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Abu Dhabi To Host International Sculpture Symposium |
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The Abu Dhabi International Sculpture Symposium (ADISS) will kick-start on February 25 and run until April 7. The official launch of the event was announced today at a press conference held at Zayed University’s Abu Dhabi campus, in the presence of Dr. Sulaiman Al Jassim, Vice President of Zayed University, Salwa Zeidan, Symposium Director and Founder of Salwa Zeidan Gallery, Abeer Al Mutawa, Community Services Advisor of Municipality of Abu Dhabi City, and Salah Khider, Director of Operations at the Armed Forces Officers Club. Held under the patronage of His Highness General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, the six-week symposium is organized by Zayed University in collaboration with Salwa Zeidan Gallery. Strategic Partners in this unique event are the Municipality of Abu Dhabi City and the Armed Forces Officers’ Club. "Under the guidance of His Excellency Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, President of Zayed University, the Abu Dhabi International Sculpture Symposium is truly an exceptional event that marks an important historic milestone and is destined to transform the art and cultural sector in the UAE," said Dr. Sulaiman Al Jassim, Vice President of Zayed University. "The objective of the symposium is to initiate artistic and cultural co-operation between artists of different backgrounds, and promote the UAE as a new meeting place for artistic and cultural creativity. In its inaugural run, ADISS will open its doors to the world under the theme of "Bridging Societies through the Language of Art" and will bring together 17 renowned sculptors from around the world to reveal their creativity on site from the heart of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi," added Dr. Al Jassim. Commenting upon involving Zayed University students in the creation of art, Dr. Al Jassim said: "For Zayed University, encouraging students’ participation in this type of artistic and cultural event is part of our mission of reinforcing their knowledge, enhancing their skills and broadening their perspectives through interaction with international contemporary cultures. Throughout their college years, Zayed University students, especially those enrolled in the university’s art programs, have had the benefit of working with internationally acclaimed visiting artists and curators from around the world, which exposed them to international art practices and paved the way for the development of professional collaboration. Through ADISS, students have a great opportunity to converse and learn from the experiences of the world renowned visiting artists, and attend a series of lectures and workshops to discuss topics such as ’Art and Environment’, ’Originality and Identity in Public Sculpture’, "Art in the urban scene’ and ’Art saving the world’. Dr. Al Jassim added: "Since we are aware that art plays an important role in our everyday lives as it can enhance and compliment our environment, bring communities together, offer social and educational opportunities and promote tourism, Zayed University and Salwa Zeidan Gallery are also working closely to organize lectures by the visiting artists that are open to the public". Artists of the world participating in this first edition of ADISS and who will bring together their collective talents to create a most active and dynamic event are Billy Lee from United Kingdom, Caroline Ramersdorfer from Austria, Ehab El Laban from Eqypt, Fabrizio Dieci from Italy, Gheorghi Filin and Petre Petrov from Bulgaria, Gregor Kregar from Slovenia, Hassan Sharif from United Arab Emirates, Hwang Seoung-Woo from Korea, Jo Kley from Germany, Jon Barlow Hudson from U.S.A, John Gogaberishvili from Republic of Georgia, Juanjo Novella from Spain, Konstantin Dimopoulos from Australia, Masahiro Hasegawa and Yoshin Ogata from Japan and emerging artist Husam Chaya from Lebanon. The Municipality of Abu Dhabi City confirmed that this initiative highlights the municipality’s objective to view Abu Dhabi City as a new, unique art capital of the modern world and playing a key role in the social advancement of the capital. Abeer Al Mutawa, Community Services Advisor of Municipality of Abu Dhabi City, said: "The initiative is in line with His Highness Sheikh Mohammad Bin Zayed’s vision of establishing Abu Dhabi as the cultural center of the Middle East region by 2030 - the long-term plan committed to fostering the development and social advancement of the UAE’s capital and falls within the Municipality of Abu Dhabi’s main strategy to further affirm Abu Dhabi’s position as a truly modern city and boost the Emirate’s ambitions of building a global reputation as a top destination for the Arts" Symposium Director and the Director of the Salwa Zeidan Gallery Salwa Zeidan said, "The response to the announcement of this symposium from artists around the world was overwhelming, resulting in over 400 applications. Each artist was carefully selected to give the symposium a multi-cultural context." |
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