SIAF (Dec 15, 2021 - Jan 23, 2022) Sharjah Islamic Arts Festival Launched its 24th Edition

Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, the Cultural Affairs Department at the Sharjah Department of Culture has organised the 24th Edition of the Sharjah Islamic Arts Festival. The festival opened on 15th December 2021 and will run until 23rd January 2022. The new Edition's theme, "Gradate," will serve as a concept to unite artists and art enthusiasts together.

"Gradate" is a reference concept and a guide to formulating creative works. This keyword is almost indispensable to everything that occurs in our external and internal worlds alike. Nothing is completed without a gradual process of creation, nor is there a complete state without the complementarity and interweaving of the many elements that form its basic structure; the complete is gradually achieved through the growth of its various components.

At the press conference, Mohamed Ibrahim Al-Qaseer said, "Under the theme of "gradate", this year's edition has a renewed artistic spirit, in a creative and remarkable form, and more experienced in adapting art to serve and guard beauty, and to translate the real and the imagined together, with artworks that vary between the classical and modern, and sometimes, merging them together to present new modern vision. And “gradate” is the theme that refers to composition, construction and arrangement, and perhaps every creative process arises from that. The participating artists, with their different tools, methods and expressive styles, tried to examine this concept according to their own perceptions, and to serve as an indicative sign on the path of discovery they follow, leading to the formulation of a visual achievement that possesses formal and artistic language that is consistent with the theme."

He also added, "In this edition, 63 artists will be participating, from 27 countries including 16 artists from the United Arab Emirates, among other Arab countries, such as Iraq, Egypt, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Yemen, Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait, Syria as well international countries, including Spain, France, India United Kingdom, USA, Turkey, Denmark, Canada, Hong Kong, Germany and in addition to other countries. The number of artworks, murals, calligraphy pieces presented will be 284, and over 98 workshops such as will be taking place throughout the duration of the festival as well as 11 video art, while a training course will be held in Arabic calligraphy.

It is necessary to refer to the solo exhibitions in parallel with the festival, like "Inner Lights" by Emirati Artist Dr Najat Al Maki, In Sharjah Art Museum, showcasing eight of her original artworks... And “Manifestations” by Syrian Artist Jalal Al Muharab at Calligraphers Studios, the exhibition refers to the beauty of the Arabic script on several pieces, it will be showcasing among other solo exhibitions in Calligraphy Square."

The Sharjah Islamic Arts Festival 2021 (SIAF) contains 151 activities in the form of exhibitions, lectures, and workshops. More than 26 organisations assisted in the coordination of the festival projects. There will be 49 exhibitions at the Sharjah Art Museum, Al Majaz Waterfront, Calligraphy Square, Khor Fakkan Amphitheatre and other locations in the emirate. These exhibitions will be presenting works of artists from the United Arab Emirates, neighbouring Arab countries, and other countries from around the world. SIAF will also arrange for a dialogue between the artists and the audience, during which the artists will discuss the experiences that encouraged them to create contemporary visual art.

Mohamed Ibrahim Al-Qaseer at the press conference / Photo courtesy of Cultural Affairs Department at the Sharjah Department of Culture

The press conference / Photo courtesy of Cultural Affairs Department at the Sharjah Department of Culture

The press conference / Photo courtesy of Cultural Affairs Department at the Sharjah Department of Culture