UAE's art world mourns Emirati artist Hassan Sharif

The death of world-renowned Emirati artist Hassan Sharif has left the UAE's art scene in a state of shock and sadness.
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Sharif, who passed away on Sunday at the age of 65, is widely regarded as among the UAE's foremost artists, and was well known for his abstract and post-modern art. Beginning his career drawing caricatures for UAE newspapers, he later went on to receive a diploma in fine art at the Byam Shaw School of Art in London. He was also a founder of the Arts Atelier in the Youth Theatre and Arts in Dubai in 1987, and in 1984 was a founder of the Emirates Fine Art Society.
Later in life, his collections were displayed at the Guggenheim in New York, Centre Pompidou in Paris, the Arab Museum of Modern Art in Doha, and a number of other locations. His most recent solo exhibitions took place in the IVDE Gallery in Dubai and the gbAgency in Paris in 2015.
Memories and condolences for Sharif quickly came pouring in from across the UAE's artistic community.

On her Facebook page, Hoor Al-Qasimi, President and Director of the Sharjah Art Foundation, said that the Foundation "mourns the loss of a beloved artist and friend", and called Hassan a "pioneer of conceptual art in the UAE and a prolific cultural producer and facilitator, moving between roles as artist, educator, critic, activist and mentor."
Speaking to Khaleej Times, Emirati artist Jalal Luqman said that Sharif's death is a "major loss for the UAE. Very few of us are exhibiting at an international level."
"He began working as an artist in the most difficult times, when there was no art in the UAE, when the country was young, even before the Union," he added. "Back then, being an artist was not desirable. You were ridiculed by everyone. Artists like Hassan Sharif had to fight on his own two feet as an artist."
Luqman said he hoped that the loss of Sharif reminds the people of the UAE to nurture young Emirati artists, as well as recognize their efforts and give them opportunities to display their artwork.
"I hope we learn from the sad passing of Hassan Sharif to appreciate Emirati artists while they are still alive, and not just when we were exhibiting abroad, but especially at home," he noted. "There should be more Emirati artists painting walls or commissioned for major exhibitions and art fairs. May Hassan's soul rest in a peaceful place."

In a statement to Khaleej Times, Gallery Isabellle Van den Eynde - which represented Sharif in Dubai - said that from his earliest experimental work in the 1980s, "Sharif brought his friends to the edges of Dubai and they were the audience for his performances - jumping in the desert, tying rope between rocks - using apparently simple gestures to pointedly question ideals of technical skill, mastery and accomplishment."
"Across his diverse work, he believed that flaws in such systems are ultimately creative ruptures," the statement added. "Hassan Sharif will be remembered for his gentle and generous spirit and his playful attitude."
"The legacy of his artistic journey will inspire artists and audiences, having left an indelible mark on Middle Eastern art history and the global art world."
 bernd@khaleejtimes.com