Dubai, UAE – Tashkeel will mark a decade of art and design by presenting new work commissioned by creatives whose careers it has helped shape and, in turn, whose practice has been part of the organisation’s growth.


The exhibition, titled 10 Years Later, will feature brand-new pieces by 16 leading artists and designers from the UAE and beyond: Afshan Daneshvar, Ammar Al Attar, Areej Kaoud, Azza Al Qubaisi, eL seed, Hamdan Buti Al Shamsi, Hind bin Demaithan, Maitha Demithan, Majid Al Yousif, Manal Al Dowayan, Mark Pilkington, myneandyours, Nasir Nasrullah, Ruben Sanchez, Wissam Shawkat and Zuleika Penniman.

Lisa Ball-Lechgar, Deputy Director of Tashkeel, said: “For the last decade, Tashkeel has enabled hundreds of artists and designers to experiment, innovate, collaborate and further their practice as well as their careers in the cultural industries. Their commitment, ambition and skills have similarly enabled Tashkeel to flourish, ensuring its range of programmes and initiatives remain relevant and impactful. ‘10 Years Later’ is a fitting way to mark this milestone in our history as we look both back over the 10 years since first opening as well as forward to the next 10 years. It is the story of Tashkeel as well as that of the gifted practitioners with whom it has shared its journey."

Eight nationalities are represented among the artists, including prominent practitioners from across the UAE. Each has crossed paths with the organisation in some way, whether as a Tashkeel member, workshop instructor, artist-in-residence, or participant in a solo or group show.

Spanning a wide range of disciplines, their works take many forms, including photography, sculpture, video, calligraphy, street art and installation. The pieces commissioned for 10 Years Later will form the basis of the Tashkeel Art Collection, a new permanent resource for the organisation, which already has two centres housing a total of 3 gallery spaces, 8 studios, 19 workspaces and a reference library, among other facilities.

The exhibition will be accompanied by talks, tours, workshops and the launch of a major Tashkeel publication documenting the centre’s evolution as well as the development of the UAE art scene since 2008. Edited by Melissa Gronlund, an author and chief arts correspondent for The National, Reference Point: A History of Tashkeel and UAE Art features a Q&A with Tashkeel Founder and Director Lateefa bint Maktoum as well as essays by Anabelle de Gersigny, Beth Derderian, Kevin Jones, Mark Pilkington and Mishaal Al Gergawi. The book will be available from Tashkeel (Nad Al Sheba) as well as on its stands at Fully Booked, Alserkal Avenue (19–24 March) and Art Dubai, Madinat Jumeirah (21–24 March).

10 Years Later runs from Tuesday, March 13th to Thursday, April 26th, 2018 at Tashkeel Gallery, Nad Al Sheba 1, Dubai. For talks, tours, workshops, follow tashkeelstudio on social media or via tashkeel.org

The Gallery opens from 10am to 10pm every day except Friday, and admission is free of charge. For further details or for information on Tashkeel’s exhibition in Al Fahidi during SIKKA titled ‘Out of the Dark’, visit tashkeel.org, email tashkeel@tashkeel.org or call +971 4 336 3313.

Since 2008...

  •  Sixty-eight exhibitions have been staged in Tashkeel’s Nad Al Sheba and Al Fahidi premises, showcasing the work of more than 360 artists;

  •  Forty-one exhibition catalogues have been printed;

  •  Tashkeel has hosted 41 guest residents from 18 countries;

  •  Twenty-seven Tashkeel alumni have embarked on master’s degrees in the arts or fine arts;

  •  It has held no fewer than 250 workshops, attended by more than 1,400 people;

  •  Seven youth camps have been held, attended by 115 children;

  •  Launched just last year, six sessions have been held at government-run facility Youth X Hub, engaging 83 young people;

  •  Five Tashkeel members have designed 32 exclusive ‘Made in Tashkeel’ products which are available via tashkeel.org;

  •  Nineteen studio spaces have been used by 72 members;

  •  Tashkeel has taken part in exhibitions and creative projects in eight countries spanning three continents;

  •  17 UAE-based designers from nine countries have developed 28 products through five editions of the Tanween professional development programme;

  •  Six artists from four countries have taken part in three editions of Tashkeel’s Critical Practice Programme, in which participants are given studio access, mentorship and critiques, culminating in exhibitions.

  •  More than 1,500 litres of karak tea have been consumed on the premises by members, guests and staff;

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© Press Release 2018