Tea with Culture

In this episode we discuss the 11th edition of Art Dubai. We highlight the changes we noticed with the new fair director, Myrna Ayad. We discuss works by this year's Abraaj Group Art Prize winner Rana Begum and the shortlisted artists, Doa Aly, Sarah Abu Abdallah and Raha Raissnia.

We also look at the various talks that took place across the fair and the role/presence of Art Dubai's sponsors and partners. We also ask look at the changes to A.i.R Dubai and list some of our favourite works we saw at the different galleries:

Rana Samara at Zawyeh Gallery (Ramallah)

Amba Sayal-Bennett at Carbon 12 (Dubai)

Mario Garcia Torres at Galleria Franco Noero (Turin)

Aya Haider, Ahmed Matar, Muhanned Shono, Sara Abdu at Athr Gallery (Jeddah)

In this episode Hind Mezaina shares some of her highlights from Berlinale 2017 and discusses with Wael Hattar the screening of Moonlight in Dubai. There's also a discussion about film screenings organised by The Scene Club, Reel Palestine and WOW Film Festival in Dubai and thoughts on the lack of success of independent films (Arab and non-Arab films) in UAE cinemas.

CORRECTION: We wrongly refer to Nawaf Al Janahi's film at WOW Film Festival as Under the Shadow instead of Sea Shadow. Also towards the end we say DIFF completed 12 years, but DIFF completed 13 years in 2016.

Films mentioned in this episode:

Call Me By Your Name

A Fantastic Woman

Barry Lyndon

I am Not Your Negro

In the Intense Now

Stranger Days

THX 1138

Letters from a Dead Man

Moonlight

Sea Shadow

Sonita

Honey, Rain & Dust

The Eagle Huntress

Please do excuse the sound recording quality as the recording is from two different venues. We're working in improving the quality for future episodes.

In this episode Hind Mezaina shares some of her highlights from Berlinale 2017 and discusses with Wael Hattar the screening of Moonlight in Dubai. There's also a discussion about film screenings organised by The Scene Club, Reel Palestine and WOW Film Festival in Dubai and thoughts on the lack of success of independent films (Arab and non-Arab films) in UAE cinemas.

CORRECTION: We wrongly refer to Nawaf Al Janahi's film at WOW Film Festival as Under the Shadow instead of Sea Shadow. Also towards the end we say DIFF completed 12 years, but DIFF completed 13 years in 2016.

Films mentioned in this episode:

Call Me By Your Name

A Fantastic Woman

Barry Lyndon

I am Not Your Negro

In the Intense Now

Stranger Days

THX 1138

Letters from a Dead Man

Moonlight

Sea Shadow

Sonita

Honey, Rain & Dust

The Eagle Huntress

Please do excuse the sound recording quality as the recording is from two different venues. We're working in improving the quality for future episodes.

Our top picks of exhibitions and museums to see between January and March 2017. This episode includes:

Mohammed Kazem - Receiving and Collecting at Gallery IVDE, Dubai (9 JAN - 23 FEB) http://www.ivde.net/exhibitions/50/works/

Kamal Boullata - Addolcendo at Meem Gallery, Dubai (16 JAN- 20 FEB) http://www.meemartgallery.com/exhibitions.php

Etihad Museum, Dubai http://etihadmuseum.dubaiculture.ae/en/pages/default.aspx

Women's Museum, Dubai http://womenmuseumuae.com/eng/

Lest We Forget - Emirati Adornment: Tangible & Intangible at Warehouse 421 , Abu Dhabi(4 FEB - 23 AUG) http://www.warehouse421.ae/en/exhibitions/

Bayn - The In-between at Warehouse 421, Abu Dhabi

http://fact-magazine.com/index.php/tag/uae-unlimited/

Is Old Gold? at DUCTAC, Dubai (Weekly talks from 24 JAN, Exhibition 21 FEB - 7 APR) http://www.easteasteast.org/is-old-gold/

Performances at NYU Abu Dhabi Art Center http://www.nyuad-artscenter.org/en_US/events/

Hera Büyüktaşçıyan - Write Injuries on Sand and Kindness in Marble at Green Art Gallery, Dubai (15 FEB –6 APR) http://www.gagallery.com/artists/hera-buyuktasciyan

Sophia Al Maria - Everything Must Go at The Third Line, Dubai (22 FEB - 25 MAR) http://www.thethirdline.com

Rana Begum - The Abraaj Group Art Prize 2017 (15 - 18 MAR) http://www.artdubai.ae/mediagallery/rana-begum-winning-artist-of-the-abraaj-group-art-prize-2017/

