Dubai, UAE; February 19, 2013: On March 14, 2013, the houses, courtyards and alleyways of Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood will come alive with a compelling showcase of art projects and curated programmes, specially commissioned for SIKKA 2013, the contemporary art fair of the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority (Dubai Culture), held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Majid Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Culture.
Boasting new work from over 70 Emirati and UAE-based artists, and 14 multidisciplinary initiatives and collectives, plus an array of special projects, panel discussions, live music and entertainment, film screenings, performances, and a child-centric educational programme, SIKKA 2013 underlines an artistic landscape that is growing from strength-to-strength, while enhancing public access to the city’s creative sphere.
Saeed Al Nabouda, Acting Director General, Dubai Culture & Arts Authority, said: “SIKKA is an annual showcase specifically designed to feature UAE contemporary art practices and initiatives, through a diversity of artistic talent and stance, providing opportunity to experience home-grown creativity at its liveliest and best, in the heart of Dubai. Over the last few years, SIKKA has come to be the ultimate platform for Emirati and UAE-based artists to work and engage with their international counterparts, all of whom are in the city to experience its rich cultural roster of events.
“Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Majid, SIKKA 2013 is a breakthrough edition, bringing the UAE’s many talents to the forefront, and reflecting on their contribution to create original content that plays a significant role in driving the growth of this vibrant scene. The vast artist and peer-led programmes offered at the fair will allow community members and visitors the opportunity to interact and engage with the artists, giving them vivid insights into their artistic processes, and the roots of their inspiration,” he added.
Selected artists will include forty-seven visual artists working across a variety of traditional and contemporary art mediums, responding to the site in distinctive ways. Six filmmakers will shed light on the city’s growing cinematic industry whose showcase will vary from animation, to short film and experimental documentary. Fifteen musicians will be developing their most recent productions and performing live at SIKKA, under the artistic direction of Kamal Musallam, appointed Music Producer for this edition; and three performing art collectives will present fresh performances in theatre, spoken word and live art.
Fourteen multidisciplinary initiatives and collectives will lead the fair’s programming through a variety of activities and events, ranging from talks, screenings, workshops, performances, to walks and excursions, games and research projects, within the realm of education, entertainment and collaborative sharing.
A series of panel discussions spanning an array of topics will be held during SIKKA including the Artists-in-Residence (A.i.R) Dubai, led by Aaron Cesar of Delfina Foundation introducing this year’s resident artists and resident curator Bérénice Saliou; a panel with Mariam Al Dabbagh, from the National Pavilion of the UAE, on the Venice Biennale Internship Programme, Education in Art and the importance of specialised internship programmes for Art and Design students in the region; a panel chaired by Janet Bellotto, from Zayed University’s College of Arts and Creative Enterprises, host to the 20th edition of the International Symposium of Electronic Art (ISEA) – the world’s most important academic electronic arts event – in November 2014, with the overarching theme of ‘Location’.
As part of its ambitious educational scheme SIKKA will offer a unique programme for children, brought by Waraq – a part Al-Ain part Beirut-based community of curious individuals, whose aim is to create and develop interactive and multidisciplinary projects across the Arab world. Interactive guided and self-led tours for high-school students, graduates, and general public, will invite visitors to engage critically with a selection of artworks and their artists.
SIKKA 2013 will be held from March 14 to 24, concurrently with Art Week, Dubai’s premier umbrella arts initiative encompassing of Art Dubai and Design Days Dubai.
