We all experience art in different ways. We each interpret it and consume it in a way that makes it unique to us.
A masterpiece to one person is insignificant to others, but the concept of being, life and living is something we all share as humans.
Exploring deep concepts and ideas, a new exhibition is due to open at Warehouse421, investigating the ideas of self, individuality and sepearation.
Two years in the making, The Cup and The Saucer is the brainchild of curator Munira Al Sayegh and is the first solo show from Emirati artist Hashel Al Lakmi.
Opening on March 7 and running until May 17 at the trendy Mina Zayed art space, the cross-medium exhibition aims to form deep connections with all visitors.
“The title of the exhibition, The Cup and The Saucer, borrows the metaphorical stance of two objects created for one another, which only exist as separates when they are pulled away from one another by another factor,” says curator Munira Al Sayegh.
“This creation of two into one is very symbolic to Hashel Al Lamki and I. Through our collaboration we explored this sense of two separates coming together to form a unit.
“The exhibition is a culmination of open ended questions that surfaced during our ritualistic Monday meetings that we had.
“The framework of this exhibition is the direct translation of the chaotic order of the meeting of two minds into a single space.”
Focusing on transformation and collective identity, the exhibition explores the concept of self and how we understand ourselves in the context of the past, present and future.
Nine sub-themes are also explored through the work including birth, departure, control and guilt, alternative realities and rejection and reflection.
Spanning mediums, when you visit you can see a variety of paintings, sculptures, multimedia works and an audio piece.
All of these cross-medium works compliment one another and each explore the overarching concept of the collective and the individual and the relationship between the two.
What is the cup without the saucer? What is the saucer without the cup? And how does their relationship as a collective affect them when they are separate?
“The Cup and The Saucer speaks to the core of the Warehouse421 mission, which is to represent the voices of the UAE and explore themes pertinent to our time and region,” says Faisal Al Hassan, manager of Warehouse421.
“This exhibition is a manifestation of a personal journey of the artist and curator, who draw on their experiences and ask complex questions of the nature of individual and collective identity that are encountered daily.
“Additionally, the work is experimental and characterizes the ambitious talent we have in our midst.
“Providing space for artists to experiment is crucial to creating a vibrant and diverse arts ecosystem, as well as encouraging the development of local artists. Warehouse421 will continue to foster a studio culture in the UAE and support both conceptual and formal experimentation,” Al Hassan concludes.
We look forward to exploring the themes ourselves once it opens.
Free. Tue-Sun 10am-8pm. Mar 7–May 17. Warehouse421, Mina Zayed www.warehouse421.ae.
