Latest news with #WaelShawky
The National
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- The National
Wael Shawky shares his vision for Art Basel Qatar to help shape Middle East scene
When Art Basel announced this summer that it would make its Middle East debut with a Doha edition, the region's art scene was abuzz with excitement. Developed in partnership with Qatar Sports Investments and the cultural agency QC Plus, the inaugural Gulf fair is set to run from February 5 to 7. It will take place at the cultural hub M7 and around the Doha Design District in Msheireb, near landmarks including the National Museum of Qatar. Internationally-acclaimed Egyptian artist Wael Shawky was recently appointed as artistic director of the event. Alongside Art Basel 's global director of fairs, Vincenzo de Bellis, Shawky will head the fair's curatorial vision and help shape the gallery selection process. Shawky, who represented Egypt at the 2024 Venice Architecture Biennale, has been exhibited worldwide. His often satirical artworks blend history from non-western perspectives, ancient myths and contemporary critique. He believes the modern and contemporary art fair making a home in Doha is an opportunity to grow and shape the region's entire art scene, adding more than just commercial value. 'What I love about Qatar is there is always this idea of doing things on a bigger scale, creating something for the whole region, and this is what I like a lot,' Shawky tells The National. 'There is a need for a professional art market that we don't really have, and a need for professional galleries … in Egypt or Qatar, there are very few.' As the artistic director of Qatar Museums ' Fire Station, a residency programme for young creatives, Shawky says education and commercial goals must go hand in hand to build a healthy creative ecosystem. 'I'm honoured to take part in this first launch of Art Basel Qatar because it gives the responsibility to shape the art scene in the region,' he says. 'As an artist I know that as much as we have to have proper art institutions, we must also have proper art education, in order to have a proper professional market. 'I cannot convince the young generation to make art if they cannot live from it. This is something that must complete the cycle,' he continues. 'Part of the Art Basel Qatar programming will include Fire Station becoming a platform for educational programmes.' There will be a few differences between Art Basel Qatar and its international sister editions in Switzerland, Hong Kong and Miami. This inaugural event will be slightly smaller than the others and have a different format. Instead of the traditional booth model, galleries will create solo presentations responding to the fair's overarching theme, with a focus on fostering greater engagement with the artwork on show. While the selection process is still under way, about 80 to 100 international galleries will participate, spread across M7 and the Doha Design District, as well as public spaces in Msheireb, where they hope to offer additional programming, artistic performances and installations. 'What I'm trying to push a lot in this art fair is to have more Arab artists, which is a bit of a problem, because in the Arab world, we don't have a large amount of professional galleries that can apply to Art Basel,' Shawky explains. 'I also know many really great artists that don't have galleries. So that's a lot of the conversations we are having now, but we can think of it as a long-term project. 'Because each gallery is just presenting one artist, it will hopefully encourage them to bring the best, rather than just a mix of everything that can be sold,' he adds. 'Many artists I speak with are tired of art fairs. Sometimes galleries exhibit the work in a bad way. I don't want to blame galleries, but we want the artists to be more involved with the presentations again, for the sake of elevating the works.' The theme for 2026 will be Becoming, intended as a meditation on humanity's continuing transformation and the evolving systems that shape how we live, believe and create meaning. With the region's rapid development, and the new fair contributing to the art changing scene, it seems a fitting theme. The theme will capture how heritage and tradition intersect with modernity and technology, how once insular societies adapt to globalism, and how the seemingly endless growth of urban life is shaping our lives. 'For me, these types of developments are often connected to landscape both literally and figuratively,' Shawky says. 'They just develop from one system to another. I'm trying to look at this idea across the whole region – the idea of moving from Bedouin to tribal society to urbanism, for example. 'All the ways societies dream of moving from one system to a higher system – it's endless – so we've been looking for artists that explore this in some way.'
