Opening Reception: Thursday 11th March, 7:30 pm onwards
Coinciding with the 15th Anniversary of Green Art Gallery, Dubai
Event:
For the Love of Noon
Exhibition of new work by Hakim Ghazali
As evident in this new series, Hakim’s practice has significantly evolved over the last few few years, since his last exhibition at Green Art Gallery in 2007. As a trained calligrapher, Hakim has always been preoccupied by the history of calligraphy. Specifically, his work revolved around the various symbols and their deep connection to the sufi faith. His signature practice of minimalist works, which combine a monochromatic background with flashes of colour and symbols, is still evident in this new series. In this new body of work, Hakim focuses exclusively on the letter “noon” ( the letter “n” in the Latin alphabet). Symbolizing femininity and womanhood according to sufi philosophy, which form a basis in Hakim’s work, the letter “noon” takes various shapes: embroidered on canvas, painted on monochromatic canvases and produced in metal-based structures and installations. Regardless of medium, Hakim enforces the profound spiritual meaning of the symbol and its beauty, thus creating complex contemporary works that draw on the spiritual depth of ancient Islamic art.
To view the exhibition online, please visit http://gagallery.com/Exhibitions_map.html&cur=1&exid=16
Notes to Editors
About Hakim Ghazali
Born in 1963, Moroccan artist Hakim Ghazali first exhibited at Green Art Gallery in 1996. Since then he has exhibited worldwide and is considered one of the most promising artists working in the region. His work was included in the prestigious “Word into Art” exhibition, organized by the British Museum and which also took place at the DIFC in Dubai in March 2008, and appears regularly in auctions including Bonhams (Nov 2008) and Christies' in 2007 and 2008. In 2008, his work was acquired by the British Museum.
He is the recipient of many awards including the 2007 Al Burda Prize ( Abu Dhabi Ministry of Culture), the 2006 Arabic Type Design Competition ( Hamburg, Germany) and the Sharjah Calligraphy Biennial also in 2006. He is a member of the Moroccan Art Association, the International Association of Art, UNESCO and the Institute of Contemporary African Visual Arts ( ICAVA) in New York. In 2009, he completed an artist residency at the Cite Internationale des Arts in Paris. He currently divides his time between Paris & Casablanca.