SAF presents two major exhibitions in autumn 2024

SHARJAH, 3 September, 2024 (WAM) — As part of its Autumn 2024 programme, the Sharjah Art Foundation is hosting two major exhibitions: “Between Circles and Constellations” by Bouchra Khalili and “Ka Awatea: A New Dawn” by Emily Karaka.

The exhibitions will run from September 7 to December 1 at Al Mureijah Art Spaces.

Bouchra Khalili's exhibition, curated by Hoor Al Qasimi, Director of Sharjah Art Foundation, with Assistant Curators Amal Al Ali and Mira Madhu, focuses on the artist's exploration of hidden histories of cross-border solidarity and stateless communities. Her work combines various media, including films, photography, print and installations, to challenge traditional forms of identity and belonging.

Khalili, a Moroccan-French visual artist based in Vienna, integrates storytelling and collaboration with marginalized communities into her work. Major institutions such as the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston have exhibited her projects, and she has participated in prestigious events such as the Venice Biennale and Documenta 14.

Emily Karaka, a self-taught abstract expressionist from New Zealand, explores the political struggles of the Mori people, particularly their fight for sovereignty and justice. Her vibrant, large-scale works, which often include text, reflect her Mori heritage and her commitment to Indigenous rights.

Prestigious institutions such as the Auckland Art Gallery and the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa have Karaka's work in their collections. She recently created works for the 22nd Sydney Biennale and is known for the powerful expression of social and environmental justice in her art.

Both exhibitions, curated by Hoor Al Qasimi, showcase the artists’ unique approaches to challenging conventional narratives through their deep political and cultural engagement.