Each artist brings a unique approach to exploring themes of puzzles and fragmentation. Starting with elements like shapes, patterns, magazine pages, or threads, they weave these materials into new narratives. By reshaping and recontextualizing these components, the artists transform them into puzzle-like pieces, conveying deeper meanings and messages within their work. What unites their practices is this process of extraction and reintegration, where fragments are assembled to tell a larger story.
This year's presentation delves into the construction of narratives from elements that hold profound significance for the artists. Through their works, we explore the delicate balance between disassembling and reintegrating, extracting and fusing, and crafting stories piece by piece. This exhibition invites viewers to experience the transformation of fragments into cohesive and compelling unfamiliar and unknown narratives.
Samar Hejazi (b. California, 1987), explores the possibilities of expanding the internalized boundaries of meaning-making through her artwork. She draws inspiration from various craft traditions and employs elements such as light, shadow, reflection and movement to create immersive multidimensional experiences through which she investigates the ever-shifting nature of perception in reality.
Abdulrahim Salim (b. UAE, 1955), showcases a deliberate focus on the feminine figure through his charcoal works on paper, influenced by his upbringing within a community predominantly consisting of women. Notably, his grandmother served as a guiding creative mentor during his formative years, playing a pivotal role in nurturing and shaping his artistic sensibilities.
Armin Najib (b. Tehran, 1989) finds a liberating canvas to channel his creativity in the realm of collage. Through the interplay of magazine cut-outs, newspaper clippings, and book fragments, he crafts pieces that are not just visually compelling but rich in layers of meaning. Armin’s collages oscillate between whimsy and satire, nostalgia and political commentary, offering a medium that embraces abstract expression with a boundless spirit of playfulness.
Khalid Al Banna (b. Sharjah, 1975) embodies simplicity and modern geometric design in his artwork, using fundamental shapes like squares, circles, triangles, and rectangles to represent life elements, particularly birds and animals. Through precise lines and collage techniques, he creates a visual language that captures the essence of these creatures within geometric forms. Each figure evokes memories and emotions, symbolizing fragments of the past and stories yearning to be told. His minimalist approach invites deep engagement, exploring how basic shapes convey complex emotions and memories, bridging the past and present.
Shama Al Hamed (b. Abu Dhabi, 1999) is dedicated to deconstructing the architectural perspectives that dominate urban landscapes. Her work delves into the intricate patterns found on the electrical buildings of Abu Dhabi, exploring the layers and repetitions inherent in these structures. By capturing these patterns through photography and transforming them into fabric prints, Shama exhausts the visual potential of these motifs. Her practice is a meticulous investigation into how these repetitive designs can be manipulated and reimagined, ultimately creating new forms that challenge our perception of the built environment.
