Empty Spaces at Artbooth Gallery speak about the living environment

Muhammad Yusuf, Features Writer

Artbooth Gallery has announced the joint launch of an exhibition consisting of the works of Iranian-origin artists Taher Rouzmahsali and Hamidreza, and Emirati-origin artist Azza Alqubaisi titled Empty Spaces (July 13 – Sept. 15), at its space located on the ground floor of Centro Capital Centre by Rotana, ADNEC area, Abu Dhabi. Empty Spaces explores the ties between the simplicity of old cities and the complexity of the future urbanscape and the visionary landscapes of cities yet to come.

The show invites viewers to take an insightful journey through time and imagination, while shedding light on how humans interact with their environment. Rouzmahsali’s work attempts to transport the viewer to the infinite opportunities of urban landscapes through the beauty of ultra-modern and sophisticated cities, and Hamidreza’s work explores the aesthetics of absence and void in the world of abandoned cities.

Rouzmahsali investigates fictitious locations that are reminiscent of both ancient buildings abandoned for centuries, as well as the cities of future — complex and garbled-shaped layouts that might envision the post-human world. The surfaces of well-designed monumental architecture eventually start to peel off, turning the cities into self-destructive systems, in the absence of human beings.

When the past and future collide, people’s identities begin to lose their coherence, and the works become sardonic, humorous, and ambiguous. “Utilising these specific features in the compositions does not necessarily lead to the replication or revitalisation of the past, but the reinterpretation and reproduction of a horrific new world ahead of us,” Rouzmahsali opines. Born in 1991 in the city of Tabriz in Iran, he studied painting at the Art University of Tehran for three years, before obtaining his Master’s Degree in Fine Arts from the Art University of Isfahan. He has participated in several group exhibitions in Dubai, Kerman, Netherlands and in solo shows in Tehran.

Hamidreza is known as a painter of light and shadow. As an artist who has given uncompromising attention to surfaces, his brushwork and treatment of line and tone are subject to gradual transformation. The key element of the expression is heightened conflict, with high-contrast light and shadow in the structure dealing with the contemporary world of conflicts, hesitations, hopes, and loneliness.

All these emotions are either portrayed with fear and illusion or come to an end with euphoria and poeticism. “I was impressed by light and shadow in Rembrandt`s works that seem to take us eternally from darkness to light and from light to darkness and by Hopper, with his sharp cuts between light and shadow and frozen figures,” says Hamidreza. He graduated from Tehran University, Faculty of Fine Arts, majoring in painting in 2002 and is represented globally. His works are in private collections all over the world. He has won many art contests, including Iran’s second and sixth International Biennial of Cartoons and the first prize in concept design, Tehran University of Fine Arts, 2001.

Artworks on view in the exhibition.

Alqubaisi’s intimate works honour the timeless beauty and essence of simple materials that were an integral part in the lives of Emirati families. Evoking the shifting shapes and patterns of the desert, she invites viewers to explore the profound connection between the Emirati heritage, the desert, and the pre-oil era. A jewellery artist, sculptor, and product designer, she is often referred to as the first Emirati jewellery designer in the UAE. All her works — from jewellery to sculptures — reveal her prodigious creativity. She often incorporates materials such as gold, silver, wood, rubber tires, palm trees, and Oudh incense, all of which were (or still are) an essential component of Emirati families during the pre-oil era.

Her lifelong dedication to art is seen in her intention to unveil natural landscapes and cultural references, from the shapes, patterns, and textures of the desert, to traditional ancient techniques. Using modern methods in Sadu (a traditional form of weaving practiced by Bedouin women in rural communities of the United Arab Emirates), she has created a unique and contemporary style that pays homage to the past, while looking towards the future.

The approach not only honours the heritage of the region but also promotes a more eco-friendly perspective to art. “The works reflect my journey as an artist to understand who I am as an Emirati; it highlights all the materials that I have used in my journey as an artist and revolves around materials that were part of the fabric of life in the past,” she says. She holds a MA in Cultural and Creative Industries and a BA in Jewellery Design, Silversmithing, and Allied Crafts. With a wealth of experience and numerous exhibitions and shows under her belt, she has made a name for herself in the global art scene. She has been featured in several books, including 500 Earrings: New Directions in Contemporary Jewellery in 2007.

Founded by Roger El-Khoury in 2019, after 11 years of experience in the art field between Beirut and the United Arab Emirates, Artbooth aims to create a cross-cultural bridge between artists, audiences, and collectors from across the world. The gallery is dedicated to promoting a wide selection of artworks and exploring new connections and partnerships. From emerging to established artists, both at the regional and international level, it aspires to provide artworks best suited for the collector’s satisfaction. Services include fine art sales consultancy, second market art sales, archiving collections and curating exhibitions.