Works from The Farook Collection
Opening:
Wednesday, 9 February, 7:00pm
Until March 5, 2011
Traffic
179 Umm Suqeim Rd
PO Box 6716 Dubai, UAE
T +9714 347 0209
Sat – Thu 10am – 7pm
www.viatraffic.org
Traffic is pleased to announce its latest exhibition ‘THE STATE: UPPERS & DOWNERS’, featuring works by 23 different artists from The Farook Collection.
The show resumes a conversation initiated by Rami Farook, Emarati Director and Curator of Traffic, about the state of the world today, continuing to observe, document and share. While ‘THE STATE’ – the inaugural exhibition held at Traffic, dealt with the socio-political state post September 11th, ‘THE STATE: UPPERS & DOWNERS’ comments on the current global condition, but from an economic perspective, where the city of Dubai is a focal point.
The financial crisis from 2007 to the present is considered by many economists to be the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression of the 1930s. Like other world-class capitals, Dubai has felt the crunch of the economic downturn and saw its six-year development boom come to a grinding halt.
Award-winning journalist Jim Krane boldly summarizes Dubai prior to the crash, “…It is capitalism on cocaine, Las Vegas without the gambling. Until its construction boom came to an end in 2009, it was the fastest-growing city in the world. With shimmering skyscrapers hiding gritty 24-hour construction at ground level, its economy outpaced China’s while luring more tourists than all of India…(Dubai) has become an icon of the future, a rising force in the Middle East that impacts on us all.”
Despite the huge blow Dubai’s economy has suffered, it is believed that it will rise again. “Aside from discussing the current economic transmutation and the social transmutation resulting from it, the show also acts as a reminder that all sustainable economies go up and come down. Mark Twain once said, “History doesn’t repeat itself, but it does rhyme,” and so the cycle continues,” comments Rami Farook.
Artists included in ‘THE STATE: UPPERS & DOWNERS – Works from The Farook Collection’ :
Arwa Abouon – Abbas Akhavan – Rana Begum – James Clar – Shezad Dawood – Cedric Delsaux – D*Face – Cerith Wyn Evans – Lamya Gargash – Abdulnasser Gharem – Mona Hatoum – Runa Islam – Halim Al Karim – Jeffar Khaldi – Dr. Ahmed Mater – Loreta Bilinskaite Monie – Huma Mulji – Robin Rhode – Marwan Sahmarani – Faisal Samra – David Shrigley – Sami Al Turki – Ayman Yossri aka Daydban
Traffic – Created by UAE national collector, curator and art patron Rami Farook, Traffic’s 10,000sqft space offers two gallery spaces – for commercial shows by artists from the region and beyond, and curated highlights from The Farook Collection as well as other private & corporate collections. Other aspects of Traffic include studio space for resident artists such as James Clar, as well as a retail outlet called ‘PRINT’ for contemporary arts publications.
For further media information and interview requests please contact: Nina Trojanovic, Associate Director at nina [at] viatraffic.org / 009714 3470209
*Image above:
Courtesy of Traffic.
