Being offered these wonderful opportunities can be exhilarating and daunting at the same time. After many years of experience working in the art world, there are still new challenges: different ways of communicating, dissimilar working practices, errors and problems not encountered before. It is never tedious when dealing with the UNEXPECTED; in fact, it is adding merit and meaning to your professionalism.
FIRST ISLAMIC ARTS BIENNALE, JEDDAH
It has been a privilege to be invited to work at this amazing event. I was part of an international superlative team and managed a pool of talented and dedicated art professionals to conclude this groundbreaking showcase of Islamic contemporary art and precious historical objects.
The first Islamic Arts Biennale took its name from the Ka’bah, in Makkah al-Mukarramah-Awwal Bait, the first house of Allah. The Ka’bah is both a direction and a destination, marking the focus of prayers and pilgrimage. The exhibition was curated by an international team of experts.
The 70,000 sqm site is comprised of five galleries, two pavilions, and multiple outdoor art installations. The event attracted over 600,000 visitors in four months.
Watch video here
AQUADERNI WINDOW GALLERY, ITALY
I am very excited to announce my engagement with an esteemed private client on a new, exciting project. My client has purchased part of an historic arcade in a well-known Italian city. The aim is to convert the property into a modern eatery. Apart from offering tasteful and delicious Italian cuisine, he would like to accentuate his concept by presenting the creative works of emerging artists in the - Acquaderni Window Gallery - .
DOMINIC BEATTIE AT QUEEN ELIZABETH HOSPITAL
Now, a project closer to home. The vibrant drawings Dominic Beattie donated to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital have been installed at the entrance of the Macmillan Brooke Unit. Dominic thanked the hospital for the outstanding care his mother received during her cancer treatment.
Meanwhile, we received another generous donation from the artist Annette Levin. Her beautiful works on paper will be framed and installed in due course.
A CONUNDRUM OF CLOUDS – PIP DICKENS
Clouds to most of us seem less a scientific phenomenon than a phantasmagorical wonder of nature. They are at once mesmerising and contradictory – light, airy puffs of cold moisture that weigh tons . None of us considers their incredible weight or that this tonnage hanging directly above our heads is threatening in any way. They float above and beyond us - fleets of whipped cream or candy floss. They mesmerise us with their fleeting, ever-changing formation and, most of all, are an entity that we can all witness, given a few minutes of spare time to see their coming into being: changing, morphing, maturing, shape-shifting, only to evaporate, as if they had never been there at all.
Images and video: Courtesy and ©Diriyah Biennale Foundation, Riyadh, KSA; Galleria Acquaderni, Italy; Dominic Beattie, Pip Dickens and Renée Pfister Art & Gallery Consultancy, Benjamin Tissot, (music) Straight, Royalty Free Music: https://www.bensound.com License code: O7A9MPBCFRSTNELL, with the assistance of Georgia McConnell. All rights reserved.