Menas Art Fair 2011,held in Beirut 13-16 July, witnesses the launching of a new art project bydistinguished Saudi artist, Mahdi Al-Jeraibi. "Points" whichis the title of the project will be presented in the Saudi Contemporary ArtExhibit organized by (Cube Art) in Beirut.
The new Al-Jeraibi'swork, which comes after seven years since his last artistic research (Zincograph),displayed in 2003.
(Points) is aninstallation in space composed of seven mechanical honing machines (handoperated machines traditionally used to hone metals). Each machine is placed ona 120 cm long iron holder, on a basefixed to the ground and arranged on an 8m long red carpet.
- "I made my points" Al-Jeraibi says," these points has the capacity for movement and action, in their juxtaposition, in a single show space, each has its own coordinates which make their existence a non synchronous act.
Thepoints are moved by a circular plate, standing like a signal while the circleswiden. I place the seven equipments as points (dots) signifying the end ofdiscourse, encouraging a return to readthe contents of the world that produced these machines and used them. As forthe points, they are products with no expiry dates, thus their ability to actand create are limitless.
- Mahdi Al-Jeraibi is one of the mostinfluential artists in the contemporary Saudi art scene. He started his careerin 1989 with local participation and then he moved on to show his works manytimes in (Biennale Cairo International),( Triennale, India ), (babel 2002) the national museum for contemporaryart, Seoul, South Korea , ( 30 artists against Alzheimer disease) exhibition, DrouotMontaigne Paris. Hisoutstanding and controversial project "Jadal" was presentduring the last decade as one of the most important Saudi artistic projects. Itwas shown in retrospect in Edge of Arabia, London 2008, in Christie's auctionin Dubai 2009, before 14 pieces of (Jadal 2) were sold in Abu Dhabi'sart 2010.
- On "Points"Al-Jeraibi explains "it is a project exploring time, the time of the actnot the lived or experienced time. It explores the difference between them,between synchronous and asynchronous"." The independence of theartist is the only available space to achieve his aesthetic and artisticvision, no matter how rough or long the road may be" he added. Al-Jeraibisees the street as his studio and workshop and prefers to start anew every timeinstead of lingering at past achievements. Referring to his last completedprojects " Zamzam 2010), he stressed that he will not try to repeatany art project that has reached its potential , every day is a new start.. hecelebrates his points, Al-Jeraibi says, when he places them on the red carpetas he celebrates his audience.
© Press Release 2011
