, Maraya Art Centre, and other locations in the emirate. These exhibitions present artworks by artists from the United Arab Emirates, neighbouring Arab countries, and other countries from around the world.

Sheikh Abdullah bin Salem Al Qasimi touring the exhibitions and discussing the installation 'Spirit of Athan' by Dr. Mohammad Yousef / Photo © Islamic Arts Magazine

Ahmed Keshta (from Egypt) explains the concept behind his artworks to Sheikh Abdullah bin Salem Al Qasimi and the respected guests/ Photo © Islamic Arts Magazine

Asma Bahmiyyim (from Saudi Arabia) explains her exhibited artworks to Sheikh Abdullah bin Salem Al Qasimi and the respected guests / Photo © Islamic Arts Magazine

Jonathan Sims (from USA) explains his installation 'The Unfixed Stars' to Sheikh Abdullah bin Salem Al Qasimi and the respected guests / Photo © Islamic Arts Magazine

Nujoum Al Ghanem and Sami Yusuf, Room of Mysteries, video installation, 5x7 m, 2018 / Photo © Islamic Arts Magazine

Julia Ibbini from Jordan explains her exhibited artworks to Sheikh Abdullah bin Salem Al Qasimi and the respected guests / Photo © Islamic Arts Magazine

Gulay Semercioglu from Turkey explains her exhibited artworks to Sheikh Abdullah bin Salem Al Qasimi and the respected guests / Photo © Islamic Arts Magazine

Jason Seife from USA explains his installation 'Nucleus' to Sheikh Abdullah bin Salem Al Qasimi and the respected guests / Photo © Islamic Arts Magazine

Kaz Shirane explains his 'Truth/Fake' installation to Sheikh Abdullah bin Salem Al Qasimi and the respected guests / Photo © Islamic Arts Magazine

Sultan bin Fahad, Can you hear me?, Minarets, Copper on sand, 35 minarets, 2018 / Photo © Islamic Arts Magazine

Tomoko Ishida from Japan explains her installation 'Close Your Hands, Open Your Hands' to Sheikh Abdullah bin Salem Al Qasimi and the respected guests / Photo © Islamic Arts Magazine

Diego de Moya, 'Mutant signs', Methacrylate sheets, 2018 (Spain) / Photo © Islamic Arts Magazine

Charles Aweida from USA presents his artworks to Sheikh Abdullah bin Salem Al Qasimi and the respected guests / Photo © Islamic Arts Magazine

Takahiro Matsuo, Fumiko Kawabe; Sol, Prism chandelier, 100x100 cm, 2018 / Photo © Islamic Arts Magazine

Amir H. Falah from Iran explains his installation 'Entangle' to Sheikh Abdullah bin Salem Al Qasimi and the respected guests / Photo © Islamic Arts Magazine

Liliana Gonzalez from Argentina explains her exhibited artworks to Sheikh Abdullah bin Salem Al Qasimi and the respected guests / Photo © Islamic Arts Magazine

Brick Bending 'Ten Point Geometry in Brick' / Photo © Islamic Arts Magazine

Sheikh Abdullah bin Salem Al Qasimi tours the exhibitions with respected guests. The artwork: Zheng Lu, Water in Dripping', stainless steel, 180x100x140, 2018 / Photo © Islamic Arts Magazine

Joanie Lemercier from France explains his artworks to Sheikh Abdullah bin Salem Al Qasimi and the respected guests / Photo © Islamic Arts Magazine

Kambiz Sabri from Iran explains his installation 'To the best of my mind' to Sheikh Abdullah bin Salem Al Qasimi and the respected guests / Photo © Islamic Arts Magazine

Mario Rodrigues and Franco Mendez, video installation Desert Skins / Photo © Islamic Arts Magazine

Visitors are interacting with the installation 'A Thousand Splendid Suns created by Taqaseem Studio (Colombia, Mexico and Venezuela) / Photo © Islamic Arts Magazine

The Sharjah Islamic Arts Festival (SIAF) will be open until January 19, 2019.