Sara Ahli showcases artistic sculptures

Sohaila Ahmed, Staff Reporter

The Art Collecting Platform 101 had recently announced its third curated exhibition ‘Placeless Place’ featuring the Emirati sculpture artist Sara Ahli. The showcase returned to Dubai following an invitation from Foundry by Emaar, set from February 24 until March 3.

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The week-long experience is organized by writer Gaith Abdulla and curator Munira Al Sayegh, who welcomed three UAE-based art collectives leading public programmes, in collaboration with Sa Tahanan Co., Banat Collective, and Postscript Magazine.

 Sara Ahli.

The exhibition explores the theme of ‘Placeless Place’ by way of materials, bodies, and surroundings. The showcase included original pieces by Sara Ahli, the first Emirati artist to exhibit a full series in the space.

Ahli joind as an up-and-coming fashion designer turned sculpturist. Her pieces, made of plaster, latex, and memory foam, were developed in two cycles. Firstly, as part of the Salama Bint Hamdan Emerging Artists Fellowship (SEAF), and secondly, during a studio residency launching soon in Dubai’s Al Mamzar.

A homegrown talent herself, this is the artist’s first independent showcase. However, Ahli highlighted that the local art scene should be “more encouraged to support emerging artists who are excited and passionate about what they do.”

The 101’s Spring edition also welcomed three UAE art collectives responding to the theme with free public programmes, in which the Filipino-led platform Sa Tahanan Co. ran a poetry performance tour on the 27th; an online critique session was moderated by Banat Collective on March 1st, and an art writing workshop titled ‘Formless Form’ was organised by Postscript Magazine on March 2nd.

Overall, 101’s spring programme was organised with a consolidated audience experience team involving producer Noor Al Thehli and curator Daniel H. Rey. They jointly stated that “The UAE’s art scene is attaining maturity, yet support from collectors and partners remains essential to reach new audiences.”