Artists interconnect to define Guggenheim

Abu Dhabi - Three distinct, yet, interconnected themes of the works can be seen, which are the performance, process, and presence.

Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi) celebrated the opening of 'The Creative Act: Performance, Process, Presence' at Manarat Al Saadiyat on Monday, which will continue until July 29.
With works by more than 25 artists from different nationalities and generations, the exhibition explores the related themes of performance, process, and presence through a variety of mediums.
Saif Saeed Ghobash, director-general of TCA Abu Dhabi, said the exhibition offers a transcultural perspective on defining aspects of contemporary art, by highlighting interconnections among artists working in various corners of the world since the 1960s.
"Two commissions featured in the exhibition reflect the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi's commitment to supporting the production of new work by living artists."
He noted that the exhibition marks not only the next defining step for the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, but also the establishment of the future museum's role to encourage, inspire, and inform.
"Only through direct interaction with artworks, themes, creative professionals, and artists can we provide future generations with a fully rounded set of tools through which to understand the development of artistic expression."
Three distinct, yet, interconnected themes of the works can be seen, which are the performance, process, and presence.
Performance can be represented in several different forms, which were revealed by a selection of 1980s photographs by the renowned Emirati artist, Hassan Sharif, whose work greatly influenced the subsequent generation of artists in the UAE, including Mohammed Kazem.
Meanwhile, the process theme can be seen in Anish Kapoor's monumental sculptural installation, which is composed of nearly 25 tonnes of red wax.
The theme of human presence on the other hand, is highlighted through artworks that involve the appearance of the artist, as well as visible traces of the physical acts undertaken to realise them.
Paintings by Motonaga Sadamasa, Shiraga Kazuo, and Tanaka Atsuko epitomise the presence, as well as the video installations by Susan Hefuna and Anri Sala.
Richard Armstrong, director of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum and Foundation, said: "The Creative Act brings into focus the complexity, poetry, and power of the human spirit."
"The exhibition also reflects our shared understanding of the vital necessity of global exchange that is at the heart of the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi project."
jasmine@khaleejtimes.com

• Abu Dhabi