ILoveQatar.net
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- ILoveQatar.net
Art Basel Qatar reveals new format for inaugural fair, international artist Wael Shawky appointed as Artistic Director
Art Basel is proud to reveal first details of its newly launched fair in Qatar, which will unfold in M7 creative hub in the heart of Doha's Design District from 5 to 7 February 2026, with Preview Days on 3 and 4 February 2026. For its inaugural edition, Art Basel Qatar will depart from the traditional booth model to introduce a new fair format grounded in artistic vision and conceptual rigor. Conceived by Art Basel as a platform to foster deeper engagement with leading galleries and artists from the Middle East, North Africa, South Asia, and further afield, the show will prioritize an engaging experience that maintains strong market relevance. Art Basel Qatar is a joint initiative between Art Basel, MCH Group, Qatar Sports Investments (QSI) and QC+. Additionally, Art Basel Qatar is delighted to announce the appointment of internationally acclaimed, Egyptian-born artist Wael Shawky as Artistic Director for the first edition of the fair. Together with Vincenzo de Bellis, Art Basel's Chief Artistic Officer and Global Director of Fairs, Shawky will lead the curatorial vision of the 2026 edition and guide the gallery selection process, in consultation with the fair's dedicated Selection Committee. He brings deep regional insight and a multidisciplinary approach that aligns with the fair's ambitions, including plans to transform Qatar Museum's Fire Station into a platform for educational programs. Art Basel Qatar will embrace an open-format exhibition, with solo presentations by galleries responding to a central thematic framework, defined and developed by Art Basel's artistic leadership to serve as both anchor and catalyst for the show. The exhibition will unfold across two key venues – M7 and the Doha Design District – as well as selected public sites in Msheireb, Doha's creative and cultural heart. Vincenzo de Bellis, Chief Artistic Officer and Global Director of Fairs for Art Basel, said: 'With Art Basel Qatar, we are pushing the boundaries of the art fair model – placing artistic intention at its core while responding to today's market. This format allows us to support galleries in presenting artists' work with greater depth and resonance. Doha is an ideal context for this evolution: It is a place where cultural ambition meets a rich and layered history, and where experimentation is both welcomed and supported. For our inaugural edition, we are thrilled to work with Wael Shawky, who brings a rare combination of intellectual precision, visual imagination, and regional knowledge.' In its inaugural edition, Art Basel Qatar will explore the theme 'Becoming' – a meditation on humanity's ongoing transformation and the evolving systems that shape how we live, believe, and create meaning. The Gulf emerges as a living palimpsest – a region where oral traditions intersect with digital networks, and ancient trade routes are reimagined as contemporary flows of culture and capital. Within this layered context, art becomes a vital conduit, translating systemic shifts into form. It acts not only as a witness to history but as an active force in the continual redefinition of human identity. Wael Shawky said: 'It is a privilege to work with Art Basel on this groundbreaking new format. The opportunity to explore artistic practices from across the MENA region and beyond, within a framework that values research, narrative, and experimentation, is extremely meaningful to me. I look forward to collaborating with galleries and artists to help shape a platform that speaks to the complexity and richness of the region while remaining globally relevant.' Based in Doha, Wael Shawky most recently won acclaim for his video work Drama 1882, representing Egypt at the 60th International Art Exhibition at the Venice Biennale (2024). His work, which ranges widely among film, performance, and storytelling, has been the subject of solo exhibitions at institutions including Tate Modern (2022), Kunsthaus Bregenz (2016), MoMA PS1 (2015), Mathaf (2015), Serpentine Gallery (2013), and The Hammer (2013), among others. Shawky's work is currently on view in the site-specific installation I Am Hymns of the New Temples at LUMA Arles, as well as a solo show at the University of Edinburgh's Talbot Rice Gallery. He has participated in major international exhibitions including the 14th Istanbul Biennial (2015), the 11th Sharjah Biennial (2013), Documenta 13 (2012), the 9th Gwangju Biennial (2012), and SITE Santa Fe (2008). Shawky founded MASS Alexandria, an independent studio program for young artists, in 2010. In October 2024, Shawky was appointed Artistic Director of the Doha Fire Station, where he has launched the Arts Intensive Study Program (AISP) designed to foster critical thinking, hands-on learning, and professional development for a cohort of 20 emerging international and Qatari artists. The fair's dedicated Selection Committee will comprise leading gallery representatives from the region and beyond: Lorenzo Fiaschi, Galleria Continua (San Gimignano, Beijing, Havana, Boissy-le-Châtel, Paris, Rome, Dubai, São Paulo); Shireen Gandhy, Chemould Prescott Road (Mumbai); Daniela Gareh, White Cube (London, Hong Kong, New York, Paris, Seoul); Mohammed Hafiz, Athr Gallery (Jeddah, Al Ula, Riyadh); Sunny Rahbar, The Third Line (Dubai), and Gordon VeneKlasen, Michael Werner Gallery (New York, Athens, Berlin, Los Angeles, London).