Sharjah Biennial 13 (10 MAR - 12 JUN) http://sharjahart.org/biennial-13

But We Cannot See Them: Tracing a UAE Underground, 1988-2008 at NYU Abu Dhabi Art Gallery (2 MAR - 25 MAY) http://www.nyuad-artgallery.org/en_US/exhibitions/but-we-cannot-see-them/

Pop for the People: Roy Lichtenstein in L.A. at Skriball Culture Centre http://www.skirball.org/exhibitions/pop-for-people-roy-lichtenstein-la

Desert X, Palm Springs, California (25 FEB - 30 APR)

Antarctic Biennale http://www.antarcticbiennale.com

Bela Tarr, Martin Scorcese and Apichatpong Weerasethakul at EYE, Amsterdam https://www.eyefilm.nl/en/exhibition/béla-tarr-–-till-the-end-of-the-world

Our top picks of exhibitions and museums to see between January and March 2017. This episode includes:

Mohammed Kazem - Receiving and Collecting at Gallery IVDE, Dubai (9 JAN - 23 FEB) http://www.ivde.net/exhibitions/50/works/

Kamal Boullata - Addolcendo at Meem Gallery, Dubai (16 JAN- 20 FEB) http://www.meemartgallery.com/exhibitions.php

Etihad Museum, Dubai http://etihadmuseum.dubaiculture.ae/en/pages/default.aspx

Women's Museum, Dubai http://womenmuseumuae.com/eng/

Lest We Forget - Emirati Adornment: Tangible & Intangible at Warehouse 421 , Abu Dhabi(4 FEB - 23 AUG) http://www.warehouse421.ae/en/exhibitions/

Bayn - The In-between at Warehouse 421, Abu Dhabi

http://fact-magazine.com/index.php/tag/uae-unlimited/

Is Old Gold? at DUCTAC, Dubai (Weekly talks from 24 JAN, Exhibition 21 FEB - 7 APR) http://www.easteasteast.org/is-old-gold/

Performances at NYU Abu Dhabi Art Center http://www.nyuad-artscenter.org/en_US/events/

Hera Büyüktaşçıyan - Write Injuries on Sand and Kindness in Marble at Green Art Gallery, Dubai (15 FEB –6 APR) http://www.gagallery.com/artists/hera-buyuktasciyan

Sophia Al Maria - Everything Must Go at The Third Line, Dubai (22 FEB - 25 MAR) http://www.thethirdline.com

Rana Begum - The Abraaj Group Art Prize 2017 (15 - 18 MAR) http://www.artdubai.ae/mediagallery/rana-begum-winning-artist-of-the-abraaj-group-art-prize-2017/

Sharjah Biennial 13 (10 MAR - 12 JUN) http://sharjahart.org/biennial-13

But We Cannot See Them: Tracing a UAE Underground, 1988-2008 at NYU Abu Dhabi Art Gallery (2 MAR - 25 MAY) http://www.nyuad-artgallery.org/en_US/exhibitions/but-we-cannot-see-them/

Pop for the People: Roy Lichtenstein in L.A. at Skriball Culture Centre http://www.skirball.org/exhibitions/pop-for-people-roy-lichtenstein-la

Desert X, Palm Springs, California (25 FEB - 30 APR)

Antarctic Biennale http://www.antarcticbiennale.com

Bela Tarr, Martin Scorcese and Apichatpong Weerasethakul at EYE, Amsterdam https://www.eyefilm.nl/en/exhibition/béla-tarr-–-till-the-end-of-the-world

A look back at highlights and lowlights of 2016. Hind Mezaina and Wael Hattar share their personal highlights as artists. They pause to discuss the passing away of Hassan Sharif and go on to list their favourite exhibitions/talks:

1. The Road by Tammam Azzam at Ayyam Gallery http://www.ayyamgallery.com/exhibitions/tammam-azzam_3

2. Reza Aramish at Leila Heller Gallery http://www.leilahellergallery.com/exhibitions/reza-aramesh

3. Cristiana De Marchi at SIKKA 2016 http://www.cristianademarchi.com

4. White Cube...Literally at Gallery IVDE, curated by Amanda Abi Khalil http://www.ivde.net/exhibitions/6/works/

5. Phantom Limb by Diana Al Hadid at NYUAD Art Gallery http://www.nyuad-artgallery.org/en_US/exhibitions/diana-al-hadid/

6. Invisible Threads at NYUAD Art Gallery http://www.nyuad-artgallery.org/en_US/exhibitions/invisible-threads/

7. Two Suns in a Sunset by Joana Hadjithomas and Khalil Joreige at Sharjah Art Foundation http://www.theculturist.com/home/exhibition-two-suns-in-a-sunset-by-joana-hadjithomas-and-kha.html

