Sharjah Art Foundation launches its new talks series, Dialogues, with Emirati artist Mohammed Kazem, aleading figure in the artistic landscape of the United Arab Emirates.
Dialogues seeks to examine and contextualise the development of visual art in the UAE and across the Arab world, tracing key transformations in modern and contemporary artistic practice.
While revisiting pivotal moments in the history of new art practices, the talks will highlight significant contributions of artists and cultural practitioners whose shared vision and collective efforts laid the foundations for an alternative cultural project, one that has brought about a decisive shift in the nature and structure of both local and regional artistic and cultural discourse.
Building on this vision, the conversation will foreground the evolution of Kazem’s practice and its close relationship to the social and cultural transformations that have shaped the local context. It will also highlight his contribution to the development of the UAE’s artistic landscape, including his role in mentoring emerging artists and supporting new generations of practitioners.
Finally, the discussion will revisit the landmark projects that have defined Kazem’s career, exploring their engagement with both place and social and geographical change, while also addressing current work and future directions.
This inaugural session of Dialogues opens up a space for reflection on the UAE’s cultural landscape. While looking at the collective role of art institutions, museums, art markets and galleries in strengthening the country’s cultural infrastructure, the speakers will also consider the opportunities and challenges shaping the future of the Emirati art scene.
The Foundation is committed to making its programmes inclusive and accessible. To arrange any required support or obtain more information, email learning@sharjahart.org, or call (06) 544 4113.
Mohammed Kazem (b. 1969, Dubai) is one of the UAE’s leading conceptual artists and a pioneering figure in the development of contemporary art practice in the country. Working across video, photography, performance and installation, his practice responds to the material, social and geographical transformations of his surroundings. A recurring presence within his own work, Kazem explores the relationship between the individual, place and time.
In 2013, Kazem represented the UAE at the 55thInternational Art Exhibition of the Venice Biennale, and he has also participated in the Havana Biennial, Dhaka Art Summit and Singapore Biennale. He has been a regular participant in Sharjah Biennial since its inception, serving as a curator of its eighth edition in 2007. His works are held in the collections of international museums and institutions, including the British Museum, Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, Sharjah Art Foundation and Barjeel Art Foundation.
Ismail Al Rifai (b. 1967, Syria) is an artist and writer whose work is rooted in the inner world of the human, the original site of becoming and from which ever-renewing forms emerge. For Al Rifai, creative practice is a process of revealing what lies hidden and unknown, where the image of the spirit takes precedence over outward form and individual experience converges with its universal origins.
He is currently the Director of Translation and Arabic Content at Sharjah Art Foundation. He has presented numerous solo shows and participated in international biennials and other exhibitions. He is the author of several literary and critical publications, including A Promise on Closed Lips (2002), The Stairs of Clay (2006), At the Bend of the River (2021), Narrating Place: A Critical Reading of Sharjah’s Cultural Project(2022) and Inscriptions on the Cross (2025). He holds a BA in Fine Arts from Damascus University.
OFF