Qatar Tribune
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Qatar Tribune
Art Basel Qatar unveils format for its inaugural fair
Tribune News Network Doha Art Basel has revealed first details of its newly launched fair in Qatar, which will unfold in M7 creative hub in the heart of Doha's Design District from February 5 to 7, 2026, with Preview Days on February 3 and 4. For its inaugural edition, Art Basel Qatar will depart from the traditional booth model to introduce a new fair format grounded in artistic vision and conceptual rigor. Conceived by Art Basel as a platform to foster deeper engagement with leading galleries and artists from the Middle East, North Africa, South Asia, and further afield, the show will prioritize an engaging experience that maintains strong market relevance. Art Basel Qatar also announced the appointment of internationally acclaimed, Egyptian-born artist Wael Shawky as Artistic Director for the first edition of the fair. Together with Vincenzo de Bellis, Art Basel's chief artistic officer and global director of fairs, Shawky will lead the curatorial vision of the 2026 edition and guide the gallery selection process, in consultation with the fair's dedicated Selection Committee. He brings deep regional insight and a multidisciplinary approach that aligns with the fair's ambitions, including plans to transform Qatar Museum's Fire Station into a platform for educational programmes. Art Basel Qatar will embrace an open-format exhibition, with solo presentations by galleries responding to a central thematic framework, defined and developed by Art Basel's artistic leadership to serve as both anchor and catalyst for the show. The exhibition will unfold across two key venues – M7 and the Doha Design District – as well as selected public sites in Msheireb, Doha's creative and cultural heart. Vincenzo de Bellis, chief artistic officer and global director of fairs for Art Basel, said: 'With Art Basel Qatar, we are pushing the boundaries of the art fair model – placing artistic intention at its core while responding to today's market. This format allows us to support galleries in presenting artists' work with greater depth and resonance. Doha is an ideal context for this evolution: It is a place where cultural ambition meets a rich and layered history, and where experimentation is both welcomed and supported. For our inaugural edition, we are thrilled to work with Wael Shawky, who brings a rare combination of intellectual precision, visual imagination, and regional knowledge.' In its inaugural edition, Art Basel Qatar will explore the theme 'Becoming' – a meditation on humanity's ongoing transformation and the evolving systems that shape how we live, believe, and create meaning. The Gulf emerges as a living palimpsest – a region where oral traditions intersect with digital networks, and ancient trade routes are reimagined as contemporary flows of culture and capital. Within this layered context, art becomes a vital conduit, translating systemic shifts into form. It acts not only as a witness to history but as an active force in the continual redefinition of human identity. Wael Shawky said: 'It is a privilege to work with Art Basel on this groundbreaking new format. The opportunity to explore artistic practices from across the MENA region and beyond, within a framework that values research, narrative, and experimentation, is extremely meaningful to me. I look forward to collaborating with galleries and artists to help shape a platform that speaks to the complexity and richness of the region while remaining globally relevant.' Based in Doha, Wael Shawky most recently won acclaim for his video work Drama 1882, representing Egypt at the 60th International Art Exhibition at the Venice Biennale (2024).The fair's dedicated Selection Committee will comprise leading gallery representatives from the region and beyond: Lorenzo Fiaschi, Galleria Continua (San Gimignano, Beijing, Havana, Boissy-le-Châtel, Paris, Rome, Dubai, São Paulo); Shireen Gandhy, Chemould Prescott Road (Mumbai); Daniela Gareh, White Cube (London, Hong Kong, New York, Paris, Seoul); Mohammed Hafiz, Athr Gallery (Jeddah, Al Ula, Riyadh); Sunny Rahbar, The Third Line (Dubai), and Gordon VeneKlasen, Michael Werner Gallery (New York, Athens, Berlin, Los Angeles, London).Wael Shawky named artistic director for first edition
The National
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The National
Wael Shawky named artistic director of Art Basel Qatar
Egyptian artist Wael Shawky has been named artistic director of Art Basel Qatar. The appointment cements the reimagining of the fair's format for its Gulf debut, moving away from conventional booths to a more open, interwoven setting. The event will run from February 5 to 7, with preview days on February 3 and 4. It will be held across M7 and the Doha Design District. Select installations and exhibitions will also be presented in Msheireb, Doha's cultural hub. Shawky, who represented Egypt at the 2024 Venice Biennale, is best known for his ambitious works that blend historical narrative, myth and contemporary critique. His Cabaret Crusades trilogy, featuring intricately crafted puppets retelling the Crusades from an Arab perspective, has been exhibited internationally. More recently, he has taken on an institutional role as artistic director of Qatar Museums' Fire Station, where he has overseen new public programmes and artist residencies. While fair directorships are typically held by curators or market specialists, Shawky's appointment marks a shift toward a model led by an practising artist. Rather than traditional booths, participating galleries will present solo exhibitions within a shared curatorial framework, offering a narrative-led experience. Presentations will pivot around the fair's theme of Becoming. The concept is described on the Art Basel website as 'a meditation on humanity's ongoing transformation and the evolving systems that shape how we live, believe, and create meaning'. 'It is a privilege to work with Art Basel on this groundbreaking new format,' Shawky said in a statement to Cairo Scene. 'The opportunity to explore artistic practices from across the Mena region and beyond, within a framework that values research, narrative, and experimentation, is extremely meaningful to me. 'I look forward to collaborating with galleries and artists to help shape a platform that speaks to the complexity and richness of the region while remaining globally relevant.' Shawky will lead the artistic vision of the fair alongside Vincenzo de Bellis, Art Basel's director of fairs and exhibition platforms. 'I have a huge amount of respect for Wael's work as an artist and also for his knowledge of the region,' de Bellis told Artnet. 'We have always hired people who are very rooted within where we operate. Wael is a well-rounded art professional; while being always and first and foremost an artist, he is also able to look at things through a wider lens.'
