< Previouso f t h e Woman World Fatimah Al Nemer. The Bride Carpet. 2019. Collage in acrylic on carpet. 110x68cm. Courtesy of the artist Saudi artist Fatimah Al Nemer’s colourful portrayal of the modern female in the Islamic world captures the beauty of tradition in present times. Beena Pagarani discovers the hidden messages behind her most recent works 60 HarpersBazaarArabia.com/culture/art Spring 2020 HBA_038_60-61_The Artist_Fatimah Al Nemer_11231607.indd 6011/03/2020 10:15:43 AMDressed in conservative, colourful, tra- ditional Arab attire and set against intricately woven carpets are image portrayals of a young lady. The cen- tral character in each piece, with her veiled head but unveiled face symbolises freedom in a conservative society – the desire to break free from the stereotypical woman. The multiple-award-winning artist behind the works, Fatimah Al Nemer, hails from the Eastern province of Saudi Arabia, Al-Qatif, and has been a part of the art scene in the region since 1999. “This is what the state seeks and with Saudi Vision 2030, the presence of Saudi art is to be inked on the world map,” expresses the artist, who expects Riyadh to be a global capital city of art in the coming years. Bold and beautiful, Al Nemer looks straight into the eye of the onlooker in her new pieces, for example in Love in the Time of Corona (2020), a work created as assurance that all will be okay. In most others, she hides her identity by covering her face in a veil. The Bride Carpet (2019), Carpet Sheikha (2019) and Love in Cinema Time (2018) depict Al Nemer as she secretly tells her story through visual art. She uses her own face as the main subject, each in a different moment of time, set in a different mood and each fuelled by its own fervour. The works are made using several recycled materials and many that relate to Saudi’s roots. Al Nemer describes the repre- sentations of women as “strong, often bold and mys- terious, and a representation of important global topics about the human race and, in particular, their freedom. The distinction between beauty, cruelty and contradictions of self through picturing myself in my works, with the strategic use of contemporary intellectual philosophy and concepts, is a journey of struggle it itself,” expresses the artist. The works depict today’s modern Saudi Arabian woman; true to tradition yet a woman of the world. They offer a sense of hope to the young female pop- ulation of the Arab nation as they collectively, sym- bolically fi ght for their rights against the set societal norms, a form now widely accepted by many in the region. The artist’s emotions and personal experi- ences play a fundamental role in shaping her artistic representations. She marries history and the beliefs of our current times with her strong visual language and use of colour against traditional fabric to defy myths and social standing. Al Nemer has participated in an array of exhibi- tions at galleries across the world, including at the Museum of Modern Art in Sweden in 2012 for the Exhibition of Contemporary Art, Museum of the Prince of Wales in Mumbai in 2010, and at the Islamic Art Fair in the Museum of Islamic Art in Sharjah in 2014, to name a few. A prestigious feather in her hat is her participation in celebration of the 30th anniversary of Institut du Monde Arabe in Paris in 2018; an event that united 240 artists from the Arab world. Her awards include securing the fi rst place in the annual Saudi Contemporary Art competition 2010, second edition of the Youth Competition in 2010. “Art is embedded in my country’s culture; it’s deeply rooted within our customs and traditions in the form of folk arts and even in our daily life rou- tines,” says Al Nemer. “For me, the space between existence and nonexistence is infi nite; so many myths, beliefs, and historic events are the constant source of inspiration behind my works.” This month, the artist is set to showcase her work in the Egypt International Art Fair and later at the Louvre Abu Dhabi. From left: Fatimah Al Nemer. Love in the Time of Corona. 2020. Collage in acrylic on canvas. 140x140cm; Fatimah Al Nemer. Albaqashuh. Mixed media. 140x140cm. Courtesy of the artist The ARTIST Fatimah Al Nemer. Sidra. 2019. Mixed media. 175x120cm. Courtesy of the artist 61 HarpersBazaarArabia.com/culture/art Spring 2020 HBA_038_60-61_The Artist_Fatimah Al Nemer_11231607.indd 6111/03/2020 10:15:35 AMAC Q UI R E D T R E A S U R E S Switzerland-born Sylvain Gaillard opens the door to his extensive collection of art acquired from across the globe. Beena Pagarani delves into the director of Dubai-based Opera Gallery’s treasure trove of art 62 HarpersBazaarArabia.com/culture/art Spring 2020 HBA_038_62-65_The Collector_Sylvian Opera_11218969.indd 6211/03/2020 12:22:54 PMFacing page: Sylvain Gaillard and Valdeta Alija. In the background, Baseem Rayyes. Untitled. 2015. Mixed media on canvas. Unique; Clockwise from top left: Curtis Kulig. Love Me – Forever Gold, White. 2013. Print, edition of 150; Gaillard in the downstairs area; Gérard Rancinan. Art Dealer. 2015. Photography on dibond, edition of 8; Christian Dior. KAWS x Dior’s Plush Companions. 2019. Plush toy fi gures, edition of 500 Tucked away just outside of Dubai’s bustling fi nancial district is Sylvain Gaillard’s duplex apartment – a well-curated art haven. Gaillard always had an appreciation for visual arts and from a very young age, an inter- est in collecting pieces. Born and brought up in Geneva, the col- lector then moved to Boston for his undergraduate and post graduate studies. Post that, he spent his life as a private banker, working from Turkey, Geneva and Moscow. He started his col- lection small, with prints pur- chased from random buys during his early work travels. Then, a career shift happened by chance. During an intense con- versation with a client, the two spoke more about art than about the fi nancial world. Coinci- dently, his home was close to Opera Gallery in Geneva, and he knew director of the gallery Jordan Lahmi quite well. Lahmi understood Gaillard’s taste, style and personality, and one day unex- pectedly offered him the chance to meet Gilles Dyan, the owner of Opera Gallery Group, who ultimately extended him the task of run- ning Opera Gallery in Dubai. The rest, as they say, is history. Never having been to the city before, Gaillard and his wife, Valdeta Alija, made the decision to move to Dubai six years ago. “I like the visual aspect of things so if I like something, I usually buy it,” smiles Gaillard. He compares an art collection to a person- alised iTunes library; just as every song takes one back to a special space, every piece which adorns his walls carries a precious memory from the past. “It takes us back to a moment in time, the people we were with, the year we purchased it and all the memories of the moment associated with it,” he expresses. Upon entering the apartment, there is a sea of art. A photograph entitled Art Dealer (2015) is especially of note. Gaillard fell in love with the piece and the title. The work is by French photographer Gérard Rancinan, and sits behind two of KAWS x Dior’s Plush Com- panions (2019), a limited edition set of 500 toys issued by the house of Christian Dior. Although all are close to Gaillard’s heart, there is one special piece on the ground fl oor of the apartment by Sharjah-based Syrian painter Baseem Rayyes, which the collector particularly admires. It was his fi rst purchase with his wife, just two months after settling in Dubai. Gaillard requested for the piece to be specially commissioned for his new home. “It just makes me happy. I love the energy; I love the tex- ture,” he says. “It is reminiscent of Jean-Michel Basquiat’s work. It’s unbelievable.” Another one of Rayyes’s pieces hangs in Gaillard’s guest room, a special gift from the artist himself. The piece depicts Gaillard’s strong bond with his brother, and the love they share. The staircase leading to the room is Gaillard’s favourite part of the home; it’s where three of his priced and memorable art possessions are placed. The fi rst one is from Russian calligrapher Pokras Lampas. Gaillard quickly states that he “loves the use of colour in this piece.” A second Lampas painting is deliberately placed just outside the mas- ter bedroom, dedicated to Gaillard and his wife. This painting, a gift from Lampas, is very special to Gaillard as he saw the artist prepare “ N O O N E R E A L L Y N E E D S A R T ; I T ’ S N O T E S S E N T I A L , Y E T I T B R I N G S SO M U C H J O Y . ” the drawing from start to fi nish, and was “mind blown by the work put in.” There’s a hidden message in the blue Lampas’ piece – the fi rst one up the stairs says “will you marry me?”, as a joke to Gaillard prior to his offi cial proposal to Valdeta. The centrepiece on the staircase and also Gaillard’s second major art buy is by Turkish photographer, Lale Tara. Titled Shining Madonna with Child (2010), both the main human elements in this unique photograph are not real, but seem to be almost lifelike. This piece was recommended to Gaillard by a gallery owner and he was quick to fall in love with it. He adds, “I love the composition, the dress and the