Ishara - Signs, Symbols and Shared Languages

The exhibition Ishara: Signs, Symbols and Shared Languages, which opens on March 5, is the result of a partnership between Alserkal Avenue and the Abu Dhabi-based satellite platform UAE Unlimited. The exhibition is curated by Karim Sultan, features brand new works by ten UAE-based artists. The selected artists for the 2018 edition of UAE Unlimited are Amna Al Dabbagh, Cheb Moha, Chndy, Dina Khorchid, Farah Al Qasimi, Flounder Lee, Nasir Nasrallah, Saba Qizilbash, Salem Al Mansoori, and Shaikha Al Ketbi.

Since 2015, UAE Unlimited initiative which is supported by the dynamic young patron H. H. Sheikh bin Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, has orchestrated an annual show of newly commissioned works on a shared theme, previously at Maraya Arts Centre in Sharjah and Warehouse 421 in Abu Dhabi. Since its inception, it has been part of the mandate at UAE Unlimited to support emerging UAE-based artists, to help get them on a regional and international stage, to create a culture of mentorship, guidance and peer learning that will provide a lasting impact on the development of their work. The regular reading sessions with the curator and guest artists provide an important opportunity for in-depth mentoring, as for some Ishara this will be the first time that they have participated in a curator-led group show.

The concept of the exhibition is derived from a broad understanding of the meaning and use of language. In Arabic, ishara, denotes “sign”—the most basic form of communication, and refers to the linguistic marks, gestures and indications, as well as commonly used signals that transcend language, like those used in traffic or urban spaces.

The idea of language employed in this exhibition is closer to that of a lingua franca – a vehicular or synthetic language that is used by people who do not share a common tongue. The selection of artists for exhibition was based on their skill to create works that dealt with the structure-building involved in language, or an inclination towards works that deal with the subject of communication. Often this manifests itself in works that simultaneously deal with the technologies of communication (both artificial and otherwise), the construction of new languages, and the translation of memory into works that attempt to communicate.

Mentorship has always been an essential component in the creation of these exhibitions, both for the chosen artists and curators. In this instance, curator Karim Sultan has had Sharjah-based curator, Laura Metzler as a senior advisor on the exhibition, and the inspiring trio of Ramin Haerizadeh, Rokni Haerizadeh and Hesam Rahmanian, who are both loaning works and conducting regular reading sessions with the 10 selected emerging artists.

Press contact
Charlotte York, Communications Manager, Alserkal Avenue
[email protected], T +971 56 418 7999