EMIRATES CONTEMPORARY - Contemporary art and calligraphy from SHARJAH, Capital of Culture of the United Arab Emirates
May 4 - June 15, 2008

Press conference:

Friday, May 2, 11.00 am
You are welcome to join the preview!
Hisham Al Madhloum, Director of the Sharjah Museum of Contemporary Arab Art, and Dr. Beate Reifenscheid, Director of the Ludwig Museum will be available for interviews till 1.00 pm.

Vernissage:

Sunday, May 4, 3.00 pm

Welcome Dr. Eberhard Schulte-Wissermann, Mayor of Koblenz
Prof. Dr. Joachim Hofmann-Göttig, State Secretary of culture at the Ministry of Education, Science, Youth and Culture, Rheinland-Pfalz
Cultural Attaché, Embassy of the United Arab Emirates, Berlin

Introduction
Dr. Beate Reifenscheid, Director of the Ludwig Museum
Musical accompaniment

Musa'ab Shamil, Letters, 70 x 50 cm

Art from Arabian countries is, for the most part, still a mystery: It has been isolated too strongly from public perception in the west. Only in recent years, more insight into it could be gained. It is mainly the booming cities in the Gulf region which initiate the development of new centres of art. The Emirate of Sharjah increasingly emancipates itself from its major neighbours Abu Dhabi and Dubai. At its airport alone, more than three million people a year have been counted. In 1998, Sharjah was elected for capital of culture of the Arabian world by the UNESCO. In the new Baedeker travel guide the city of Sharjah is actually mentioned at the first page as a cultural high performer among the preferred destinations.

Since 1972, the Emirate Sharjah is ruled by His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qassimi, Emir of Sharjah. The Doctor of history and geography also holds seven honorary doctorates from international universities and is regarded as an important promoter of arts and the dialogue of cultures. He founded two universities, about 20 museums, among them the Sharjah Museum of Contemporary Arab Art and the Sharjah Art Museum, and the by now biggest book fair of the Arabian region. It is impossible to imagine today's international art market and art scene without the Sharjah Biennal, which was initiated by His Highness already 15 years ago. Last year, it was the third edition of the Sharjah Biennal which was directed by his daughter, Princess Hoor Al Qassimi. Moreover, His Highness organises a number of exhibitions together with the Commissioner of Art of the sheikdom, Head of the Directorate of Art and Chief Representative of the Sharjah Biennal, Hisham Al Mahloum.

Khalil Adbulwahed, Ink on Paper, 90 x 90 cm

The exhibition at the Ludwig Museum Koblenz, for which a catalogue will be published, is developed together with Hisham Al Madhloum and the Sharjah Museum of Contemporary Arab Art. The Emirate has just presented a special exhibition at the "art KARLSRUHE". The major part of the exhibits shown there will switch to the exhibition in Koblenz, which will be completed by a number of further works by young artists.

The aim is to present important positions of contemporary Arab artists. As a special reverence to His Highness an additional part of the exhibition will be on Arab calligraphy. Up to today, this field traditionally ranks among the most important artistic disciplines. Furthermore, there will be a smaller documentation of traditional Arab art, which concentrates on ceramic and cloth works, and a precious collection of geographical maps from the Gulf region and Middle East, which belong to the personal property of the Sheikh.

His Highness will send representatives of his family and government, as well as a band and a dancing chorus for the very special exhibition opening on May 4, 2008. A top class supporting programme is planned, inspired by Arab arts and culture, for the two days following the opening. During the course of the exhibition, this programme will be continued with lectures, a calligraphy course and the Arabian Night with musical and culinary highlights. Also the programme for the International Day of Museum on May 18, 2008, 11 am till 6 pm, will of course match with EMIRATES CONTEMPORARY and the culture of the United Arab Emirates, for example by an Arabian Café or the offer of reading tea leaves. (A detailed programme will follow.)

An exhibition catalogue will be published.

We are looking forward to your visit!
Tuesday-Saturday 10.30 - 17.00, Sunday 11.00 - 18.00
Admission fees: 4 Euro, reduced: 2 Euro.

Beate Reifenscheid und Seine Hoheit in Sharjah 2007

Mohammed Al Quassab, Acryl auf Leinwand, 90 x 143 cm

Hisham Al Madhloum, Kunstbeauftragter Emirat Sharjah

Sama Kaya, Abru, 35 x 50 cm

Jassem Al Awadhi, Fotografie, 80 x 100 cm

Hakem Ghannam, Letters, 60 x 50 cm