Research Studio: Annotations
‘Interdisciplinary practices of the early 80s, UAE’
Project Space Art Jameel
November 1, 7:00pm to 9:00pm: Opening night – open to the public
November 2 – December 21, 2017
December 4: Poetry Reading by poet Khalid Albudoor and artist Nujoom Alghanem
December 11: Visual artist and writer Cristiana de Marchi in conversation with Bana Kattan, Exhibitions Curator at NYUAD Art Gallery
December 19: Ethnomusicologist Dr. Aisha Bilkhair, Research Advisor at the UAE National Archives, in conversation with artist Hind Mezaina
Annotations takes an experimental approach to presenting research and work-in-progress, and is indicative of the direction of the research library at the Jameel Arts Centre, Dubai, opening in winter 2018. This Studio at Project Space Art Jameel focuses on the dynamic period of the early 1980s in the UAE and, in particular, on the collaborative, multidisciplinary stance taken by artists, poets, playwrights, theatre directors and writers at that time.
‘Interdisciplinary practices of the early 80s, UAE’ follows Art Jameel’s collaboration with ‘Rock, Paper, Scissors: Positions in Play’, the National Pavilion United Arab Emirates 2017 exhibition curated by Hammad Nasar at la Biennale di Venezia (Venice Biennale), and takes as inspiration an interview with the poet Khalid Albudoor and artist Nujoom Alghanem, titled “A Dialogue between Rhythm and Form”, published in the exhibition’s accompanying book. The National Pavilion United Arab Emirates 2017 is commissioned by the Salama bint Hamdan Al Nahyan Foundation and supported by the UAE Ministry of Culture and Knowledge Development.
This conversation reflected on the overlap in interdisciplinary practices of the early 1980s, particularly vis-à-vis poetry, theatre and art writing in the UAE. Through annotations, in the form of reproduced images, essays, observations and summaries, the Research Studio’s premise is to actively engage with material that documents the UAE’s cultural histories. The narrative is ongoing for the duration of the studio; conversations and public programmes are designed to highlight further intersections and circles of influences.
In bringing the interview to life and adding to it, this Studio explores alternative research methodologies for ‘thinking in public’ and working with nonlinear history-writing and representation. The interpretations in turn help inform the Jameel Arts Centre’s research library and its focus on arts histories of the UAE and the GCC.
Project Space Art Jameel, Warehouse 48, The Yard, Alserkal Avenue
Hours: Saturday to Thursday from 10:00am – 6:00pm