• Sheikha Hoor Al Qasimi, Sharjah Biennial curator and Sharjah Art Foundation director, leads a tour of the Sharjah Art Museum. All Photos: Antonie Robertson / The National
    Sheikha Hoor Al Qasimi, Sharjah Biennial curator and Sharjah Art Foundation director, leads a tour of the Sharjah Art Museum. All Photos: Antonie Robertson / The National
  • A work by Kimathi Donkor, an artist of Ghanaian, Anglo-Jewish and Jamaican descent, who lives in London and explores the history of Africa and its global diasporas.
    A work by Kimathi Donkor, an artist of Ghanaian, Anglo-Jewish and Jamaican descent, who lives in London and explores the history of Africa and its global diasporas.
  • Photographer Hiroji Kubota captured portraits of the Black Panther party in the 1960s, as well as reportage of American military bases in Okinawa, Japan
    Photographer Hiroji Kubota captured portraits of the Black Panther party in the 1960s, as well as reportage of American military bases in Okinawa, Japan
  • A series of portraits by South African-American painter Thenjiwe Niki Nkosi
    A series of portraits by South African-American painter Thenjiwe Niki Nkosi
  • Pieces by Emirati artist Obaid Suroor, who incorporates traditional textile patterns into his work
    Pieces by Emirati artist Obaid Suroor, who incorporates traditional textile patterns into his work
  • Robyn Kahukiwa’s Tihe Mauri Ora was produced as part of an ancestral meeting house created by the Maori women’s art collective Haeata
    Robyn Kahukiwa’s Tihe Mauri Ora was produced as part of an ancestral meeting house created by the Maori women’s art collective Haeata
  • A work by artist Malala Andrialavidrazana, who was born and raised in Madagascar, before relocating to Paris
    A work by artist Malala Andrialavidrazana, who was born and raised in Madagascar, before relocating to Paris
  • Angela Ponce's photography explores social issues, political issues and disability rights in the collective memory of Latin America
    Angela Ponce's photography explores social issues, political issues and disability rights in the collective memory of Latin America
  • Indian Photographer Pablo Bartholomew has spent decades capturing images of his country's emigres
    Indian Photographer Pablo Bartholomew has spent decades capturing images of his country's emigres
  • Moroccan photographer Imane Djamil explores the experience of post-traumatic transitions
    Moroccan photographer Imane Djamil explores the experience of post-traumatic transitions

Sharjah Biennial launches its 15th event, with more than 300 artworks across the emirate


Hareth Al Bustani
  • English
  • Arabic

Sharjah Biennial kicks off its 15th event on Tuesday with an exciting new programme of works by more than 150 artists from across the world. Now in its 30th year, the biennial will transform 19 venues throughout the city of Sharjah, Al Dhaid, Al Hamriyah, Kalba and Khor Fakkan with a series of exhibitions and installations.

Speaking on Monday at a press conference held between the coral-laced walls of Bait Al Naboodah, Sheikha Hoor Al Qasimi, Sharjah Biennial curator and Sharjah Art Foundation director, said the selection of locations was "a way for us as an institution to expand on our ongoing work with the communities across Sharjah".

“Our work has been happening in those cities for many, many years," she said. "And it's taken time. We’ve worked with communities to make sure that we are not imposing international ideas, or not only thinking about western visitors or international visitors, but really having a conversation and dialogue between local and global.”

This conversation is central to the biennial’s theme of Thinking Historically in the Present, conceived by Nigerian curator, art critic and writer Okwui Enwezor. Prior to his death in 2019, Enwezor asked Sheikha Hoor to carry out his vision and curate the event.

“From the beginning, he was adamant that he was not interested in curating another 'middling' contemporary art exhibition that just disappears,” Sheikha Hoor said.

The biennial is curated by Sharjah Art Foundation director Sheika Hoor Al Qasimi. Photo: Sebastian Boettcher
The biennial is curated by Sharjah Art Foundation director Sheika Hoor Al Qasimi. Photo: Sebastian Boettcher

She went on to read one of the messages Enwezor sent her in their time working together. He wrote: “I see Sharjah as a unique model that grew from a biennial institutionalisation, and the institution that emerged from that has provided a context of thinking and understanding about the pervasive challenges of art and the art worlds and cultural spheres from which art emerges.

"You also engage deeply in a manner that is not superficial with the problems of understanding that often bedevil contemporary art. It's a problem from which misunderstandings arise and in which blind spots persist, and for which you have built engines of mediation and historical, cultural, artistic, pedagogical and discursive amelioration.”

