ART EVENT (December 14, 2016 - January 24, 2017) The Opening of the 19th Sharjah Islamic Arts Festival

The 19th Edition of Sharjah Islamic Arts Festival titled 'Bunyan' opened at the Sharjah Art Museum on December 14, 2016 in the presence of His Highness Sheikh Salem bin Abdulrahman Al Qasimi, Chairman of Sharjah Ruler's office; alongside His Excellency Abdullah Al Owais, Chairman of Sharjah Department of Culture and Information; and Mr Mohammed Al Qaseer, Director of Cultural Affairs at Sharjah Department of Culture and Information.

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 and Information has organised the 19th Edition of the Sharjah Islamic Arts Festival. The event is an evident embodiment of Sharjah's sincere interest in the Islamic influences on art.

With this year's theme 'Bunyan' which is the Arabic word for 'standing structure,' 'forming construction,' or 'man-built creation,' the participating artists have been immersed in the endless spaces of contemporary art, with the focus on Islamic arts and their different variations and styles. The concept of Bunyan has been deconstructed to rebuild a discourse through visuals in the realm of contemporary Islamic arts. These distinct creations are the output of a series visual research conducted by creative architects and artists from different parts of the worlds. The exhibited artworks are visually stunning and represent interesting views on the same theme.

The 19th Edition of Sharjah Islamic Arts Festival hosts 364 activities in the form of exhibitions, lectures, and workshops. More than 20 organisations assisted in the coordination of the festival projects. There will be 42 exhibitions, of which 34 opened at the Sharjah Art Museum, presenting works of artists from 21 countries. 64 participating artists presented 232 artworks.

Highlights from the opening at the Sharjah Art Museum

L-R: Mohammed I. Al Qaseer, Director of the Department of Cultural Affairs; His Highness Sheikh Salem bin Abdulrahman Al Qasimi, Chairman of Sharjah Ruler's office; Rashed Al Shashal, His Excellency Abdullah Al Owais, Chairman of Sharjah Department of Culture and Information / Photo © Islamic Arts Magazine

Heba Abed, installation view / Photo © Islamic Arts Magazine

Yasuaki Onishi with His Highness Sheikh Salem bin Abdulrahman Al Qasimi / Photo © Islamic Arts Magazine

Nobuhiro Nakanishi, Layer Drawing - Light of Sunset, installation view / Photo © Islamic Arts Magazine

Wissam Shawkat with His Highness Sheikh Salem bin Abdulrahman Al Qasimi / Photo © Islamic Arts Magazine

Sahand Hesamiyan, Sulook, installation view / Photo © Islamic Arts Magazine

Soo Sunny Park with His Highness Sheikh Salem bin Abdulrahman Al Qasimi / Photo © Islamic Arts Magazine

Soo Sunny Park, installation view / Photo © Islamic Arts Magazine

Julie Treblay with His Highness Sheikh Salem bin Abdulrahman Al Qasimi and His Excellency Abdullah Al Owais / Photo © Islamic Arts Magazine

Installation view / Photo © Islamic Arts Magazine

Alois Kronschleager with His Highness Sheikh Salem bin Abdulrahman Al Qasimi and His Excellency Abdullah Al Owais / Photo © Islamic Arts Magazine

Kaz Shirane, Light Origami, installation view / Photo © Islamic Arts Magazine

Nasreen and Nermeen Abu Dail with His Highness Sheikh Salem bin Abdulrahman Al Qasimi and Farah Qassim Mohammed / Photo © Islamic Arts Magazine

Cal Lane, Shovels, installation view (detail) / Photo © Islamic Arts Magazine

Ahmed Keshta explains his work to His Highness Sheikh Salem bin Abdulrahman Al Qasimi / Photo © Islamic Arts Magazine

Ahmad Angawi, Simplicity in Repetition, installation view / Photo © Islamic Arts Magazine

Ahmad Angawi with His Highness Sheikh Salem bin Abdulrahman Al Qasimi / Photo © Islamic Arts Magazine

Andrey Zignatto, installation view / Photo © Islamic Arts Magazine

Antonio Santin with His Highness Sheikh Salem bin Abdulrahman Al Qasimi and Farah Qassim Mohammed / Photo © Islamic Arts Magazine

Damien Gilley, Perpetual Dawn, installation view / Photo © Islamic Arts Magazine

Matthew Simmonds, installation view / Photo © Islamic Arts Magazine