BAHRAIN ART WEEK PARIS
Curators; Corinne Timsit, co-founder of Corinne Timsit Art Advisory (CT2A) and Kaneka Subberwal, founder of Art Bahrain Across Borders (ArtBAB) in partnership with ArtPremium magazine, announce the first edition of Bahrain Art Week in Paris under the theme “The Legacy and Contemporary Memory.”
The Art Bahrain across Borders (ArtBAB) is a journey of discovery of the most promising established and emerging Bahraini artists and is to be held under the patronage of Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeekha bint Ebrahim Al Khalifa, Wife of the King of Bahrain and President of the Supreme Council for Women.
Due to the success of previous art weeks in London and Moscow, Kaneka Subberwal approached Corinne Timsit to produce an equally favorable outcome in Paris. Timsit has been appointed the main organizer as well as the mediator with collectors and institutions regarding the success of the overall event, which will be held at the Grand Palais and will run from the 13th to the 15th of September. Bringing together the works of seventeen established and emerging artists from Bahrain, the exhibition aims to reflect notions of the past and present where this culturally rich country has a deep-rooted influence reflected in the selected artworks, holding heritage in high regard.
Mohamed Al Mahdi ‘Dog’ 2011
“Characterized by bold impressionistic abstracts, this collection speaks of how the Bahraini artists visualize their 5,000-year-old heritage of art and culture and transform it into a 21st-century narrative through their contemporary practices. Bahraini artists are exploring their cultural identity with confidence and skill and have been increasingly welcomed in art capitals around the world where ArtBAB presents their special vision”, according to Subberwall. Additionally, one artwork from each artist will be selected to take part in a public exhibition at Galerie Rabouan Moussion in Paris’ Le Marais neighborhood, the leading arts and culture hub of the city, from the 17th until the 22nd of September. Corinne Timsit states, “The art scene in Bahrain is at a crossroads of contemporary expression, taking in global points of view and expression whilst remaining true to their heritage. It is with great honor to showcase this emerging talent on an international platform.”
The bar has been set high with the expertise of Corinne Timsit, Kaneka Subberwal, and scenographer Sylvie Jodar, where a well-structured event at the Grand Palais will undoubtedly be produced reflecting the future art weeks to be held in Paris. The venue in itself is historically and culturally significant, providing a fitting backdrop to underscore the waves that contemporary Bahraini art is currently making in the international artistic community. According to Subberwal, “Bahrain has a high rate of literacy and knowledge with vested discerning power in the creation, development, and assessment of art.”
Marwa Rashid Al Khalifa ‘Light of My Eyes 1’ 2014
Since its creation in 2016, Art Bahrain Across Borders aims to promote contemporary Bahraini art to an international community of collectors keen on discovering new talent and diversifying their portfolios. The British, Russian and Indian editions have had significant success, particularly that of London, where a selection of fifteen Bahraini artists was shown on a world stage at the Victoria & Albert Museum in 2016 and at Saatchi Gallery in 2017. An alternative selection of artworks will continue to London after its first edition in Paris to mark the second stage in the series of cultural events within Europe and the United Kingdom.
Locations:
Grand Palais – Galerie Sud-Est – Porte H (Sept. 13 – 15)
Rabouan Moussion Gallery (Sept. 17 – 22)