Sheikha Hoor said: “He’s with us in spirit, and I hope he would be proud of all of us coming together.”

Her programme is deeply inspired by Enwezor’s approach to bridging the past and present through a lens of postcolonialism — however, this is crucially informed by her deep-rooted knowledge of Sharjah’s cultural context.

During the event, Sheikha Hoor told The National: “It's been 20 years for me since I took over the biennial. But the reason I did is because I grew up with the biennial, so it has been 30 years of my life.

"For me, it was such a moment of excitement to see all these artists coming to Sharjah and trying to figure out what I wanted to do as a young artist and painter. We were all part of this local scene of artists, and we were all invited to participate. So there was this moment of solidarity, and it was a meeting point.”

Although the event was delayed due to the pandemic, Sheikha Hoor cites an Arabic proverb, "Every delay is a blessing". She says the additional time allowed her to research artists and their practices in greater depth.

The programme now features artists from 70 countries. “I think there are a lot of artists who have been under-represented," she said. "There are a lot of artists who deserve more opportunities and I'm hoping this will be a good platform for them.

Iraqi artist Saddam Al Jumaily, who lives in Finland, is among those taking part in Sharjah Biennial 15. Antonie Robertson / The National
Iraqi artist Saddam Al Jumaily, who lives in Finland, is among those taking part in Sharjah Biennial 15. Antonie Robertson / The National

“We have to have this platform of solidarity. We have shared histories, but together we create something much stronger, and our voices are amplified.”

Lee Kai Chung, an artist from Hong Kong who lives in London, has brought a series of works exploring the geographic displacement of people and material — with a particular emphasis on postcolonialism in Asia and Hong Kong.

“For me, this is a very special biennial compared with the others I have participated in, because it's mainly about how artists, people, infrastructure and environment connect under the theme of history — and how we can untangle history and contexts through works of art," he said. "I’m looking forward to seeing the other artists’ work.”

Meanwhile, Argentine photographer Anita Pouchard Serra is unveiling a project about French-Algerian relations following colonialism. Originally from Algeria, she says her work reflects the experiences and memories of the second generation following conflict and independence.

“For me, it's just incredible because in Argentina we are far from everything. Now I’m in a different region of the world so I have access to artists from different cultures. I'm sure I will learn a lot about them, their issues and their methodologies, so it should be fascinating."

Works by Indonesian artist Semsar Slahaan, who died in 2005, on view as part of this year's Sharjah Biennial. Antonie Robertson / The National
Works by Indonesian artist Semsar Slahaan, who died in 2005, on view as part of this year's Sharjah Biennial. Antonie Robertson / The National

One of the groups of artists taking part — Meleanna Meyer, Solomon Enos and Kahi Ching — have flown from Hawaii to attend the opening in Sharjah. Enos said the group have brought a distinctly Hawaiian brand of collaborative mural art to the emirate.

“Usually, a canvas is one artist, one canvas. In Hawaii, we believe in bringing together different people's different visions, because we are a melting pot for the Pacific and ultimately, the world.

“And because we've been so isolated for thousands of years, I think we're effectively like a bolt out of the blue. And we hope that our art can be a form of mediation, and bringing together of cultures in a way that maybe hasn't really been done before.”

Meyer said it was a “very timely moment for all of us to be here together in the arts”.

“I think all of us with our histories have that shared history of pain and loss, and really major trauma. But I think all of us are happy to be here because as a collective, we're doing really interesting things.

“We all have our agendas, but our agenda is a collective healing.”

Sharjah Biennial 15 opens on Tuesday and runs until June 11. More information is at sharjahart.org/biennial-15

Sole survivors
  • Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
  • George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
  • Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
  • Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
ILT20%20UAE%20stars
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ELEADING%20RUN%20SCORERS%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3E1%20Nicholas%20Pooran%2C%20261%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3E2%20Muhammad%20Waseem%20(UAE)%2C%20248%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3E3%20Chris%20Lynn%2C%20244%3Cbr%3E4%20Johnson%20Charles%2C%20232%3Cbr%3E5%20Kusal%20Perera%2C%20230%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBEST%20BOWLING%20AVERAGE%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3E(minimum%2010%20overs%20bowled)%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3E1%20Zuhaib%20Zubair%20(UAE)%2C%209%20wickets%20at%2012.44%3Cbr%3E2%20Mohammed%20Rohid%20(UAE)%2C%207%20at%2013.00%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3E3%20Fazalhaq%20Farooqi%2C%2017%20at%2013.05%3Cbr%3E4%20Waqar%20Salamkheil%2C%2010%20at%2014.08%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3E5%20Aayan%20Khan%20(UAE)%2C%204%20at%2015.50%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3E6%20Wanindu%20Hasaranga%2C%2012%20at%2016.25%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3E7%20Mohammed%20Jawadullah%20(UAE)%2C%2010%20at%2017.00%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Recipe

