Helen Zughaib
The third edition of Parallax Art Fair in New York will take place at The Prince George Ballroom, May 11-12, 2013. P(AF) makes a uniquely refreshing conceptual statement about subjectivity and the commoditization of taste, as well as raising questions about the role of the artist, art public and the way the industry functions. The event attracts around 200 artists from all over the world, presenting 2,000 to 3,000 pieces. The loose “mosaic” approach to curating P(AF) befits its irreverence for the anthropomorphic stiffness of traditional exhibitions and is conceptually in line with the event’s spirited accessibility. The art spans the spectrum in content and style due to the level playing field of P(AF)’s universal acceptance, and ensures that ‘established’ and ‘emerging’ artists are equally represented.
Helen Zughaib’s arresting images of Modernist pastiche complete with playful middle-eastern elements will be on show at Parallax ‘Art’ Fair. Beyond the postmodern irony of her work lies a deeper, more serious subject matter touching on the Arab Spring and US relations with the Middle East. “I was born in Lebanon,” explains Zughaib, who also lived in Kuwait for three years, “and feel that my background in the Middle East allows me to approach the experiences I have in America in a unique way. As an Arab American, I remain an observer of both cultures, as an outsider looking in. I hope through my work to encourage dialogue and bring understanding and acceptance to people of the Arab world and the United States.”
Along with Zughaib’s work, over 120 international artists with 2000 pieces will exhibit at the beautifully-restored Neo-Renaissance ballroom. Uniquely described as a non-art fair, Parallax highlights alternative ideas about art objects. Keeping the rental fees low, taking no commission on sales and employing artists, by hiring the venue, Parallax also contributes to Common Ground, a charity that helps war veterans and homeless in New York.
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