RECONNECTING ARTS www.reconnectingarts.com

15th August 2017 – 2nd September 2017 Private View: 15th August / 6:00pm Welcoming talk at 6:30pm

Venue: Menier Gallery, 51 Southwark St, London SE1 1RU, UK Opening Times: Mon-Sat: 11:00AM – 6:00PM / Sun: Closed / FREE ENTRY Getting here: Located in Bankside, minutes from Borough Market and the Tate Modern. The nearest Underground and National Rail service is at London Bridge. The RV1 and 381 buses stop outside the gallery. RSVP: https://transitionexhibition.eventbrite.co.uk MORE INFO:www.reconnectingarts.com/transition Reconnecting Arts is a platform supporting emerging contemporary Middle Eastern creatives. We aim to increase the visibility of Arab emerging creatives in the region as well internationally through our exhibitions, features, magazines and workshops we offer. We are committed to facilitating cross-cultural dialogue.

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RECONNECTING ARTS www.reconnectingarts.com

Reconnecting Arts an artist led platform presents, TRANSITION a showcase of over 30 emerging Middle Eastern Artists reflecting on the ways transition has taken place in their life. Ranging from fine art, calligraphy, sculpture, photography, to video, zines and installation, the artists explore topics and issues that shape the lives of Middle Eastern artists both locally and internationally. This includes the effect of urbanisation as well as displacement, the impact of balancing East and West, as well as gender roles, embracing faith and the future of the Middle East.

Defining the narrative. It is vital to understand that contemporary art from the Middle East and art by Arab artists does not translate into art about the Middle East. Arab contemporary art is a way of expression, where the artists reflect on their individual self. Emerging artists are now creating work that narrates their own lived experiences, where they challenge, question and consciously manoeuvre dialogue surrounding issues and triumphs that face each one of them. The artists in this exhibition are now taking control of their own representations rejecting the ideas that have been pushed onto them. Unapologetically exploring themes of religion, displacement, language but on the other hand exploring themselves as artists and as humans first of all. Merging Geographical space. While Arab artists are often grouped and defined by their ethnicity rather than their work. There is still a need for such segregation due to the art world often being one of inaccessibility to minority artists. In order to occupy spaces as Arab artists, the artists often need to collectively unite. Arab artists are categorised according to race and geopolitical location amongst other categories and we very rarely see exhibitions that merge polar opposites of the generalised views of the Arab world. We tend to always see one side being of “oil, construction and privilege” or “war, violence and displacement.” To make a point that either side can create work expressing their lived realities without competition and without resentment, both of which is usually implied or even encouraged amongst galleries, curators and artists, In the selection of artists in this exhibition, it was vital in bringing the artists together despite their geographical or other differences. While some artists may want to focus on the politics or war of their country with every right to do so, another artist from the very same country may want to focus on the optimistic future of it. This exhibition embraces both sides. The idea of the unity of the Middle East within art Is a far stretch but the idea of acceptance of either story on the spectrum is integral in allowing Arab artists to move forward. For now, the exhibition embraces the collective of Arab artists spanning from Syria to Palestine, America to Europe and hybrids to the Gulf. Rejection of exclusivity and the rise of accessibility. The occupation of both online and offline spaces by emerging Arab artists has flourished rapidly in the last few years, with collectives and platforms nurturing, mentoring and supporting emerging creatives. It is important to distinguish the use of the words artists and creatives. The use of ‘creatives’ is to create an accessible space where those who may not necessarily be ‘artists’ according to their definition or that of the art world, yet they are still creatives who produce visual work. Emerging artists and creatives do not just want to be passive exhibitors but want to reclaim their own voices and narratives. With so many progressive ideas, innovative work and thought provoking dialogues, they have still not been given their due recognition. The significance of creating such spaces allows us to encourage and accept alternative methods of creativity from the rise of phone art to the engineer who creates at midnight. Our exhibition merges artists and creatives and rejects the idea of exclusivity but embraces the rise of accessible spaces. The importance of these spaces is vital to the growth of the emerging art scene in the region and beyond, more specifically Arab artists no matter where they are geographically or artistically.

RECONNECTING ARTS www.reconnectingarts.com

NOTES:

• A bi-lingual publication featuring all the artists can be purchased at the gallery or online. • The exhibition is accompanied by workshops. • Free educational tours + workshops can be arranged for groups of 5 or more.

For further details, images and to arrange interviews email info@reconnectingarts.com

The exhibition is hosted at:

This exhibition is kindly supported by: