20 May Crossing the Emirates Exhibition

The Crossing the Emirates Exhibition opened on May 29 at FN Design Studio (Unit 26, Al Serkal Avenue) in Al Quoz, Dubai. The Design Studio is pronounced fann or فن – the Arabic word for “the arts.” Not only was the space beautiful, but Wafa (the gallery owner) is an outstanding graphic designer and alumnae of Zayed University.

Crossing the Emirates II explored a confluence of perceptions as emerging artists from the UAE presented work in association with their established mentors. What is revealed are the cross-pollinating conceptual explorations that arise from these intertwined and diverse experiences. My print ‘Near End to the Far’ was featured in the exhibition, along with three narrative collage pieces created by students in my Graphic Design course.

The peer-reviewed exhibition served as a platform to launch Zayed University’s College of Arts and Creative Enterprises (formally the Department of Art and Design) by including the work of faculty and students from both the Abu Dhabi and Dubai campuses. It also featured works by alumni that have not widely been shown. Faculty and students explore through the mediums of photography, video, sculpture, mixed and digital media.

Faculty

Ayyub Russell Hamilton
Colleen Quigley
Denielle Emans
Elizabeth Monoian (with
Robert Ferry)
Janet Bellotto
Joshua Watts
Karen Oremus
Stefan Messam
Nader Y. Azab
Naz Shahrokh
Rahul Malpure
David Howarth
Tina Sleiman
Leon K. L. Chew

Students

Afra Abdulla Al Mehairi
Afra Abdulla Al Mehairi
Amna Al Mamari
Asma Belhamar
Ayesha Al Jenahi
Ayesha Khalid Hasan
Ayesha Khalid Mahboob
Fatma Saeed Mutrif
Amel Hassan Ibrahim Ali
Rabab Salman Al Haddad
Nada Khalid
Nauf al Shaikh
Maitha Demithan
Maryam Sultan Zayed Al Nehayan
Mona Al Beiti
Omaima Abdul Muttalib Ahmed Ibrahim
Reem Omar Bafaraj
Salma Ali
Shamsa Al Omaira
Shamsa Al Maktoum
Safeyya Al Maskari

All photos courtesy of FN Design Studio