x-ist participates in Art Dubai, the largest and most established contemporary art fair in the Middle East taking place at the Madinat Jumeriah, Dubai between 16-19 March, 2011. Hosting 82 galleries from 34 countries, the fair also presents a comprehensive program of collateral events under the categories/titles of Global Art Forum, Art Park, Projects, Abraaj Capital Art Prize, Start and Art Week.
x-ist will be taking part in Art Dubai 2011 with works from Ansen, Ali Taptık, Canan, Cem Dinlenmiş, Mehmet Güleryüz and Nuri Kuzucan.
Canan, whose reputation keeps growing in international art platforms and is in the collections of the world’s most well-known museums and art institutions participates in the fair with her newest oriental miniatures. Inspired by Islamic mythology and esoteric texts, this selection of works depicts stories of the afterlife and spirits.
One of the hottest young photography talents coming out of Turkey is Ali Taptık. Developing quite a reputation throughout Europe with his string of recent exhibitions; Taptık, presents a combination of photographs from his series "Nothing Surprising" and "Familiar Strangers" as well as his latest work "Anomaly #1 from "Research Project: Urban Flora"" which will be shared with the public for the first time at Art Dubai. Also in March 2011, Taptık will be featured in a Solo show at the Cuadro Gallery, Dubai with his most recent selection of images titled "Wounds".
Mehmet Güleryüz, regarded as one of the most influential and important living painters in Turkey, will be premiering in Art Dubai with 2 very important recent works "Passenger" and "Sapling". The work "Passenger" (January, 2010) merits special attention due to its eerily prophetic nature, this is one of timeliest analogies offered for display at this year’s Art Dubai. Appearing almost freshly painted after the recent events in Cairo it is a unique opportunity to witness that critical journey, when the artist breaks free from the realm of the now and returns with bold images from his vision quests.
The x-ist selection features another highpoint, premiering the first work from Turkish wunderkind Ansen’s brand new series "Malevolence". The series will have its world premiere in its entirety in April, 2011 in Istanbul at x-ist. This striking "New Media Painting" of Ansen, titled "Cane and Abel" is a fresh take on the well-known story about the two sons of Adam and Eve, Cain commits the first murder through the killing of his brother Abel.
Cem Dinlenmiş was twenty-one years old when he began drawing for one of Turkey’s most important critical humor magazines, Penguen, in 2006, it didn't take too long for people to take notice, developing like a supernova he quickly became regarded as a talented artist and and important critic of the political, social and daily issues of Turkey. "Internal Affairs" (2009) was his first solo show in x-ist, where he broke the traditional boundaries of art and the mind with his three dimensional works, breaking the frame around the canvas and our perception of daily life. This famous Turkish cartoonist/illustrator, Dinlenmiş will be introduced to the Asian art world for the first time in Art Dubai with his most recent works containing endless details and unconventional sense of humor.
Nuri Kuzucan, whose muse is the megalopolis/organisms that we reside in, lays out city landscapes from almost abstracted bird’s eye-view using the canvas as a three dimensional platform. In this selection from his most recent works, Kuzucan shifts his perspective from the outside to the inside, and focuses on the structure of monochrome construction sites detached from color and texture. A brilliant follow up to his critically acclaimed show "Are you Happy?"
Building on the success of last year’s show, Art Dubai 2011 will be the largest, most dynamic edition of the fair to date, bringing together the art of the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia with the international art world. x-ist welcomes everyone to its stand, A30 at Art Dubai 2011.