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A book charting the artistic development of Hassan Sharif, widely recognised as one of the most well-established and leading contemporary Emirati artists, was launched today by the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (ADACH) during the Vernissage of the 54thVenice Biennale.
‘Hassan Sharif, Works 1973-2011’ was unveiled at an event attended by leading figures from the UAE and international arts communities. ADACH and HatjeCantz have produced the book that features a collective that has never before recorded as a monographic publication. This follows an exhibition in Abu Dhabi’s Qasr Al Hosn, Cultural Quarter Hall‘Hassan Sharif, Experiments &Objects, 1979-2011’, which runs until 17 June 2011. This is the first major exhibition of Sharif in Abu Dhabi.
The exhibition follows on from the ADACH Platform for Visual Arts, which was inaugurated at the 53rdVenice Biennale in 2009. This was designed as a meeting point for discourse and artistic production, leading to presentations and exchanges that would introduce, through a visual narrative, the conditions in which contemporary culture and visual art are emerging in UAE and the wider region today.
Hassan Sharif was one of the artists shown at the ADACH Visual Arts Platform in Venice, 2009 and further research on his practice culminated in this monographic publication about the artist, whichwas intentionallylaunched at the Venice Biennale today.
Hassan Sharif is a seminal artist who is deeply associated with the modern history and culture of the United Arab Emirates. He is a major figure in the nation’s artistic communityand has developed a strong body of work over five decades. His works are in the permanent collection of Mathaf - Arab Museum of Modern Art in Doha and in art museums in Sharjah and Holland. He has authored four books: New Art, Sharp Tools for Making Art, Concept of Art and Al Khamsa.
Dr Sami el-Masri, Deputy Director General for Arts, Culture and Heritage and Director of Strategic Planning & Development stated that: "The Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage makes the preservation, development and celebration of local artists one of our main priorities. This book is part of ADACH’s mandate to work in research, conservation, interpretation and promotion of the arts, culture and heritage of the UAE and wider MENASA region;this includes modern culture and heritage.
"Hassan Sharif has been a pivotal figure in the Emirati contemporary arts scene. He is an intrinsic part of the fabric of our increasingly vibrant arts community in the UAE. Over the years he has been a pioneer in Emirati contemporary art and we are delighted now that we can recognise his work in this way. This monograph is the perfect dedication to his contribution.
"There is no better place to celebrate the successes and talents of our contemporary art community than at the Venice Biennale, the most prestigious art exhibition in the world."‘Hassan Sharif, Works 1973-2011’ showcases a spectrum of the artist’s work from his early experiments to his present day pieces, from early caricatures to conceptual installations and some key watercolours. Sharif’s work is typified by its experimental nature and his use of mixed media, using cotton, textile, metal, chord and plastic in order to create a variety of objects.
The centrality of the process of "making" is clear in Sharif’s art practice: it is a precise, painstaking process, often involving repetitive actions and motions in the knotting, folding, wrapping and tying of various materials. Sharif’s work reflects his intentional "doing" and "making" and his consciousness of the conditions that he works in.
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