Eyes Wide Shut exhibition at Alserkal Avenue - in pictures

  • Firetti Contemporary gallery at Dubai’s Alserkal Avenue has is holding its first all-female exhibition titled Eyes Wide Shut. Curated by Celine Azem, Mara Firetti and Oceane Sailly, the show features 10 women artists of different generations and levels. All photos: Firetti Contemporary
    Firetti Contemporary gallery at Dubai’s Alserkal Avenue has is holding its first all-female exhibition titled Eyes Wide Shut. Curated by Celine Azem, Mara Firetti and Oceane Sailly, the show features 10 women artists of different generations and levels. All photos: Firetti Contemporary
  • Firetti Contemporary is known primarily for its displays of digital and abstract art.
    Firetti Contemporary is known primarily for its displays of digital and abstract art.
  • The exhibition's 10 artists are from the UAE, Iran, Armenia, Ukraine, Palestine, Egypt, Syria, Lebanon and Kuwait.
    The exhibition's 10 artists are from the UAE, Iran, Armenia, Ukraine, Palestine, Egypt, Syria, Lebanon and Kuwait.
  • Artist Negin Fallah next to her works.
    Artist Negin Fallah next to her works.
  • Artist Amina Yahia with her work 'Ya Aghla Ism Fi El Wogood'.
    Artist Amina Yahia with her work 'Ya Aghla Ism Fi El Wogood'.
  • The centrepiece of Eyes Wide Shut is Kuwaiti artist Alymamah Rashed’s 'My eye splits your love to hold us closer to our depths (I will meet you there)', a floor-to-ceiling watercolour occupying the gallery’s back wall.
    The centrepiece of Eyes Wide Shut is Kuwaiti artist Alymamah Rashed’s 'My eye splits your love to hold us closer to our depths (I will meet you there)', a floor-to-ceiling watercolour occupying the gallery’s back wall.
  • Emirati artist Khawla Almarzooqi’s canvases are surreal meditations on the emotions that are caused by the constrictions placed on the female mind and body.
    Emirati artist Khawla Almarzooqi’s canvases are surreal meditations on the emotions that are caused by the constrictions placed on the female mind and body.
  • 'The clothed Maja' by Emirati artist Khawla Almarzooqi.
    'The clothed Maja' by Emirati artist Khawla Almarzooqi.
  • Lebanese-Armenian artist Annie Kurkdjian was inspired by her experiences of civil war in Beirut and her grandmother’s traumatic memories of the Armenian genocide.
    Lebanese-Armenian artist Annie Kurkdjian was inspired by her experiences of civil war in Beirut and her grandmother’s traumatic memories of the Armenian genocide.
  • An untitled work by Lebanese-Armenian artist Annie Kurkdjian.
    An untitled work by Lebanese-Armenian artist Annie Kurkdjian.
  • Palestinian artist Qamar Abdulmalik, who lives in Saudi Arabia, uses the fantastical to comment on politics.
    Palestinian artist Qamar Abdulmalik, who lives in Saudi Arabia, uses the fantastical to comment on politics.
  • Flush with images of passports, Qamar Abdulmalik's artworks exaggerate the absurdity of an undocumented immigrant’s quotidian challenges.
    Flush with images of passports, Qamar Abdulmalik's artworks exaggerate the absurdity of an undocumented immigrant’s quotidian challenges.
  • One of the collages by Palestinian artist Qamar Abdulmalik.
    One of the collages by Palestinian artist Qamar Abdulmalik.
  • Having spent her early childhood in Kharkiv, Ukraine, before relocating to Kuwait, multidisciplinary artist Amani Althuwani melds childhood fairytales with Kuwaiti marriage traditions and rituals.
    Having spent her early childhood in Kharkiv, Ukraine, before relocating to Kuwait, multidisciplinary artist Amani Althuwani melds childhood fairytales with Kuwaiti marriage traditions and rituals.
  • Collectively, Amani AlThuwani's works mourn the catastrophic destruction of a place that holds her earliest memories, and how her own children may not be able to experience them.
    Collectively, Amani AlThuwani's works mourn the catastrophic destruction of a place that holds her earliest memories, and how her own children may not be able to experience them.
  • Maria Shapranova’s mixed-media collages use Ukrainian symbolism in pop art-style to portray the resilience of Ukrainian women.
    Maria Shapranova’s mixed-media collages use Ukrainian symbolism in pop art-style to portray the resilience of Ukrainian women.
  • Maria Shapranova uses bold scarlet shades to evoke blood — literally and metaphorically — as well as colours of the Ukrainian flag as backdrops for cleverly cut images.
    Maria Shapranova uses bold scarlet shades to evoke blood — literally and metaphorically — as well as colours of the Ukrainian flag as backdrops for cleverly cut images.
  • Egyptian painter and visual artist Amina Yahia.
    Egyptian painter and visual artist Amina Yahia.
  • Emirati visual artist Afra Al Suwaidi.
    Emirati visual artist Afra Al Suwaidi.
  • Ukrainian artist Maria Shapranova.
    Ukrainian artist Maria Shapranova.
  • Syrian artist and architect Sawsan Al Bahar.
    Syrian artist and architect Sawsan Al Bahar.
  • Kuwaiti artist Alymamah Rashed.
    Kuwaiti artist Alymamah Rashed.
  • Lebanese-Armenian artist Annie Kurkdjian.
    Lebanese-Armenian artist Annie Kurkdjian.
  • Iranian artist Negin Fallah.
    Iranian artist Negin Fallah.
  • Palestinian artist Qamar Abdulmalik.
    Palestinian artist Qamar Abdulmalik.
  • Ukraine-born Kuwaiti artist Amani AlThuwani.
    Ukraine-born Kuwaiti artist Amani AlThuwani.
  • Emirati artist Khawla Almarzooqi.
    Emirati artist Khawla Almarzooqi.
  • The curators of Eyes Wide Shut, from left to right, Oceane Sailly, Mara Firetti and Celine Azem.
    The curators of Eyes Wide Shut, from left to right, Oceane Sailly, Mara Firetti and Celine Azem.