Rouble Nagi, Neha Choksi and Project 88 to Exhibit at International Art Fair ‘Art Bahrain Across Borders’
Rouble Nagi
Bahrain’s second contemporary art fair, Art Bahrain Across Borders (ArtBAB 2017), will be held at the Bahrain International Exhibition and Conference Centre from 22-26 March under the patronage of Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka Bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa. The fair will host acclaimed artists and galleries from all corners of the world and has been designed to embrace and highlight excellence in the local arts sector, whilst uniting the local and global art communities and providing a stage for learning, engagement and the exchange of ideas.
ArtBAB 2017 will host over 60 participants, spanning Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Africa and the United States, including award winning, internationally acclaimed Indian artist Rouble Nagi. With over 150 exhibitions worldwide and over 800 murals to her credit, Rouble is a member of the India Design Council (IDC), and is one of the pioneers of Mumbai’s beautification with ‘Art Installations’ around the city. Rouble will exhibit a series of vibrant dynamic artworks, which are so intrinsic to her character. “Art according to me is not about documenting what is already around us, its about sharing your experience of emotion. More than paintings I prefer art that I can touch and feel, my work is extremely physical”, says Rouble.
India’s rising star artist Neha Choksi, based between Mumbai and Los Angeles, will also showcase her artworks. Her works, which are deeply philosophical, often intense and provocative, were previously exhibited at established galleries and art fairs, including Frieze London, Biennale of Sydney, Hayward Gallery Project Space, Whitechapel Gallery, Shanghai Biennale, Asia Pacific Trienniale and Venice Architecture Biennale.
Mumbai’s Project 88, dedicated to the discovery and nurturing of emerging talent, as well as work with cutting-edge, intelligent, internationally known mid-career artists, has a roster of some of the most exciting artists working in the Indian subcontinent. The gallery regularly participates in various art fairs, including Frieze, FIAC, Arco, Hong Kong Art Fair, Art Dubai, and India Art Fair.
Amongst other galleries exhibiting at the fair, in the dedicated ‘Gallery Pavilion’, are: leading London gallery ‘Maddox Gallery’ (UK); Ukraine’s biggest art gallery ‘Tsekh Gallery’; ‘XVA Gallery’ (Dubai), one of the Middle East’s foremost contemporary art galleries; ‘Samara Art Gallery’ (India) which will come on board to showcase a variety of Indian artists including work by owner Sonal Ambanit; reputed Syrian ‘Samer Kozah’ Art Gallery; ‘David Risley’ (Denmark), a contemporary art gallery representing new and emerging talent as well as established artists; ‘Temnikova and Kasela Gallery’ (Estonia) which functions as one of the countries few commercial galleries; Bait Muzna Art Gallery (Oman), the first gallery to open up in Oman showcasing contemporary art; and ‘Galerie Charradeau’ (France) which hosts works such as furniture, graphic works and sculptures from the 1930s and post-war.
A separate pavilion for general entry artists, both established local and reputed international names, will be taking up their own exhibition space to display their individual works. These sixteen artists include Bahrainis Balqees Fakhro, Nabeela Al Khayer, Jamal Abdulrahim, Lulwa Bint Abdulaziz Al Khalifa, Faika Al Hassan, Mariam Fakhro, Abbas Al Mosawi, Maryam Nass and Khaled Farhan. The international artists include Pamela Arent (USA), Yonas Hailu (Ethiopia), Dorte Tuldar (Denmark), Mazarine Memon (Canada), Bhanu Palam (India), Rouble Nagi (India) and Azelio Corni (Italy).
Beyond traditional contemporary art ArtBAB is set to wow visitors with a unique video installation, embracing over half of the exhibitor hall, and showcasing thirty-two international art videos alongside excerpts from Bahraini documentaries. Like a forest of moving imagery, the ‘Floating World’ installation will feature thirty-two large scale suspended projections – 6 meters wide – screening video films by internationally renowned artists, such as: Marcel Dzama (Canada), Cristina Lucas (Spain), John Stezaker (UK), Beat Streuli (Switzerland), Gillian Wearing (UK), Ming Wong (Singapore), Maha Maamoun (Egypt), Flo Kasearu (Estonia), Marko Maetamm (Estonia), Nilbar Gures (Turkey), Ebtisam Abdulaziz (Sharjah), Raqs (India), Cao Fei (China), Neha Choski (India/USA), Jan Toomik (Estonia), Iv Toshain (Bulgaria), Michel Francois (Belgium), Graham Gussin (UK), Alice Cattaneo (Italy), Dean Kelland (UK), Shi Jong (China), Shimabuku (Japan), Fiona Banner (UK) and Cornelia Parker (UK).
Jonathan Watkins (Director of the Ikon Gallery, Birmingham and Chairman of artist selection, ArtBAB International Selection Committee) will be curating this video exhibition with support from Alistair Hicks (former Senior Curator at Deutsche Bank for nearly twenty years, author of The Global Art Compass (2014) and a member of the ArtBAB International Selection Committee).
ArtBAB 2017 is spearheaded by Tamkeen, Bahrain’s semi-government arm mandated to drive private sector growth, and will be managed and executed by international art investment and consultancy firm Art Select (a brand of Art and Spice).
ArtBAB 2017 is spearheaded by Tamkeen, Bahrain’s semi-government arm mandated to drive private sector growth, and will be managed and executed by international art investment and consultancy firm Art Select (a brand of Art and Spice).
A series of talks and workshops under the overriding umbrella ‘Talks@ArtBAB’, will be running in parallel to the fair hosted by both local Bahraini and select international artists.
Dr Ebrahim Mohammed Janahi, Chief Executive of Tamkeen says: “Tamkeen believes that the art sector has gained importance as an engine of economic growth, not only locally but across the region. We want to support this sector through initiatives such as ArtBAB, and we hope to steer the arts sector into new levels. The aim is to inspire the local and regional talent and promote art education and skills development by bridging our local artists with their regional and international counterparts, encourage collaborations and foster learning and development from the exchange of ideas with renowned names in the art field.”
The strategic partners for ArtBAB 2017 are Gulf Air, the Bahrain Economic Development Board, the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibition Authority, the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities, the Bahrain Airport Company and Batelco.
About Tamkeen:
Tamkeen is a semi-government organisation in Bahrain established in 2006 under Law Number (57) as part of the country’s national reform initiatives, with the task of making the private sector as the key driver of sustainable economic development.
Underpinned by its 3 strategic pillars – enhancing quality, serving customers, and achieving results – the organisation provides an integrated range of programmes to create a solid foundation for a modern economy – such as SME financing, skills training, and entrepreneurship.
At the same time, these programmes address key challenges facing Bahrainis and businesses in the private sector at various stages of their development – from start-ups to mature companies, and from students to senior executives.
To date, Tamkeen’s programmes have served more than 130,000 Bahrainis and businesses. More information available at www.tamkeen.bh
Or contact us through our official channel (TamkeenBahrain):
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About ArtSelect
ArtSelect is a unique initiative launched on the strength of a private passion by its founder and owner Kaneka Subberwal, which today is a strong and successful international business format.
The hosting of high calibre exhibitions, together with providing a platform for emerging artists has given ArtSelect a definite edge in making art more accessible, thereby strengthening its association with clients from various cities including Dubai, Muscat, London, and Bahrain. The art exhibited ranges from established masters to emerging talent from India, Pakistan and the Middle East.
The ArtSelect team endeavours to position itself as a valuable resource for a substantial range of quality art. And finally to advise, consult and assist clients in the significance of building private and corporate collections.
