The Sharjah Biennial 11, returning next year from March 11 to 13 and run by the Sharjah Art Foundation, has revealed which five artists have been invited to create exclusive works.
On the list are the French visual artist Saadane Afif, the Indian architecture and crafts collective Studio Mumbai, the Chinese multimedia specialist Yang Fudong, the Japanese architect Kazuyo Sejima and the Egyptian artist Wael Shawky.
Curator Yuko Hasegawa, who is also the chief curator of Tokyo's Museum of Contemporary Art, selected artworks exploring the diversity of cultures, societies and political relations.
Hasegawa, who also worked on the 12th Venice Architectural Biennale (2010) and the Seoul International Media Art Biennale (2006), explained her use of Sharjah's historic courtyards as the metaphor underpinning her selection for next year's event.
"A broad range of artists will be invited to create works that will offer new experiences to be shared," she says. "Here, the courtyard becomes more than a place, it becomes a condition where culture is nourished and true knowledge is formed."
Sheikha Hoor Al Qasimi, the president of the Sharjah Art Foundation, praised Hasegawa's "thoughtful" selections.
"The 2013 Biennial will reflect Sharjah's long history as a place where diverse communities are encouraged to share ideas and contribute to the multicultural landscape that is characteristic of the Emirate," she says. "Ms Hasegawa has proposed a deeply thoughtful biennial that will address some of the issues critical to art production in this current moment of great cultural change."
The Sharjah Art Foundation also announced a new exhibition by Derek Ogbourne. The Museum of Optography, the Purple Chamber presents an eclectic mix of selections including drawings, paintings, photography and objects blurring the lines between art, science and history.
July 2 to October 10, The Collection Buildings in Sharjah's Art Area. Visit www.sharjahart.org
Saturday's schedule at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
GP3 race, 12:30pm
Formula 1 final practice, 2pm
Formula 1 qualifying, 5pm
Formula 2 race, 6:40pm
Performance: Sam Smith
FIXTURES
All times UAE ( 4 GMT)
Friday
Saint-Etienne v Montpellier (10.45pm)
Saturday
Monaco v Caen (7pm)
Amiens v Bordeaux (10pm)
Angers v Toulouse (10pm)
Metz v Dijon (10pm)
Nantes v Guingamp (10pm)
Rennes v Lille (10pm)
Sunday
Nice v Strasbourg (5pm)
Troyes v Lyon (7pm)
Marseille v Paris Saint-Germain (11pm)
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if you go
The flights Fly Dubai, Air Arabia, Emirates, Etihad, and Royal Jordanian all offer direct, three-and-a-half-hour flights from the UAE to the Jordanian capital Amman. Alternatively, from June Fly Dubai will offer a new direct service from Dubai to Aqaba in the south of the country. See the airlines’ respective sites for varying prices or search on reliable price-comparison site Skyscanner.
The trip
Jamie Lafferty was a guest of the Jordan Tourist Board. For more information on adventure tourism in Jordan see Visit Jordan. A number of new and established tour companies offer the chance to go caving, rock-climbing, canyoning, and mountaineering in Jordan. Prices vary depending on how many activities you want to do and how many days you plan to stay in the country. Among the leaders are Terhaal, who offer a two-day canyoning trip from Dh845 per person. If you really want to push your limits, contact the Stronger Team. For a more trek-focused trip, KE Adventure offers an eight-day trip from Dh5,300 per person.
Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
