Under the Patronage of
Her Highness Sheikha Shamsa bint Hamdan Al Nahyan
PORTRAIT OF A NATION II: BEYOND NARRATIVES
Curated by Maya El Khalil, Co-Curated by Roxane Zand
Portrait of a Nation II: Beyond Narratives, the jewel of Abu Dhabi Festival 2022, has come to a close but the story of the nation’s artistic development as it transpired over 50 years lives on through the innovative launch of the virtual exhibition and its book companion, Portrait of a Nation II: Beyond Narratives.
Now visitors around the world can embark on an immersive journey through the exhibition, which ran for three months from 21 January to 16 April at Manarat Al Saadiyat, exploring over 100 key artworks by 62 of the nation’s pioneering and emerging artists while interactively navigating the five themes of the exhibition: Reclaiming/Reimagining Home, Shifting Landscapes, Configurations of Togetherness, Reclaiming/Reimagining Language and Shifting Sociality.
The exhibition’s book companion, Portrait of a Nation II, documents the creative spirit and collaboration of the featured artists and their works in vibrant photography and in-depth interviews and essays from curators, writers, and the talented artists themselves, guiding readers through the remarkable transformation of the UAE’s art history.
Produced by Abu Dhabi Festival
Manarat Al Saadiyat
UAE
21 January – 16 April 2022
Portrait of a Nation II – Programmes
International Mother Language Day
Activation space, Portrait of Nation II: Beyond Narratives Exhibition, Manarat Al Saadiyat, Abu DhabiIn celebration of International Mother Language Day, and as part of the cultural programme held alongside the Portrait of a Nation II: Beyond Narratives exhibition, an esteemed panel of prominent cultural leaders, academics and calligraphy artists will explore the role of language in defining cultural identity, conveying emotions, and communicating ideas both through words and symbolic gestures. This thought-provoking panel discussion sheds light on the essential link between language, calligraphy and art in the context of culture and identity.
Live performance of The Alphabetics of the Baker & Confectioner, a sound performance led by WYWY
The Alphabetics of the Baker & Confectioner, a sound performance led by WYWY, explores the sounds and "keys" formulated by the sound artists to interpret the hand gestures of Moza Almatrooshi’ durational performance displayed in her video installation on view at the Portrait of a Nation ll: Beyond Narratives exhibition. WYWY will perform a sonic set of sound compositions to communicate through music the “sounds” of these gestures outside of their physical gestural space.
Panel: The New Polyphonic Maqam System
This panel will discuss the importance of Qoutayba Neami’s new musical innovation and the opportunity it creates for composers and music researchers around the world to transcend borders and cultural differences through music.
Talk: The Early Years: the building of an art scene and creative communities in the UAE.
Progenitors of the UAE’s contemporary art scene, including members of The Five, founders of the Emirates Fine Art Society and other prominent artists, will come together in a panel discussion on the camaraderie, collaboration and togetherness that have structured the art scene, from early formations to boom, bust and consolidation, to the artistic achievement that is celebrated in Portrait of a Nation II: Beyond Narratives.
Making of Series: Captain Abdullah and Talin in conversation on the making of Sediments
Portrait of a Nation II: Beyond Narratives exhibition, Manarat Al SaadiyatMarine biologists and environmentalists explore the shifting social/physical landscapes as well as creating and preserving modes of togetherness. Talin Hazbar’s work formally investigates the intrinsic properties of natural material – such as sand and porcelain in other artworks – and here tunes her ear to the society of Gulf fishermen. Hazbar excavates used nets from the sea, as a monument not only to the fishing practices but also to the disruption they’ve caused to the natural world.
ART CIRCLE TALKS – Different generations of artists, different experiences
The evolution of the Art scene in the UAE in the past 50 years.
A conversation among different generations of artists on their experiences in time, and the challenges they were facing.
World Poetry Day
In celebration of World Poetry Day, a distinguished panel of speakers will explore what “poetry is the diwan of the Arabs” means for contemporary Arabic poetry. This fascinating panel examines the relationship between poets and their social and cultural environments and the influence of deep-rooted cultural heritage on Arabic poetry’s aspirations for the future.
STEAM Exhibition
Abu Dhabi Festival’s STEAM will cooperate with MIT, to bring university students from a variety of disciplines, including visual art, design, architecture and computer science together in teams for a specialized course in 3-D printing technology.
STEAM Exhibition Talk
The talks will consist of:
• An introduction of ADMAF’s STEAM programme
• A brief on 3D design and production
• The concept behind the design and the creative process
• The production/printing process of the work
• Q & A
Collaboration and Togetherness: The UAE as an Artistic Hub
Gallery A, Manarat Al Saadiyat, Abu DhabiA Conversation to address new modes of working and thinking, the creative outcomes of challenging contexts or fresh explorations, with a focus on practitioners of the 80s and 90s developing new modes of artmaking, born of experimental, vibrant atelier atmospheres.
The Making Of: Vikram Divecha’s Train to Rouen
Artist Vikram Divecha in conversation with Louvre Abu Dhabi Curator for Modern and Contemporary Art Robert Kilroy discusses the artist’s video installation exploring concepts of time, space, modernity and globalisation and how these themes relate to the fast pace of development of the UAE at a time when the UAE is hosting the World Expo. Train to Rouen synthesised a number of strands in order to effect one simple change: a five minute delay on the train travelling from Paris to Rouen on October 4th, 2017.
Celebrate World Art Day with Abu Dhabi Festival and Talented Emirati Artist Abdulla Lutfi
The Terrace, Manarat Al Saadiyat, Abu DhabiIn celebration of World Art Day, Abu Dhabi Festival has commissioned Abdulla Lutfi, the dynamic Emirati artist with an exceptional attention to detail to create one of his signature illustrations to reflect the art scene in Abu Dhabi for its flagship Portrait of a Nation II: Beyond Narratives exhibition. The 1.5m x 3m canvas will feature key institutions, cultural sites and museums that have led to the country’s cultural and artistic evolution, such as the Louvre Abu Dhabi, Warehouse 421, Cultural Foundation, Qasr Al Hosn and the Founders’ memorial. Lutfi, who is on the autism spectrum, has had two sold-out solo exhibitions and is known for his ability to capture daily life in accurate detail. Visitors are invited to contribute creatively to the artwork by adding color to his iconic black and white illustrations starting from April 6.
The Making Of: Vikram Divecha’s Train to Rouen
Artist Vikram Divecha in conversation with Louvre Abu Dhabi Curator for Modern and Contemporary Art Robert Kilroy discusses the artist’s video installation exploring concepts of time, space, modernity and globalisation and how these themes relate to the fast pace of development of the UAE at a time when the UAE is hosting the World Expo. Train to Rouen synthesised a number of strands in order to effect one simple change: a five minute delay on the train travelling from Paris to Rouen on October 4th, 2017.
Talk: Shifting Landscapes: From Sand to Skyscrapers
In this fascinating panel on the relationship between art and the environment, two of the nation’s most influential art figures explore the extent to which shifting landscapes contribute to the country’s artistic transformation. Reflecting on the artworks displayed at the Portrait of a Nation II: Beyond Narratives exhibition, pioneering contemporary artist Mohammed Kazem and leading columnist and researcher Sultan Al Qassemi discuss the role of art as a social commentary, challenging our understanding of sustainability and reflecting the human experience of transition
