Art Basel has appointed artist Wael Shawky as the artistic director of the upcoming Katar Fair, which is scheduled to open in Doha in February next year.
Choosing artists to lead the Art Basel version of the world’s largest exposition company is an unusual choice, especially given that the other directors of the exposition come from the commercial side of the art world. That’s the point, says Vincenzo de Bellis, chief art officer and director of the Global Fair.
“We want to stay away from the traditional approach to fairness, while still being very fair,” he said. “This is for two reasons: First, we want to develop our existence, and second, we also want to focus on what the market might be in educational development. So, naturally, a more unconventional direction is explored.”
Shawky, who lives in Doha, is one of the leading artists today. Last year, he represented Egypt at the Venice Biennale, where his films were Drama 1882 It is one of the most popular contributions to the festival. He has also participated in several solo exhibitions, including Tate Modern (2022), Kunsthaus Bregenz (2016) and MOMA PS1 (2015). He is currently the subject of Luma Arles in France, Talbot Rice Gallery in Edinburgh and MMCA Gwacheon in South Korea.
In addition to his artistic practice, Shawky was appointed Art Director of the Fire Department: Doha Resident Artist. When he started the role in September, he planned to transform the institution into an educational platform that would support emerging Arab artists.
“When Vincenzo approached me about it, I found it was just a routine thing,” Shawky told Artnews. “It’s great to be part of this professional market in the region [and] Trying to create a new format for Basel artwork in Doha. ”
Art Basel Qatar will also deviate from the company’s other expositions as it will only focus on single-artist speeches curated by Shawky. Compared to the traditional fair model, exhibitors pay for the size and location of the booth, which will initially be priced at each speech in Qatari art. The number of these presentations is about 50 and will be unfolded in the two Fair venues M7 and Doha Distion District buildings, which are connected by the public square Msheireb, which will also be activated by the installation.
“Each presentation will have more or less the same amount of space when sending the application form,” De Bailis said. “Of course, we hope there will be some adjustments that need to happen because [some works] Different layouts may be required, so we will be as flexible as possible. …These two spaces put limits on us, which can be seen as a negative thing, but I think having the boundaries to work with and respond to is a beautiful thing. ”
Shawky will work with De Bellis and Fair’s selection committee in his role to select exhibitors. The newly appointed selection committee includes dealers from international galleries as well as dealers in the region. They are Lorenzo Fiaschi of Galleria Continua, Daniela Gareh of White Cube, Gordon Veneklasen of Michael Werner Gallery, Shireen Gandhy of Chemould Prescott Road in Mumbai, Mohammed Hafiz of Saudi Arabia Arabia Arabia, Mohammed Hafiz of Athrery of Arabia Arabia Arabia, and Sunny Rahbar of Then line of Third libible of Dibai.
The first edition of Art Basel Qatar will also be organized around the theme of “becoming”, a way to think about the question “How do we see ourselves as humans trying to develop from a system and to a higher system?”
He continued: “I see it as a simultaneous exhibition. Why is an artist who made this? What did he add? But I think it’s important to get involved in the artists to get the artists to make somehow make some amazing art fair shape the professional art market in the area.”
Since the May Fair was announced, De Bellis said the art world’s response has been the vast majority of galleries, collectors and institutions. “Our next move is curious,” he said, noting that the fair entered Doha with the launch of the Qatar Museum 20 years ago. “The response from people who have been to Doha has seen in this situation what we can generate, and those without anyone 1752068305 Let Art Basel serve as a catalyst. ”