Garlicky shrimp in olive oil
Gambas Al Ajillo

Preparation time: 5 to 10 minutes

Cooking time: 5 minutes

Serves 4

Ingredients

180ml extra virgin olive oil; 4 to 5 large cloves of garlic, minced or pureed (or 3 to 4 garlic scapes, roughly chopped); 1 or 2 small hot red chillies, dried (or ¼ teaspoon dried red chilli flakes); 400g raw prawns, deveined, heads removed and tails left intact; a generous splash of sweet chilli vinegar; sea salt flakes for seasoning; a small handful of fresh flat-leaf parsley, roughly chopped

Method

Heat the oil in a terracotta dish or frying pan. Once the oil is sizzling hot, add the garlic and chilli, stirring continuously for about 10 seconds until golden and aromatic.

Add a splash of sweet chilli vinegar and as it vigorously simmers, releasing perfumed aromas, add the prawns and cook, stirring a few times.

Once the prawns turn pink, after 1 or 2 minutes of cooking,  remove from the heat and season with sea salt flakes.

Once the prawns are cool enough to eat, scatter with parsley and serve with small forks or toothpicks as the perfect sharing starter. Finish off with crusty bread to soak up all that flavour-infused olive oil.

 

The National's picks

4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young

Dirham Stretcher tips for having a baby in the UAE

Selma Abdelhamid, the group's moderator, offers her guide to guide the cost of having a young family:

• Buy second hand stuff

 They grow so fast. Don't get a second hand car seat though, unless you 100 per cent know it's not expired and hasn't been in an accident.

• Get a health card and vaccinate your child for free at government health centres

 Ms Ma says she discovered this after spending thousands on vaccinations at private clinics.

• Join mum and baby coffee mornings provided by clinics, babysitting companies or nurseries.

Before joining baby classes ask for a free trial session. This way you will know if it's for you or not. You'll be surprised how great some classes are and how bad others are.

• Once baby is ready for solids, cook at home

Take the food with you in reusable pouches or jars. You'll save a fortune and you'll know exactly what you're feeding your child.

Living in...

This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.

TRAP

Starring: Josh Hartnett, Saleka Shyamalan, Ariel Donaghue

Director: M Night Shyamalan

Rating: 3/5

The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E3.0%20twin-turbo%20inline%20six-cylinder%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Eeight-speed%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E503hp%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E600Nm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Efrom%20Dh400%2C000%20(estimate)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Enow%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The biog

Favourite films: Casablanca and Lawrence of Arabia

Favourite books: Start with Why by Simon Sinek and Good to be Great by Jim Collins

Favourite dish: Grilled fish

Inspiration: Sheikh Zayed's visionary leadership taught me to embrace new challenges.

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Western Region Asia Cup Qualifier

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UAE beat Saudi Arabia by 12 runs

Kuwait beat Iran by eight wickets

Oman beat Maldives by 10 wickets

Bahrain beat Qatar by six wickets

Semi-finals

UAE v Qatar

Bahrain v Kuwait

 

FIGHT CARD

Fights start from 6pm Friday, January 31

Catchweight 82kg
Piotr Kuberski (POL) v Ahmed Saeb (IRQ)

Women’s bantamweight
Cornelia Holm (SWE) v Corinne Laframboise (CAN)

Welterweight
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Josh Togo (LEB) v Ali Dyusenov (UZB)

Flyweight
Isaac Pimentel (BRA) v Delfin Nawen (PHI)

Catchweight 80kg​​​​​​​
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Lightweight
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Welterweight
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Super heavyweight
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HIV on the rise in the region

A 2019 United Nations special analysis on Aids reveals 37 per cent of new HIV infections in the Mena region are from people injecting drugs.

New HIV infections have also risen by 29 per cent in western Europe and Asia, and by 7 per cent in Latin America, but declined elsewhere.

Egypt has shown the highest increase in recorded cases of HIV since 2010, up by 196 per cent.

Access to HIV testing, treatment and care in the region is well below the global average.  

Few statistics have been published on the number of cases in the UAE, although a UNAIDS report said 1.5 per cent of the prison population has the virus.

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Updated: February 07, 2023, 6:26 AM