Fairmont Bab Al Bahr continues to support local artists, as part of its mission as the cultural gateway to Abu Dhabi, by showcasing the ‘The Grand Mosque – Spirit in the Making’ photography exhibition by Austrian artist Genovea Kriechbaum from 6 February – 13 March 2012, and under the patronage of H.E. Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan.
Depicting what is arguably Abu Dhabi’s most important architectural treasure – Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, and given the location of the Fairmont Bab Al Bahr as the backdrop to both this series and cultural icon, this exhibition captures both its historical importance and the mysticism of a 21st century mosque in a modern, fast moving and rapidly developing city.
Kriechbaum aimed at creating an exhaustive portrayal of this space, seizing its evolving architectural vocabulary in continuously changing lighting conditions. To achieve this, she allowed space to lead the creative process, and has broken the rules of symmetry, the norms of photography, employed different angles and avoided artificial light. In the selection of pictures on display at the Fairmont Bab Al Bahr Art Gallery, this series will also showcase the methodology of mounting photography on acrylic, a detail that has become the artist’s signature.
When asked about the newest location for the exhibition, Kriechbaum states that “with the breathtaking view of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque that the hotel features and considering the content of my current exhibition, Fairmont Bab Al Bahr is the ideal location, allowing the viewer to experience both the past and the presence within the ‘blink of an eye’.”
The exhibition opens with a reception in the presence of the artist on Tuesday 7 February from 7:30-9:30pm in The Chocolate Gallery, and will continue until Tuesday 13 March 2012. Genoveva welcomes her audience to a Ladies only event on 14 February from 2 – 4pm in the same location, whereby she will discuss some of the details behind the exhibition with open discourse on the project.