Art 13, London’s new modern and contemporary art fair, 1 - 3 March, 2013 Lawrie Shabibi’s Participation in Art 13 London

Through their work the artists draw on the past weaving history and cultural influence into their work to explore contemporary notions of power, war and death. Shahpour Pouyan draws from the culture and traditions of his country- Iran, whereas Faulwell, in his series Les Femme D’Alger, uses iconic images and motifs of Algerian women freedom fighters. Sama Alshaibi and Dena Adeeb reflect on their lived experiences and personal bodily memory of war in Iraq through their series Baghdadi Mem/Wars.

The booth will revolve around one of Pouyan’s ‘Projectiles’ which will be suspended in the centre of the booth. Made from intricately decorated armour and antique-style military helmets, these suspended monuments are strong symbols of dominance and power, yet at the same time are light, refined and have an air of luxury. On the surrounding wall space will be Asad Faulwell’s series 'Les Femme D’Alger'. Inspired by the Algerian War of Independence (1954-1962), Faulwell features repeated motifs of the women who fought alongside the men to save their country. The repetition of the images and the quasi-religious imagery he employs give these works the air of devotional shrines. On the adjacent wall will be Sama Alshaibi and Dena Adeeb’s body of work. Entitled 'Still/Chaos' and consisting of nine photographs, the work depicts two female protagonists (performed by the artists themselves) trapped in a collapsing white padded room resembling an insane asylum. In an increasingly enclosing space, the figures are propelled into one another with an intensifying interaction that crafts the dual faces of survival, rebellion and resignation.

Shahpour Pouyan

Shahpour Pouyan was born in 1979 in Isfahan, Iran. He is currently studying for a Masters of Fine Art at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York. Pouyan has a Masters in Fine Art (Painting) from Tehran University of Art and a Bachelor of Fine Art (Painting) from the University of Science and Culture. He was a recipient of the Tehran Contemporary Museum of Art's grant of residence at International Cite Des Artes, Paris, France and has exhibited in various solo and group exhibitions in Tehran, Dubai, Paris, New York, Beirut, Canada and Serbia.

Shahpour Pouyan, Projectile 8, 2012, 185cm high, (1) / Courtesy of Lawrie Shabibi

Shahpour Pouyan, Projectile 8, 2012, 185cm high, top view / Courtesy of Lawrie Shabibi

Asad Faulwell

Asad Faulwell was born in 1982 in Caldwell, Idaho. He is currently based in Los Angeles and received his BA from UCSB in 2005 and his MFA from Claremont Graduate University in 2008. While at CGU he was the recipient of a Joan Mitchell Foundation Grant. Since graduating he has taken part in Solo Exhibitions in Los Angeles, Claremont and New York as well as group exhibitions in Zurich, Los Angeles, New York, Miami, Dubai and London. He is featured in numerous prominent private collections as well as the collection of the Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art. His work has been written about in ArtForum, The New York Times and LA Weekly among others.

Asad Faulwell, Les Femmes d'Alger 22, 2012, 122x92 cm / Courtesy of Lawrie Shabibi

Sama Alshaibi

Sama Alshaibi and Dena Adeeb, Still-Chaos, 2010, 457.2x457.2 cm / Courtesy of Lawrie Shabibi

Art 13

Art13 London is the capital’s new art fair for Modern and Contemporary art, presenting a truly global perspective and showcasing art from 1945 to the present day. With over 70% of galleries exhibiting at an art fair in London for the very first time, this is the most eagerly anticipated art fair in over a decade. The first edition will showcase over 120 leading galleries from 30 different countries showcasing over a thousand paintings, sculptures, multi-media installations and a special focus on prints and editions as well as photography.

Lawrie Shabibi

Lawrie Shabibi is a contemporary gallery located in Dubai’s Al-Quoz industrial district focusing on both established and emerging contemporary artists from the Arab world, Iran, North Africa, South Asia and Turkey. Founded in 2010 by William Lawrie and Asmaa Al-Shabibi, the gallery engages the public with art that imparts a cultural and political discourse together with a powerful aesthetic.