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by Alexandra Mansilla
What Is Chiaroscuro? The Curator Of ICD Brookfield Place Arts Responds
12 Mar 2024
The partnership between Carpenters Workshop Gallery and ICD Brookfield Place Arts, highlighting 20 international and regional artists and curated by the renowned Michèle Lamy, goes by the name Chiaroscuro. The exhibition displays the importance of day and night (we have delved into the meaning of "Chiaroscuro" here) and conveys a message to each visitor: one cannot thrive without the other. In our conversation with Malak Abu-Qaoud, the curator of ICD Brookfield Place Arts, we found out how the collaboration happened and gained deeper insight into the exhibition's concept.
— How did the collaboration with Carpenters Workshop Gallery happen? Can you tell us about it from the very beginning?
— Last summer, Carpenters Workshop Gallery got in touch with us to enquire about our art program as they had seen our previous exhibitions with Perrotin and Takashi Murakami. We wanted to present a show that was culturally relevant and exhibits expertise from international and Middle Eastern artists. Soon enough, the Chiaroscuro exhibition curated by Michèle Lamy was born from this.
— This exhibition features international and regional artists. What distinct differences do you notice between them? Can you give some examples?
— The participating regional artists are Omar Al Gurg, Latifa Saeed, Zeinab Alhashemi, Khaled Zaki, Talal Al Najjar and Isaac Sullivan. There are some obvious giveaways with the works of the regional artists. For example, Zeinab AlHashemi is a conceptual artist creating site-specific installations and public art which aim to deconstruct the viewer’s perception of their surroundings, positioning them between the natural and the artificial. Her artwork "Camouflage 2.0" is made up of camel hide and screw bolts. Meanwhile, Latifa Saeed presents an edition of her "Braided" series, inspired by the traditional hair braiding practice of women in the United Arab Emirates. This piece was created in collaboration with studio MĒRU.
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"Camouflage 2" (2022) by Zeinab Alhashemi
— How was the selection of artists made?
— The international artists selected are represented by Carpenters Workshop Gallery and were curated by Michèle Lamy, whereas the regional artists were a collaboration between us. We wanted to focus on design (or art as design), so we would share artists’ portfolios and works with Michèle, and she chose the ones that resulted in our current selection. The idea was to have a dialogue between regional and international artists in our space.
— How did the collaboration with Michèle Lamy come about?
— Michèle Lamy is represented by Carpenters Workshop Gallery, and from the outset of our collaboration with Carpenters, we knew we wanted the exhibition to be culturally relevant to the UAE. Michèle is originally Algerian and spends a lot of her time in the region — she loves the UAE — so it felt super right to have this show curated by a regional, strong, and iconic woman.
— What was it like working with her? We imagine it was impressive and extremely creative, but we would like to hear more about your experience. Could you describe it?
— Spending time with Michèle and watching her design and curate the space in-person was an incredible opportunity. I first came across Michèle Lamy on a blog in 2008 by Tommy Ton and immediately was in awe of her existence, so working closely with her years later is so surreal to me. Michèle is so kind and loves meeting new people, so every day was a different experience. I am so happy with the outcome of the exhibition and the opening event, it was truly a moment of magic for the arts program and the city.
— What message do you want to convey with this exhibition?
— I want to showcase the talented works of our region in conversation with international works. Our focus at ICD Brookfield Place Arts has always been highlighting emerging regional and established creatives.
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"Braided 6" (2013) by Latifa Saeed
— In your opinion, what significance will this collaboration have for the UAE or the entire Middle East?
— Since we launched our arts program at ICD Brookfield Place, our objective has always highlighted our local community. Each exhibition we’ve hosted is different, but overall, we try to shift our focus to regional talent and exhibit shows that are accessible to the public and reflect culturally significant events. Our arts program is an opportunity for experimentation and collaboration, nurturing art practice as a way of working and making. We aim to foster community through an engaging cultural program, introducing emerging and established artists through campaigns, exhibitions, and community events within the local ecosystem. This means there is a real interdisciplinary melding of interests and specialities, forming exciting results which can evolve to suit the needs of the public. We are setting a new benchmark for what non-institutional forms of public art can do in the city — both inside and outside the building. Over the past four years, we are proud to have nurtured a growing creative community who attend our shows, talks and events.
— Why did you decide to schedule this exhibition at the same time as Art Dubai?
— We always schedule our biggest shows for the week of Art Dubai because it is important for our art program to be part of that calendar moment. There is so much happening around the city; it is an exciting time!
— What do light and dark represent in the art personally for you? Are there any artworks or artists that you associate with these terms?
— We are definitely living in dark times, and CHIAROSCURO, which translates as "light into dark", explores the dichotomy of light and darkness — a concept also inspired by Dubai’s starkly contrasting landscape as it shifts from day to night and desert into city. I personally love all of the exhibiting pieces, but perhaps I have a closer connection to the regional artworks — particularly those by Khaled Zaki and Latifa Saeed.
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