Sharjah March Meeting 2014: Come Together

Apichatpong Weerasethakul and Ole Scheeren, “Mirage City Cinema,” 2013. Cinema-architecture space. Commissioned by Sharjah Art Foundation. Copyright Sharjah Art Foundation

Sharjah Art Foundation (SAF) announces the preliminary schedule of speakers, events, and exhibitions for the 2014 March Meeting (MM2014), taking place March 13 to 16, in Sharjah, UAE.

Conceived by Sharjah Biennial 12 (SB12) curator Eungie Joo as an integral part of the Biennial—opening in March 2015—the seventh annual MM2014 is a four-day symposium including presentations about past projects in Sharjah and the UAE, introductions to the work of artists who will be commissioned for SB12, sessions for collective research and analysis, keynote presentations by leading figures in the region, and time for informal conversation. As a departure point for SB12, MM2014 sets a tone of collaboration and exchange for the coming year.

March Meeting 2014 will coincide with exhibitions of work by Rasheed Araeen, Susan Hefuna, and Wael Shawky, on view March 13 through June 13. The March Project opens March 16, featuring new commissions by early career artists, curated by SAF President and Director Hoor Al Qasimi.

Schedule for March Meeting 2014:

Thursday, March 13
9:30am
Welcome by Abdullah Al Owais (Sharjah Department of Culture and Information)
Introduction by SAF President Hoor Al Qasimi and SB12 curator Eungie Joo

10:30am
Sustained engagements: Tarek Atoui, CAMP, and Abdullah Al Saadi

2pm
From Here #1: Doryun Chong (M+ Museum) on Tokyo 1955–1970: A New Avant Garde

2:45pm
Case studies #1: Developing a language of cultural production—Leonor Antunes, Abraham Cruzvillegas, Michael Joo, and Wael Shawky

5pm
Discussion session led by Sarah Rifky (Beirut) and Eungie Joo

6:30pm
Opening reception: Exhibitions by Rasheed Araeen, Susan Hefuna, and Wael Shawky

10pm
Screening: Traitors (2012) by Sean Gullette

Friday, March 14
2pm
Keynote #1: History of cultural production and institutions in Sharjah—Hisham Al Madhloum (Sharjah Directorate of Art)

2:45pm
Case studies #2: Engaging with a place, a moment, a built environment—Iman Issa, Hassan Khan, Rayyane Tabet, and Danh Vo

5pm
Keynote #2: A conversation with Christine Tohme

5:45pm
Collective research session #1: International Art Exhibition in Solidarity with Palestine—Kristine Khouri and Rasha Salti

8pm
Collective research session #2: From Gulf to Gulf to Gulf (2013)—Screening and discussion with CAMP

Saturday, March 15
10am
From Here #2: On building a collection—Rodrigo Moura (Instituto Inhotim) and Hoor Al Qasimi (SAF)

11:30am
Keynote #3: Tarek Abou El Fetouh

1:45pm
Case studies #3: After History—Basel Abbas and Ruanne Abou-Rahme, Nikhil Chopra, Ntone Edjabe, Cinthia Marcelle, and Adrián Villar Rojas

4pm
Collective research session #3: Samia Rab (American University in Sharjah)

4:45pm
Discussion session led by Kaelen Wilson-Goldie

8:30pm
Collective research session #4: The Ugly One—Screening and discussion with Eric Baudelaire

Sunday, March 16
10am
From here #4: Imagining the future—Mohammed Hafiz (Athr Gallery), Sarah Rifky (Beirut), Gabi Ngcobo (Center for Historical Reenactments), Zeynep Oz (SPOT)

Noon
Closing discussion session

6pm
Opening reception: The March Project

8pm
Collective Research #5: Revisiting Tarab (2013) Project—screening of film by Fouad Elkoury and discussion with the filmmaker and Tarek Atoui