PICTURE STORY PHOTO BY @MARKUSSPISKE 20 <strong>Feb</strong>ruary <strong>2023</strong> www.magzoid.com
ART NEWS The Jameel Arts Centre show takes you on a journey <strong>in</strong>to humanity’s relationship with water It is a seem<strong>in</strong>gly straightforward subject, but one that An Ocean <strong>in</strong> Every Drop, <strong>the</strong> current <strong>in</strong>ternational group show at Jameel Arts Centre, tackles <strong>in</strong>-depth and <strong>in</strong> a variety of ways. The voyage to Jameel Arts Centre shows that water is far more vital than we realize, despite <strong>the</strong> fact that <strong>the</strong>re may not be a simple solution. It is a timeless, sacred, and essential component that has shaped and supported humanity <strong>in</strong> a variety of fields and dimensions that <strong>in</strong>teract. Through <strong>the</strong> viewpo<strong>in</strong>ts of artists and <strong>in</strong>tellectuals from a wide range of historical periods, <strong>the</strong> exhibition <strong>in</strong>vites viewers to reevaluate <strong>the</strong>ir relationships with water, re-enchant<strong>in</strong>g and recontextualiz<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> value of a substance that many people take for granted. Rumi, a Persian poet who lived <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> 13th century, is quoted as say<strong>in</strong>g, “You are not a drop <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> ocean.” The phrase “You are an ocean <strong>in</strong> every drop” refers to both <strong>the</strong> amount of water <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> globe and <strong>the</strong> potential for abundance with<strong>in</strong> each person. In this exhibition, 15 <strong>in</strong>digenous artists from 14 different countries <strong>in</strong>vestigate <strong>the</strong> complex existence of water <strong>in</strong> all its forms. “This notion of water has been <strong>in</strong>credibly important to us s<strong>in</strong>ce <strong>the</strong> beg<strong>in</strong>n<strong>in</strong>g,” said Director of Art Jameel, <strong>the</strong> creative enterprise that manages <strong>the</strong> centre, Antonia Carver. With <strong>the</strong> UAE host<strong>in</strong>g Cop28 <strong>in</strong> November, <strong>the</strong> expo comes at a good moment. The event builds on <strong>the</strong> one held <strong>in</strong> Egypt <strong>the</strong> year before by focus<strong>in</strong>g on concerns related to <strong>the</strong> global climate catastrophe, such as contam<strong>in</strong>ated oceans and a lack of clean water <strong>in</strong> many regions of <strong>the</strong> world. The show <strong>in</strong>vestigates water through <strong>the</strong> lenses of <strong>the</strong> environment, mythology, spirituality, lived experiences, and folk traditions through already-exist<strong>in</strong>g and newly-commissioned works. Visitors re<strong>in</strong>terpret water as a crucial component that ties people to one ano<strong>the</strong>r and to <strong>the</strong> rest of <strong>the</strong> globe. It is reframed as an unstoppable force that has <strong>in</strong>fluenced history, society, language, and <strong>in</strong>terpersonal and spiritual relationships. Carver cont<strong>in</strong>ues, “The issue of water also perta<strong>in</strong>s to susta<strong>in</strong>ability and <strong>the</strong> environment. “The exhibition has arrived at a very suitable time as people worldwide consider our relationship with water. Additionally, this exhibition sets those concepts of water <strong>in</strong> a very large geographic and thoroughly historical timel<strong>in</strong>e. Dur<strong>in</strong>g her research on water sites and <strong>the</strong> legends <strong>the</strong>y conta<strong>in</strong>, Palest<strong>in</strong>ian artist Jumana Emil Abboud collected folktales from local communities <strong>in</strong> her home country. These tales served as <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>spiration for her evocative and captivat<strong>in</strong>g series of draw<strong>in</strong>gs and pa<strong>in</strong>t<strong>in</strong>gs. Thao Nguyen Phan, a Vietnamese visual artist, created <strong>the</strong> Perpetual Brightness series of pa<strong>in</strong>t<strong>in</strong>gs us<strong>in</strong>g traditional lacquer pa<strong>in</strong>t<strong>in</strong>g methods on silk that are displayed beh<strong>in</strong>d a fold<strong>in</strong>g screen. The artwork shows a fractured map of Vietnam’s Mekong River, often known as <strong>the</strong> N<strong>in</strong>e Dragons River. Lluvia, a sculpture that stood over seven metres tall and was made <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> UAE out This notion of water has been <strong>in</strong>credibly important to us s<strong>in</strong>ce <strong>the</strong> beg<strong>in</strong>n<strong>in</strong>g of recycled materials, pays homage to <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>genuity of community-driven <strong>in</strong>frastructure and <strong>the</strong> fortitude of marg<strong>in</strong>alized <strong>in</strong>digenous populations worldwide. The scope of <strong>the</strong> show <strong>in</strong>cludes a variety of regional perspectives and artistic genres <strong>in</strong> addition to a historical timel<strong>in</strong>e. This diversity of time and space, which <strong>in</strong>cludes old manuscripts, movies, pa<strong>in</strong>t<strong>in</strong>gs, and sculptures, enables visitors to consider water from a variety of perspectives, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g its role <strong>in</strong> both our past and our present. Jameel Arts Center <strong>in</strong> Dubai is currently host<strong>in</strong>g An Ocean <strong>in</strong> Every Drop through April 2. - news@magzoid.com www.magzoid.com <strong>Feb</strong>ruary <strong>2023</strong> 21