Dubai Culture to commission over 50 UAE-based artists from 25 nations for SIKKA Art Fair 2014

• Emiratis represent majority of selected artists
• SIKKA 2014 highlights emerging artforms from the Middle East with over 19 installations

Dubai, UAE; February 26, 2014: SIKKA Art Fair, the contemporary artist-led fair of the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority (Dubai Culture), the Emirate’s dedicated Authority for culture, arts, and heritage, has announced the commissioned artists for the fourth edition of the initiative aimed at nurturing and promoting Emirati and UAE-based talent.

A flagship initiative under the newly-launched ‘Dubai Art Season,’ the city’s premier umbrella arts initiative, SIKKA Art Fair is part of Art Week, and is held concurrently with Art Dubai and Design Days Dubai.

Over 50 artists and multi-disciplinary initiatives representing 25 nations, all residents of the UAE, will create a host of site-specific work, spanning an array of mediums including audio and video installation; multi-disciplinary initiatives; artistic installations; music performances; and visual arts, such as painting, photography, and sculptures.

With Emiratis representing the majority of the artists, this year, SIKKA Art Fair will also see works by talents from Australia, Canada, China, Colombia, Egypt, Germany, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Italy, Jordan, Lebanon, Malaysia, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Peru, South Korea, Syria, United Kingdom, and United States of America, among others.

The artworks were curated by Her Highness Sheikha Wafa Hasher Al Maktoum, Founder and Director of FN Designs, and Japanese architect and programme director Kayoko Iemura, the official curators of ‘Dubai Art Season’ and SIKKA, and assisted by Yusaka Imamura, the Art Advisor to the fair.

Khalil Abdulwahid, Manager of Visual Arts, Dubai Culture & Arts Authority, said: “The breadth of artists selected for SIKKA Art Fair underlines Dubai Culture’s mandate to promote intercultural dialogue and artistic exchange through culture and arts. We are confident that this year’s line-up will provide visitors to the ‘Dubai Art Season’ vivid insights into the fast-evolving creative landscape of the region.”

The visuals artists this year include: Bassam Al Selawi & Maysoon Masalha; FaKiE Exhibition; Haitham Issam; Hind Mezaina; Hyunmin Bae; Khawla Darwish; Mohammed Jumairi; Musab Al Rais; Raja’a Khalid; Sham Enbashi; Sheikha Wafa Bin Hasher Al Maktoum; Sumaya Al Rais; and Zhu Qing.

Performing artists include: As Per Casper; Elizabeth Hadaway; Freshly Ground Sounds; and Reiner Erlings Music; while Audio & Visual Installation ensembles will feature works by Lumiere Collective and Muzungu.

SIKKA will host an array of installations by: Abdul Azim Al Ghussin; Azza AlQubaissi; Down North Collective; Elise Vazelakis; Gary Kong Yoong; German Fernandez; Hessa Al Awadhi; Ivan Parati; Joshua Watts; Kevin Badni; Liz Ramos-Prado; Maha Shahin; Muhammad Shameel; Reem Saeed; Sema Orouk; Vikram Devecha; Woodman Taylor; Yogiaman Tracy Collective; and Zinka Bejtic.

Multidisciplinary initiatives include: The Animation Chamber; Asha Divakaran; Bahar Al Bahar; Faysal Tabbarah; Ghaya Bin Mesmar; Khalid Mezaina; Layan Attari; Layth Mahdi; Mobious Design Studio; Op-en Collective; Tasmena; Talin Hazbar; Tulip Hazbar; and Zayed University.

The fair will also host the Open Studios Exhibition featuring works by the artists selected for the annual Artists-in-Residence (A.i.R) Dubai programme, with the participants creating site-specific work.

Dubai Culture is committed to underscoring the Emirati artistic heritage of Dubai and its vibrant contemporary arts environment, while offering a conducive environment to nurture and strengthen artistic talent in the Emirate.