The Herald Scotland
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
10 exhibitions to see this month from Dali to Alexander Goudie
The second chapter in the Scottish Gallery's celebration of Alexander Goudie's life and work explores the two studios of the artist located in Glasgow and Brittany. The studios formed the creative focal points of his entire career with the exhibition featuring several of the sunlit seascapes and landscapes from his French studio as well as elegant still lifes and portraits produced in Glasgow. Humpty Dumpty 5 July-5 October. Entry free. Fruitmarket Gallery, 45 Market Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1DF. British artist Mike Nelson is known for immersive, absorbing installations that transform the spaces they inhabit. Nelson uses the Fruitmarket's warehouse as the driving force for a major new installation that extends across all three spaces of the gallery which is built around two sets of photographs taken in London and a city in Eastern Turkey between 2010 and 2014. Since the start of May, the artist has transformed the warehouse into both a site of production and part of the setting for his work. Wael Shawky 5 July-28 September. Entry free. Talbot Rice Gallery, The University of Edinburgh, EH8 9YL. To celebrate Talbot Rice Gallery's 50th anniversary, they're hosting a solo exhibition of Egyptian artist Wael Shawky across their contemporary and neoclassical galleries. Shawky's film installations explore histories that have shaped our world and utilise intricately created sets and painted environments to host exquisitely crafted and costumed characters who perform versions of history connected to conflicts that continue to rage around us. Salvage 5-30 July. Entry free. &Gallery, 3 Dundas Street, Edinburgh, EH3 6QG. Salvage by Karen Stamper (Image: Karen Stamper) After first introducing her work during &Gallery's inaugural open call, Karen Stamper returns with her latest body of work - a bold and playful series of collage paintings that move beyond their original inspiration. In this series, marks and edges are no longer incidental - they become the subject themselves with each kink, curve and blemish heightened and celebrated. Shipshape 5-26 July. Entry from £5. Strathnaver Museum, Clachan, Bettyhill, Thurso, KW14 7SS. Research based visual artist Joanne B. Kaar explores the heritage of traditional boat building in her exciting new exhibition. As part of Strathaven Museum's Artist Residency programme, Kaar explores traditional boat building skills and tools using a variety of printmaking techniques. Inspired by Strathnaver Museum's community boat building project, the artist worked with local boat builders seeking to preserve the intangible cultural heritage around traditional boat building techniques and tools at risk of being lost. Odysseys Through the Storm 8-12 July. Entry free. Out of the Blue Drill Hall, 36 Dalmeny Street, Leith, EH6 8RG. Catch this captivating exhibition showcasing the work of art psychotherapy graduates from Queen Margaret University. Explore the profound personal and collective journeys of the students' training, navigated through creativity and self-expression, where each work tells a story of resilience, discovery and the power of visual storytelling in navigating life's challenges. Inches Carr Award Showcase 5-6 July. Entry free. Dundas Street Gallery, 6A Dundas Street, Edinburgh, EH3 6HZ. The Inches Carr Craft Development Award Showcase exhibition highlights extraordinary creativity, technical skill and original design from a breadth of disciplines across Scottish applied arts. The shortlist of 16 crafters and makers have put together the exhibition with a body of 2D and 3D artworks. Glasgow Scribes Exhibition - Calligraphy: The Art and Craft of Beautiful Writing 5-14 July. Entry free. Cass Art, 63-67 Queen Street, Glasgow, G1 3EN. Members of Glasgow Scribes will be displaying a wide range of calligraphy items and writing as part of their end of year annual exhibition. The scribes' best calligraphy pieces will once again be on display for members of the public to view. Dali Day at Kelvingrove 9 July. Entry free. Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, Argyle Street, Glasgow, G3 8AG. Dali Day at Kelvingrove (Image: unknown) Discover more about celebrated artist Salvador Dali at Kelvingrove. There's short talks, family activities and a chance to share your thoughts on the museum's Dali painting. Some of the talks include: 'Buying and Art Event - the controversial purchase' and 'How Dali created Christ of Saint John of the Cross'. Reachout - The Art of Us 5-26 July. Entry free. Tolbooth Gallery, Jail Wynd, Stirling, FK8 1DE. Established in 1993, Reachout is an innovative and inclusive award-winning charity based in Alloa that facilitates high quality creative opportunities to improve wellbeing. This exhibition showcases a small selection of artforms undertaken in the charity's studio.
