Art Scene
Creatives who revitalised Oman’s art scene to represent country at Venice Biennale
Oman is returning to the Venice Biennale for the second time. The country will be represented with a National Pavilion that will showcase the works of five Omani artists who have been praised for “revitalising” the country’s contemporary art scene.
The artists involved include Ali Al Jabri, renowned for large-scale sculptures made of marble and wood; Essa Al Mufarji, known for his clay-based works, which vary in scale; artist and photographer Sarah Al Olaqi, who is also the founder of Muscat’s Cure8 Art Gallery; and Adham Al Farsi, who is known for interactive installations and has been a driving force in Oman’s cultural scene for almost three decades.
Malath – Haven will be curated by Alia Al Farsi who, in 2017, became the first Omani artist to participate in the biennial. Al Farsi’s work will also be on display in the exhibition.
Read more: https://www.thenationalnews.com/arts-culture/2024/03/29/oman-national-pavilion-venice-biennale/
Art Scene
Julius A. Karash on Business and the Arts | As controversies rage across the nation, DEI invigorates our local and regional art scene
In an era of wrenching divisiveness, DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) has morphed into one of the most controversial topics in America. The debate over DEI has raged in virtually every sector of our society, from business to education to museums.
Opponents of DEI denounce such efforts as threats against merit and quality, and the outcries grew louder and more frequent during the presidential contest between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris.
In my opinion, DEI efforts have played a crucial role in beginning to reverse the racist exclusions that have plagued our country for far too long in areas such as housing, education, business, health care and the arts.
Earlier this month, a unique week-long, pop-up art exhibition opened in New York City, showcasing over 200 curated Israeli artworks created in the wake of the October 7 Hamas attacks.
A group of volunteers came together to organize the project shortly after the attacks, which left over 1,200 people dead and more than 300 abducted to Gaza. The goal of the project was to allow art to act as a healing tool.
The inaugural Art Up Nation exhibition was also intended to boost the Israeli art scene, which has been devastated over the past year.
Read more: https://www.israel21c.org/israels-post-october-7-art-scene-on-display-in-nyc/
Art Scene
Art021 Hong Kong: RADII Chats with Fair Director About a New Chapter in the City’s Art Scene
Art021 Hong Kong concluded two weekends ago, drawing the curtains on its Sculpture and Greater Bay Area (GBA) Art Week sections on September 8.
The Galleries section at the Phillips Asia Headquarters in Hong Kong’s West Kowloon Cultural District, which concluded earlier, on September 1, buzzed with activity, welcoming guests and collectors. Visitors, many of whom conversed in Mandarin, navigated the bustling space, accompanied by green-jacketed guides. The atmosphere was electric, with numerous galleries reporting strong sales and lively dialogue with collectors.
