Dubai’s art scene will have more glimmer in the year 2023 thanks to the opening of its newest gallery, the MRK Contemporary Art Gallery, at the Mazaya Center on January 20. It is dedicated to commemorating and supporting pioneering Emirati artists as well as the creations of prodigious young artists, many of whom are Emiratis, and currently occupies two locations there (SM 25 & SM 35).
H.E. Mohammed Al-Murr, the chairman of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Library and a former speaker of the UAE Federal National Council, opened the exhibition. “There are eclectic works from different Schools of Art, different ages, different areas,” Al-Murr pointed out. “We hope people who love art will find what they like and this is the first of many exhibitions,” he added, wishing success for the gallery.
“Dubai can be described as an art hub, the hub of happiness and development and a melting pot of cultures,” said Meena Rao Kamal, well-known abstract landscape artist and Founder and Owner of her eponymous gallery. According to Gulf Today, she pointed out that pioneering Emirati artists, some of whose works are on show in the gallery, have documented the development of Dubai and the United Arab Emirates as a result of the vision of its Founding Fathers and Rulers.
Dr. Najat Makki, an Emirati artist who is part of the MRK roster, is exhibiting acrylic pieces from her Coin I and Coin II series. The subject of Coin I is birds, particularly pigeons, who once carried messages tethered to their legs. This turns the birds into storytellers in Dr. Makki’s eyes. The forgotten history of a queen, once identifiable by her image on a coin, is told in Coin II.
Abdulqader Al Rais, an Emirati artist, is renowned for his abstract designs that blend Arabic lettering and geometric shapes. His use of floating squares over the canvas, which provide the impression of depth, has come to be recognised as a distinctive aspect of his paintings. His rapid approach extols the paintings’ movement. Emirati self-taught artist Faisal Abdulqader left a profession in finance to pursue his passion for art. Most of his paintings, primarily in oils but also include watercolour, pencil sketches, and acrylic, are reflections of the UAE’s culture and history.
Hessa Mohammed Abdulkareem, 12, is motivated to paint pictures of sheikhs because she adores them. She wants the world to know how far her nation has come through them. The Sustainability objective of the UAE inspires young Emirati artist Maitha Khalilabdul Wahid to express her ideas and emotions both on paper and digitally. She is receptive to feedback because she believes it will help her become flawless.
Eurabian artists (European + Arabian), whose works are influenced by Arabic and Islamic characteristics, are also on display at MRK Contemporary. Kamal, who is a supporter of the Bombay Art Society-India, is an Indian national. She uses mixed media and oil paint on archival paper, canvas, and wood panels. Her creations, which are characterised by spiritual elements, reflect her long-lasting journey and experiences in manipulating geometric and organic shapes with tactile textures and meditative colour schemes. She spends her free time creating at her homes in Dubai and San Francisco, USA.
The sources of many of the pieces include well-known foreign artists from the Americas, Europe, and Asia. Ambassadors, consul generals, media members, directors of art institutions, businessmen, collectors, artists, and art enthusiasts attended the opening. Through a partnership with Bacchi, MRK Contemporary also provides a selection of works of art with a focus on the secondary market in addition to marketing the creations of regional and worldwide artists. The gallery will give clients advice on the purchase and sale of artwork for private collections, provide unique viewing opportunities, and assist collectors and art connoisseurs in making purchases of artwork based on prior arrangements for private viewing.