ATARAXIA celebrates myriad themes and perspectives

DUBAI: An examination of being, from the outside in to the inside, from the mind to the body, and all the various combinations in between, was the focus of ATARAXIA, a group exhibition that focused on visual storytelling.

The nine women artists who participated in this group exhibition shared a theme, an aesthetic trend, or a particular cultural cross-section. With the assistance of Picasso Gallery, Art4you Gallery & Jesno Jackson conceptualised and organised the project. The pieces on display in this exhibition used storytelling and memory to MIND & SOUL to graphically portray the individual experiences of each artist.

The participation of Marina Zotova (Russia), Babita Shamji (Canada), Nagla Mahdi (Egypt), Merly Mathews (India), Namira Basit (Pakistan), Meeran Nasir (Pakistan), Kharen Tacmo (Philippines), Yuliya Solomennaya (Belarus), and Ayesha Yousef (Pakistan) in this recent collective art exhibition stood out.

A variety of paintings, digital art, and mixed media were included in the collection, some of which were created especially for the exhibition or were being shown here for the first time.

Mind & Soul Collection by Merly Mathews

Merly says, “In most of my artwork, women are prominent. You may meditate anywhere and connect with nature while seeking the serenity and tranquillity of your spirit. In this collection, I’ve brought my spiritual guide to four different landscapes: sand dunes (in reference to my own country), hills, the ocean, and the cosmos. To find her fair share of peace, my spiritual representative has journeyed to the desert, far from the bustle of the metropolis. My spiritual representative travels to the mountains in her quest for tranquillity. My spiritual representative is drawn to the tranquillity of the deep waters by their stunning depths. My spiritual representative can meditate in the cosmos’s bare existence because it envelops her in its fold and universe.”

Mosaic Collection by Nagla Mahdi

Nagla says, “The appreciation of mosaic and my creation both depend on technical understanding, so the technical facets of the art must receive special attention. Mosaic, which has played a large part in Western art and has been present in other cultures, also has essential artistic, religious, and cultural components. The fundamental trend in contemporary mosaic practice is to capitalise on the special and distinctive characteristics of the medium. Even though figurative or abstract painting can be seen in many works made in the 20th century, the art has come a long way toward self-realisation.”

Visceral Destination Collection by Babita Shamji

This collection of abstract landscapes was inspired by the artists’ portrayals of unusual places from around the globe. Her approach and methodology are expressed through an imaginative setting, defining that they are mass buildings through the use of straightforward yet stunning colour palettes and powerful expressive shapes. The tectonic lines give the sculpture flow and movement, giving the idea that it is a terrestrial structure. Far from being an accurate portrayal of nature. Through her visceral emotions, she portrays a vivid impression of a previously visited location.

Design Collections by Meeran Nasir

This particular body of work is centred on abstract patterns. Since abstract art does not depict the physical world, she was free to explore the piece with an open mind, a vivid imagination, and a spirit of experimentation. In an effort to produce something original, artist strive to employ her own creativity and memories.

Inikaas – Reflection Collections by Ayesha Yousuf Bhatti

Ayesa says, “Reflection, or Inikaas, is prompted by the results of ideas, opinions, and viewpoints. I continue to explore various formats and subgenres. My primary attention always gravitates toward colours and textures. My goal is to recreate the beauty of my favourite images, textures, patterns, and colours using my background in textile design. I wish I could layer time, culture, patterns, traditions, and experiences in some way. If only I could abstractly represent a current and ancient perspective in my art while maintaining contrast and harmony.”

Floral Collections by Namira Basit

Namira says, “Perceptions of texture and colour are the main topics of my work. Through my work, I explore everything that falls under the category of contemporary modern abstracts, from gestural fluid art to textured acrylic pieces. I’m most proud of the textural floral pieces that have become my trademark. Colour expressiveness is everything to me as an artist. In order to capture mood and dance a waltz, I painstakingly develop my colour palettes and combinations for each of my pieces. The most significant feature of my textured pieces, in my opinion, is colour.”

Golden Animal Collection by Yuliya Solomennaya

The “Golden Animals on the Red” Series uses the colours red, black, and gold to depict animals. The artwork made use of a technique called guilding. The pieces have a nice appearance thanks to the guilding, which has a pleasing glossy shine and shimmers in a variety of colours under the light. The sculpture used acrylic paints and a gold patina. These are a series of paintings on a red background that were inspired by Far Eastern culture. “The History of Chinese Painting by Shizhong Liu is a book about painting that I recently finished reading. After finishing the book, I started drawing creatures in gold,” she says.

Nature Collection by Marina Zotova

“My love of nature is my passion. My landscapes offer more than just happy, sunny feelings. It can be depressing on a grey day, or it can be threatening just before a thunderstorm. But I adore nature just as it is — different, neutral colours, moods, and weather. It is flawless in all of its performances,” claims Marina.

Eternal Serenity Collection by Kharen Tacmo

The expression of Kharen’s voice, dreams, and self- and world-centred vision through her work. She enjoys painting images of women and animals that symbolise their heavenly beauty, purity, and power. Her work is regarded as being dreamy-looking and symbolically rich. She enjoys poetry and music, which occasionally impact her artistic work. “I am motivated to bring eternal peace to a world that we will never fully understand.” Through her art, she hopes to be able to inspire people to see themselves as beings of light and to embrace them with such emotional force.

The exhibition was inaugurated by H.E. Laila Rahhall El Atfani – President & CEO of Business Gate Dubai and Founder of Women Business Circle, in the presence of Mr. Mohamed Al Banna – Advisor, Founder and Group CEO of Lead Ventures, H.E. Mr. AbdulAziz Ahmad – CEO and Founder – Safeer Corporate Services Provider, UAE Commonwealth Entrepreneurs Club, H.E. Mr. Yaqoob Al Ali – Executive Director & Private Advisor – Office of H.H. Sheikh Juma Bin Maktoum Al Maktoum, Mr. Ersin Faikzade, Roa Al Madani, Essa Ustadi, Dr. Edyta Skibinska. Mr. Abdulqader Al Rais, one of the most celebrated personality and No. 1 pioneer Emirati contemporary artist in the UAE art scene, and Mr. Khalil Abdulwahid – Director of Visual Arts, Dubai Culture & Visual Artist.

Many more personalities visited the exhibition and supported the artists with art guided tour throughout the show.

The exhibition officially opened on April 25 and successfully closed on May 2.

Venue – Picasso Gallery Dubai. Organised by Art4you & Picasso Gallery. Curated by Jesno Jackson

Curator Jesno Jackson said: According to me, the strength and allure of art lies in its ability to transport viewers to a variety of settings and tell tales that aren’t our own but could very well be. It’s a commonly refuted idea, but the best works of art actually do have a universal quality in the sense that they provide a stage for common cultures and fantasies.

“The pieces I selected for ATARAXIA immerse us in the action, just like some of the best novels do. We enter with a jolt, and what we see has a timeless quality to it. Like turning to a page in the middle of a book and starting to read, we might not be sure what is happening but we happily continue.

“It was incredibly difficult to choose just 9 artists from many applications received. In the end, the works selected were those that best aligned with the show and with each other as a cohesive grouping with series of artworks in personal theme and style.

“Therefore, it is my hope that these exceptional works will help you understand your place not only within individual stories but also within a collection of interconnected narratives with MIND & SOUL — petals taped to a wall, a golden red scene, a sea of flowers, a stain in textile space, a collection of landscape abstractions, a craft of mosaics, the strokes of digital illustrations, a collection of women woven in nature, and so many other arresting visual tales to tell.”