Eman Alhashemi at Aisha Alabbar Gallery
Superficial Transactions: Critique and Questions on Contemporary Life Systems
November 14 2024 - January 6 2025
Curated By Nasser Abdullah
In her second solo exhibition at Aisha Alabbar Gallery in Dubai, titled “Superficial Transactions,” Emirati artist Eman Alhashemi presents a series of artworks and experiences, showcasing her rich artistic journey. Curated by Nasser Abdullah, this exhibition marks her first after returning from the U.S., where she earned a Master’s degree in Fine Arts, further enriching her artistic expertise alongside her remarkable activity and prolific output.
In this exhibition, Eman presents a series of works that build on her previous experiences, appearing as annotations and reflections that encapsulate different phases she has undergone since the beginning of her career. She began with experiments in manual printing and producing repetitive editions during her early academic years. Later, she transitioned to sculpture and ceramics, eventually exploring a variety of artistic mediums, including performance art and multimedia video pieces. This artistic journey through time illustrates the evolution in her work and her shifting artistic perspective.
Eman’s work is characterized by her ability to embrace mistakes and inconsistencies across editions, accepting the existence of multiple versions of the same object, both in art and in life. This reconciled perspective on imperfection and difference reflects the diversity of human nature, as she interacts with each situation and circumstance differently. This unique approach blends experimentation with critical thinking.
Eman plays with concepts and forms of artistic production, aiming to highlight our complex and intertwined relationships with ideas and objects around us. Her work reflects a repetitive consumerist state that occasionally borders on boredom, prompting her to reassess things and ideas from different angles. This continuous critique of everyday life details encourages viewers to see the ordinary anew.
Through this artistic journey, Eman invites us to engage in constant reflection and navigate daily life with a critical eye. Her works urge us to maintain our imperfect humanity and avoid chasing perfection, positioning art as a means of connecting with ourselves and others beyond repetitive routines.