8. The Khartoum School at Sharjah Art Foundation http://www.theculturist.com/home/exhibitions-sharjah-art-foundation-winter-20162017.html

9. And I, Will I Forget? by Manal Al Dowayan at Cuadro http://www.cuadroart.com/en/exhibitions/andwilliforget.html

10. When Time Does Not Exist by at Gulf Photo Plus by Randa Mirza, Stephane Lagoutte https://gulfphotoplus.com/gallery/35/When-Time-Does-Not-Exist

11. ICONS by Cortis and Sonderegger at East Wing http://east-wing.org/icons-works-by-cortis-sonderegger-opens-thursday-14-april-7pm-ezp-128.html and Parataxic distortion by Christto & Andrew at East Wing http://east-wing.org/christto-andrew-parataxi-distortioncoming-soon-to-east-wing-ezp-130.html

12. Marketing Presentation for Boxed Branded Plush Toys as Art by Kevin Jones http://www.ibraaz.org/channel/117

You can see Hind Mezaina's complete best of 2016 lists here http://www.theculturist.com/home/tag/best-of-2016

A look back at highlights and lowlights of 2016. Hind Mezaina and Wael Hattar share their personal highlights as artists. They pause to discuss the passing away of Hassan Sharif and go on to list their favourite exhibitions/talks:

1. The Road by Tammam Azzam at Ayyam Gallery http://www.ayyamgallery.com/exhibitions/tammam-azzam_3

2. Reza Aramish at Leila Heller Gallery http://www.leilahellergallery.com/exhibitions/reza-aramesh

3. Cristiana De Marchi at SIKKA 2016 http://www.cristianademarchi.com

4. White Cube...Literally at Gallery IVDE, curated by Amanda Abi Khalil http://www.ivde.net/exhibitions/6/works/

5. Phantom Limb by Diana Al Hadid at NYUAD Art Gallery http://www.nyuad-artgallery.org/en_US/exhibitions/diana-al-hadid/

6. Invisible Threads at NYUAD Art Gallery http://www.nyuad-artgallery.org/en_US/exhibitions/invisible-threads/

7. Two Suns in a Sunset by Joana Hadjithomas and Khalil Joreige at Sharjah Art Foundation http://www.theculturist.com/home/exhibition-two-suns-in-a-sunset-by-joana-hadjithomas-and-kha.html

8. The Khartoum School at Sharjah Art Foundation http://www.theculturist.com/home/exhibitions-sharjah-art-foundation-winter-20162017.html

9. And I, Will I Forget? by Manal Al Dowayan at Cuadro http://www.cuadroart.com/en/exhibitions/andwilliforget.html

10. When Time Does Not Exist by at Gulf Photo Plus by Randa Mirza, Stephane Lagoutte https://gulfphotoplus.com/gallery/35/When-Time-Does-Not-Exist

11. ICONS by Cortis and Sonderegger at East Wing http://east-wing.org/icons-works-by-cortis-sonderegger-opens-thursday-14-april-7pm-ezp-128.html and Parataxic distortion by Christto & Andrew at East Wing http://east-wing.org/christto-andrew-parataxi-distortioncoming-soon-to-east-wing-ezp-130.html

12. Marketing Presentation for Boxed Branded Plush Toys as Art by Kevin Jones http://www.ibraaz.org/channel/117

You can see Hind Mezaina's complete best of 2016 lists here http://www.theculturist.com/home/tag/best-of-2016

An interview series sub-section of Tea With Culture. Christian Bonnefoi talks to Wael Hattar about his work across the years and his most recent show “Double Take" at the Jean-Paul Najar Foundation in Al Serkal Avenue, Dubai. An interesting person to hear from, we were also able to discuss how he sees his work now, from when he started 40 years ago. The show is on until February 28, 2017.

You can read more about the exhibition at http://www.jpnajarfoundation.com/exhibitions.html

An interview series sub-section of Tea With Culture. Christian Bonnefoi talks to Wael Hattar about his work across the years and his most recent show “Double Take" at the Jean-Paul Najar Foundation in Al Serkal Avenue, Dubai. An interesting person to hear from, we were also able to discuss how he sees his work now, from when he started 40 years ago. The show is on until February 28, 2017.

You can read more about the exhibition at http://www.jpnajarfoundation.com/exhibitions.html

An interview series sub-section of Tea With Culture. Michael Rice talks to Wael Hattar about his week long show in November at the Warehouse 46 space in Al Serkal Avenue, Dubai. Michael explains his practice, and the creation of ceramic and glass work in general, as well as getting into a conversation on being an Artist in the UAE and the opportunities available for mid level/unrepresented artists. You can see his work and this show on his site and Instagram accounts https://www.instagram.com/MichaelRiceCeramics/ and http://mceramics.com/