setting. It’s all very romantic.” Cause and Effect, My Love (2018) is another special work by Tuni- The COLLECTOR PHO T OGRAPHY B Y A A SIY A J A GADEESH, ITP IMA GES 63 HarpersBazaarArabia.com/culture/art Spring 2020 HBA_038_62-65_The Collector_Sylvian Opera_11218969.indd 6311/03/2020 12:23:10 PMsia-born, Berlin-based young artist, Taher Jaoui. Jaoui is an abstract expressionist artist specialising in contemporary art based on cartoon and graffi ti. “I can talk about this piece for hours,” admits Gaillard. “Because I see so many art references in it. It’s a super happy piece and works extremely well in front of the Pokras painting. I like his tech- nique and his visual universe.” Right under this piece are two black-and-white works by French street artist, Maye. Tas de Ferraille and Vapeures Toxiques (2019), are both prints on paper works, which he acquired by sheer luck. He has been eager to buy a canvas from the same artist, but “it’s almost impossible to get a hold of [it],” he states. There is a three-year wait- ing period to buy Maye’s pieces, and everything in his collection is currently presold. There is only one photograph each of Sylvain and Valdeta across the entire apartment, which was taken by Dubai-based Latvian artist Marta Lamosvek. Her signature iconic style is photo booth-styled pictures, suitably named Iconbooth, and it’s about connecting the indi- vidual in the photo to Middle East- ern culture. There are three representations of the couple, in the form of Barbie and Ken. Two are by American photogra- pher, David Parise. The fi rst one above the dining table, titled B and K at The Fontainebleau (2013) is of Barbie and Ken at Miami’s famous Fontainebleau Miami Beach, a work which immediately struck a chord between the two. It was at this very hotel, under this same chandelier that the couple went on their fi rst offi cial dinner date. The second one, entitled B and K in NYC (2013) is of Barbie and Ken against New York’s Empire State Building. Manhattan is their favourite vacation spot, and the two travel to The Big Apple every six months, adding pieces to their evergrowing collection. Many limited edition pieces adorn Gaillard’s apartment. One is a skateboard by Los Angeles-born artist, Retna. Collaborating with street and graffi ti art exhibition, Beyond The Streets, the skateboard is entitled Retna x Beyond The Streets Skate Deck (2018) and Gaillard is the proud owner of one of a limited edition of a hundred pieces. Another is a piece from the Crystal Relics series released by New York- based young American artist, Daniel Arsham. Titled Crystal Relic 001 Yankee Hat (2019) this cast resin piece is a baseball cap with the famous NY Yankees logo. Also on display is Crystal Relic 002 (2020, reminiscent of the days where Super Mario Brothers was trending – this piece is shaped like the Nintendo Game Boy device we owned in the nineties. Both are a part of a limited set of 500 pieces. The same artist, challenging his own style, collaborated with premium suitcase manufacturer Rimowa for a collection of 500 artworks. Titled RIMOWA x Daniel Arsham (2019), the suitcase is a set of 500 pieces and each contains an eroded cast artwork inside of Rimowa’s classic silver aluminium briefcase. Love Me – Forever Gold, White (2013), a dual colour silkscreen print by American artist Curtis Kulig hangs on the main wall in his open-styled kitchen. Part of a limited edition of 150 pieces, this piece is number 26, a special number for Gaillard, as he was born on the same day. Sylvain’s home is a wonderful world of art. Two new pieces will be added to his growing collection by the end of the year, by when he is hoping to have moved out to a bigger space. “Art is very low on the hierarchy of needs,” says Gaillard. “No one really needs art; it’s not essen- tial, yet it brings so much joy. And so, in the pro- cess of creating your collection, simply have fun. Enjoy what you see and enjoy what you buy. Whatever art adorns your space should bring you joy.” j y From top: Baseem Rayyes. Untitled. 2018. Mixed media on canvas, unique; Mariam Makso. Teddy Bear. 2015. Wax fabric, unique; Laurence Jenkell. Tourbillon de Couleurs. 2013. Plexiglass, edition of 8; Pokras Lampas. Untitled. 