Alserkal Art Week transcends being a mere collection of galleries and artists by presenting a thought-provoking narrative that explores the idea of multiplicity and hybridity throughout the public art programme. Opening under the theme A Wild Stitch, the art week will run until 20 April, coinciding with Art Dubai for the last two days. For those who frequent Alserkal’s galleries, this is the ideal opportunity to experience the best of what the venue has to offer, from exhibitions and installations to insightful talks.
The highlight of the public programme is Vanishing Points, an exhibition by Imran Qureshi, who specialises in creating Indo-Persian miniature paintings. Taking place at Concrete, the exhibition will use video, photography, paintings and installations to introduce viewers to the world of miniatures. The Majlis talks are a performance project not to be missed, featuring debates on topics that pose unrealistic questions and mind-boggling positions that hover over the art scene. Across the Avenue, visitors will also discover a range of new public art commissions that further the introspection on belonging and the layout of social landscapes.
There’s no strict itinerary when you visit, but we recommend stopping by Ayyam Gallery’s showcase of Iraqi-Palestinian artist Sama Alshaibi’s photographs exploring the shifting landscapes of Baghdad. Another interesting exhibition is Iranian artist Reza Derakshani’s I Paint Your Grace, I Paint Your Pain, I Paint Love, a study on memory and transformation through Persian-inspired works, taking place at the Leila Heller Gallery. Finally, don’t miss out on the public art commissions that reveal themselves across the Avenue under the title Between a Beach and Slope, inspired by Emirati artist Nujoom Alghanem’s poem of the same name.
The week-long art event brings together artists from around the world, with 16 galleries presenting exhibitions that tackle the topics of displacement, resilience and identity. Head over this weekend if you haven’t made plans yet, or schedule a visit sometime next week to immerse yourself in the world of art. The Alserkal Art Week will be on until 20 April at Alserkal Avenue, Dubai.
