Founded in January 2008 by Lateefa bint Maktoum, and nestled amongst the leafy streets of Nad Al-Sheba, Tashkeel is an inspirational haven of calm and tranquility for the UAE’s art community, committed to inspiring art and design practice, cross-cultural dialogue and creative exchange.
“Made in Tashkeel”, an annual showcase of work by Tashkeel members, workshop participants and exhibiting artists, runs from Wednesday 9th June through to Thursday 16th September. The exhibition will highlight the exceptional creativity that Tashkeel is committed to encourage, and will feature a diverse collection of work that includes jewellery, drawing, painting, photography, printmaking and textiles.
“This is a great opportunity for our members to show their work, and many regular Tashkeel members are taking part in the exhibition alongside others who have great potential,” said Lateefa bint Maktoum, founder of Tashkeel and an accomplished artist in her own right. “This show embodies the essence of Tashkeel, which is to give artists and designers the opportunity to interact with artists from many different cultural backgrounds and experiences, including leading local, regional and international professionals who have been working in the field of art for decades as well as young artists who are just starting their careers.”
Among the many works on show at the exhibition are paintings by French artist Jean-Charles Yaich, a Tashkeel member since January 2010 who, in addition to practicing his own painting, teaches a weekly workshop at Tashkeel. Along with a certain degree of abstraction, Jean-Charles works with line and form, from drawing in ink to oil painting.
Also on display is the work of Indian sculptor, printmaker and illustrator Debjani Bhardwaj, a Tashkeel member since 2008, who works across a diverse range of media, building her ‘stories’ in clay or inks and layering the surfaces with textures.
Another Tashkeel member who has gone on to receive international recognition for her work, having sold her last collection to major stores in New York, London and Milan, is British textile designer Felicity Brown. Felicity has designed for Alberta Ferretti, Lanvin, Loewe and Mulberry and has been selected to show at ‘New Generation’, part of London Fashion Week, in September 2010.
More creative diversity comes in the form of young Emirati artist Maitha Demithan, whose work has, over the last year, been included in exhibitions in Berlin, Brisbane, New York and Venice as well as at Art Dubai.
Also included in the exhibition are individual pieces by German jeweller Lia Staehlin who, in addition to creating her own unique hand-made jewellery collections and one of a kind jewellery items for her customers, enjoys a second field teaching jewellery design and goldsmithing, and runs workshops at Tashkeel throughout the year.
The exhibition, which is supported by an online catalogue available at www.tashkeel.org, is open from 10 am to 8 pm Saturday to Thursday, and admission is free.
About Tashkeel:
Founded in January 2008 by Lateefa bint Maktoum, and nestled amongst the leafy streets of Nad Al-Sheba, Tashkeel is an inspirational haven of calm and tranquility for the UAE’s art community. An independent resource for artists and designers living and working in the United Arab Emirates, Tashkeel is committed to inspiring art and design practice, cross-cultural dialogue and creative exchange.
Studio facilities available to members include a print making studio, fully-equipped computer laboratory (with graphic design, interior design and architectural software and video editing facilities) a darkroom, photo studio (complete with backdrop and lights) and a large, airy fine arts studio plus sewing machines, wireless internet and jewellery making stations. In addition to the studio resources, there is an up to date international journal / reference library plus a members room, art supplies and equipment rental store and a gallery that is open to the public. Tashkeel also organises regular creative workshops (open to both members and non-members) led by practicing artists.
Being a member at Tashkeel gives artists and designers the opportunity to interact with artists from many different cultural backgrounds and experiences, including leading local, regional and international professionals who have been working in the field of art for decades to young artists who are just starting their careers. Tashkeel firmly believes that this interaction is vital in order for artists to develop their work and their artistic techniques, as it gives inexperienced artists the unique opportunity to take part in workshops led by highly accredited professional artists such as Sacha Jafri, Azza Al Qubassi and Huda Smitshuijzen Abi Fares. They also can volunteer to work hands on with artists to assist with the set up of large complex installations for exhibitions at Tashkeel.
Tashkeel members that have claimed their places in the international art world include Reem Al Ghaith (whose work has been shown internationally, and this year is appearing at the Centre Pompidou in France and at the United Nations Headquarters in New York) and the renowned British textile designer Felicity Brown (who has designed for Alberta Ferretti, Lanvin, Loewe and Mulberry and whose work has been seen on international catwalks all around the world).
Membership of Tashkeel costs as little as Dhs. 700 a month and is open to anyone aged 18 and above regardless of their skill or experience. The facility is open from 8 am to 10 pm, Saturday to Thursday.
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