The Jeddah Art Week, under the aegis of Saudi Arabia?s Ministry of Culture and Information, and Abdul Latif Jameel Community Initiatives, will have its annual showcase of the Arts from the Feb. 1 to 6 at Al Fursiya, Jeddah. With the support of the Saudi Arabian Society for Culture and Arts, and in collaboration with international auction house, Sotheby?s, EoA Projects, and Arabian Wings, JAW-2014 intends to build on the success of last year?s inaugural event, which saw attendance from over 1,500 visitors. Jeddah?s rich cultural heritage, dating back thousands of years, as well as the city?s port location and position as gateway to the holy city of Makkah, has uniquely positioned Jeddah as a city at the crossroads of the world?s diverse peoples and cultures. JAW-2014 is dedicated to furthering its platform mission; to showcase Jeddah?s creative art and design culture, all the while increasing the city?s involvement with the international art community. The weeklong schedule of events will be centered at Al Fursiya, and will showcase an exciting program including art and design exhibitions, a series of public performances, a one-day international conference on global visual culture, and highlights from an international contemporary art auction. Rochane Gallery, Al Alamia and The Saudi Art Association will be supported by international galleries including, Selma Feriani Gallery, Galerie El Marsa, and Ayyam Gallery (exhibiting works by Abdulnasser Gharem, Maha Malluh, Shaweesh, Rashad Al Shaishi and Huda Beydoun.) JAW welcomes participation from all those interested in contributing to Jeddah?s vibrant art and design culture, and will be presenting a unique photography exhibition by 15 Jeddah-based Filipino photographers who wish to present the city as it has never been seen before. International auction house Sotheby?s will unveil an exhibition of Contemporary art by both Middle Eastern and International artists. Highlights include works by leading regional artists such as Ali Banisadr?s, The Chase, as well as acclaimed international artists such as Damien Hirst. Arabian Wings, a grassroots organization dedicated to supporting the visual arts of the Arab World with a particular emphasis on Saudi Arabia, will hold its annual exhibition, ?Limited Edition?, showcasing the work of 22 local artists who have studied, and practice in, the Kingdom. EOA Projects will bring a border-crossing exhibition of over 100 works on paper as part of Edition#1. The exhibition will feature works by renowned artists such as Banksy, Walid Raad, Peter Blake, Anish Kapoor and Ahmed Mater among others. JAW-2014 will also offer participants and visitors a chance to engage more interactively with art culture, as well as the city of Jeddah through a variety of additional events. As part of its commitment to education, JAW will host an international conference at one of Jeddah?s leading female universities, Dar Al Hekma. The conference, Global Contemporary Art and Its Networks, is to be organized by Ibraaz (www.ibraaz.org), the leading critical forum on visual culture from North Africa and The Middle East], and will include a series of lectures and panel discussions that will look at the development of contemporary art in its historical and global context. Saudi artists Abdulnasser Gharem, Ahmed Mater, Maha Malluh and Faisal Samra will be joined in discussion by international academics and celebrated art world specialists. JAW will also encourage audiences to look at ‘public space? in Jeddah more creatively, and will synthesize literature, aesthetics and architecture, with celebrated Tunisian street artist El Seed, assisted by five local Saudi artists, performing his ?calligraffiti? on a building in Jeddah?s Old Town. The newly restored open-air public museum on Jeddah?s Corniche will celebrate the restoration of sculptures by masters such as Henry Moore, Alexander Calder and Juan Miro, which have been in situ since the 1980s. JAW comes at a time when the world is increasingly looking towards the Middle East for inspiration and creativity. During this week of events, audiences will gain access to visual culture, including paintings and sculptures, photography and multi-media. For more information and a full list of events, please visit www.jeddahartweek.com. For all press enquiries, please contact [email protected].