2019. Mixed media on canvas, unique 64 HarpersBazaarArabia.com/culture/art Spring 2020 HBA_038_62-65_The Collector_Sylvian Opera_11218969.indd 6411/03/2020 12:23:23 PMThe COLLECTOR Taher Jaoui. Cause and Effect, My Love. 2018. Mixed media on canvas, unique 65 HarpersBazaarArabia.com/culture/art Spring 2020 PHO T OGRAPHY B Y A A SIY A J A GADEESH, ITP IMA GES HBA_038_62-65_The Collector_Sylvian Opera_11218969.indd 6511/03/2020 12:23:33 PMGALLERY The On realising the palpable rareness of female artists being represented, Four You Gallery is providing a stern platform for the underappreciated. Athwifa Saleem writes on the gallery’s inaugural exhibition in Dubai which saw an intimate unveiling of artist Stickymonger’s newest works Breaking Barriers Stickymonger,Spring .Dance. 2019 Aerosol paint on can- vas. 213.5x152cm Courtesy of the artist .and Four You Gallery HBA_038_66-67_The Gallery_Athwifa_11214704.indd 6612/03/2020 01:53:05 PMn the endeavour to transpose the gender inequality that continues to persevere, Four You Gallery came forth with the decision of only showcasing the work of female artists through their exclusive travelling exhibitions. “Ever apparent is the lack of representation of female artists in galleries, as well as the exclusion of women from the mainstream art market,” says the Director of Four You gallery, Sarya N. Marié. The gallery aims to provide a worldly audience for all aspiring female artists, while allowing art connoisseurs to discover emerging female talent. “We intend to provide a platform for the overlooked; offering a space that encourages cross- discipline dialogue led solely by women aiming to infl ict change,” says Sarya. “We wish to captivate and inspire, by casting the spotlight on stimulating women in art.” The gallery’s inaugural exhibition entitled LONESOME PLANET presented the more recent works of South Korea- born, New York-based artist, Stickymonger, whose work extends from murals to a more recent development of producing sculptures – some of which were showcased in this show at Facilité, Dubai Design District. World Trade Centre in New York City has accommodated the artist, setting her up in a studio that spans the whole of the 79th fl oor. Despite the hectic atmosphere of the city upon which she can introspect from her expansive windows, Stickymonger’s overwhelming emotion has been loneliness. “Her work is autobiographical – she manipulates and distorts her own experiences through the mediums of both paint and sculpture,” says Sarya. A corroboration of dark and light, innocence and anxiety, her whimsical work transports viewers into a trivial state of existence. “The hypnotic gaze of her female subject is soft yet entirely unapologetic,” remarks the director. “They resolutely subvert the voyeuristic stare of the spectator. They offer insight into the dreamlike realities in which Stickymonger metaphysically resides.” Stickymonger’s aspirations were derived from her view of the world. By offering her the gallery’s innovative space and its dynamic platform upon which she shared her work and projected her exemplary artistic voice, Four You was able to establish a solid footing on what their space stands for; diminish the gender barriers that prevail in the art community and progress towards greatness. The monochrome paintings that were exhibited in LONESOME PLANET offered a depth of tone that infl icted intimate emotions, yet not one that was dictated by the artist. Ultimately, LONESOME PLANET delivered an evocative exhibition of revelation. “Through the hypnotic and gazing eyes of her subjects, Stickymonger summoned the visitors into an ulterior realm where the surreal and melancholia overwhelmed,” says Sarya. Four You Gallery, with its heartfelt dedication to celebrate, empower and support artists with a bold and distinct approach; regardless of their nationality, medium, or career- status, hopes to captivate and inspire, casual enthusiasts and collectors alike, by casting the spotlight on talented women in the art world. fouryougallery.com LONESOME PLANET was on show at Four You gallery in Facilité , Building 2, Dubai Design District, UAE, until 11 March From top: Stickymonger with her portraits; Installation view of the Lonsesome Planet exhibition. Courtesy of the artist and Four You Gallery 67 HarpersBazaarArabia.com/culture/art Spring 2020 HBA_038_66-67_The Gallery_Athwifa_11214704.indd 6712/03/2020 01:52:57 PMEMOTION INTENSE GALERIE MARIA BEHNAM-BAKHTIAR WILL BE HOME TO FRENCH ABSTRACT ARTIST MARIE-CÉCILE APTEL’S FIRST EXHIBITION IN THE PRINCIPALITY OF MONACO. FOUNDER MARIA BEHNAM-BAKHTIAR SPEAKS TO AYESHA SHEHMIR ABOUT WHY THE LARGE-SCALE WORKS ARE AN EXAMPLE OF QUINTESSENTIALLY FRENCH JOIE DE VIVRE HBA_038_68-71_The Gallery_Maria Bahnam_11236351.indd 6811/03/2020 12:25:57 PMMaria Behnam-Bakhtiar in her eponymous gallery with works by Marie-Cécile Aptel GALLERY The HBA_038_68-71_The Gallery_Maria Bahnam_11236351.indd 6911/03/2020 12:26:05 PMNext >