Sharjah: Only two weeks remain for visitors to discover Sharjah Biennial 14: Leaving the Echo Chamber (SB14). Organised and presented by Sharjah Art Foundation, SB14 comprises three distinct platforms curated by Zoe Butt, Omar Kholeif and Claire Tancons. Included are works by over 80 established and emerging artists, with more than 60 new commissions and never-before-seen works. Paintings, sculptures, large-scale public installations, performances and films are on view in Sharjah Art Foundation galleries and courtyards across Sharjah’s arts and heritage areas as well as foundation venues in the coastal towns of Al Hamriyah and Kalba and the site of an abandoned airplane in Umm Al Quwain.

The fourteenth edition of the Sharjah Biennial explores the possibilities and purpose of producing art when news is fed by a monopoly of sources, history is increasingly fictionalised, when ideas of ‘society’ are invariably displaced, and when borders and beliefs are dictated by cultural, social and political systems. Each of the three curators developed an individual platform examining the SB14 theme and invited local, regional and international artists to participate. Journey Beyond the Arrow was curated by Zoe Butt, Making New Time by Omar Kholeif, and Look for Me All Around You by Claire Tancons.

How to Attend SB14

Running through 10 June 2019, SB14 is open to the public and free to attend. For opening hours during Ramadan, bus schedules and details about exhibition venues, click here.

Free guided walking tours of SB14, suitable for both individuals and groups, are available upon request. Free bus tours to the Biennial’s off-site venues in Kalba are available every Saturday. To book a walking tour or a seat on the bus, contact tour@sharjahart.org or visit the Information Centre at Al Mureijah Square, Sharjah.

Sharjah Biennial 14 Sponsors and Partners

Sharjah Biennial 14 is made possible through the generous support of Gold Sponsor Van Cleef & Arpels and Silver Sponsor Crescent Petroleum. In-kind support has been provided by Sharjah Municipality, Sharjah Roads and Transport Authority, Sharjah Electricity and Water Authority, Bee’ah and the Dubai Economic Department.

About Sharjah Art Foundation
Sharjah Art Foundation is an advocate, catalyst and producer of contemporary art within the Emirate of Sharjah and the surrounding region, in dialogue with the international arts community. Under the leadership of founder Hoor Al Qasimi, a curator and artist, the foundation advances an experimental and wide-ranging programmatic model that supports the production and presentation of contemporary art, preserves and celebrates the distinct culture of the region, and encourages a shared understanding of the transformational role of art. The foundation’s core initiatives include the long-running Sharjah Biennial, featuring contemporary artists from around the world; the annual March Meeting, a convening of international arts professionals and artists; grants and residencies for artists, curators, and cultural producers; ambitious and experimental commissions; and a range of travelling exhibitions and scholarly publications.

Established in 2009 to expand programmes beyond the Sharjah Biennial, which launched in 1993, the foundation is a critical resource for artists and cultural organisations in the Gulf and a conduit for local, regional and international developments in contemporary art. The foundation’s deep commitment to developing and sustaining the cultural life and heritage of Sharjah is reflected through year-round exhibitions, performances, screenings and educational programmes in the city of Sharjah and across the Emirate, often hosted in historic buildings that have been repurposed as cultural and community centres. A growing collection reflects the foundation’s support of contemporary artists in the realisation of new work, and its recognition of the contributions made by pioneering modern artists from the region and around the world.

Sharjah Art Foundation is a legally independent public body established by Emiri Decree and supported by government funding, grants from national and international nonprofits and cultural organisations, corporate sponsors and individual patrons. All exhibitions and events are free and open to the public.

About Sharjah
Sharjah is the third-largest of the seven United Arab Emirates, and the only one bridging the Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. Reflecting the deep commitment to the arts, architectural preservation and cultural education embraced by its ruler, Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Sharjah is home to more than 20 museums and has long been known as the cultural hub of the United Arab Emirates. In 1998, it was named UNESCO's 'Arab Capital of Culture' and has been designated the UNESCO ‘World Book Capital’ for the year 2019.

Media Contacts
Alyazeyah Al Reyaysa
alyazeyah@sharjahart.org
+971(0)65444113

© Press Release 2019

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