Inloco Gallery presents its annual conference, Inloco Talks 2024, focusing on urban semiotics in the Gulf region. The one-day event will serve as a dynamic forum for experts to critically examine the intricate interplay of Arabic visual codes, language, typography, literature, and socio-historical context in shaping the modern urban sign system. Through four interactive sessions, the conference will bring together scholars, artists, curators, and urbanism experts from across the region. Featured participants include Salwa Mikdadi, Professor of Art History at NYU Abu Dhabi; Huda Smitshuijzen AbiFares, Director of the Khatt Foundation; and Karim Jabbari, calligraphy and light artist, among many others.
In addition, Inloco MetaTalks will be hosted in the project’s metaverse, discussing how digital creators from Arab countries utilize signs and symbols to construct virtual cultural landscapes, with an emphasis on distinctive regional aesthetic trends.
“With Inloco Talks 2024, we launch the gallery’s new thematic season, set the foundation for our curatorial direction, and culminate in an art intervention and exhibition at Inloco Gallery. This initiative reinforces our commitment to building a strong research foundation for contextualized artistic practice while meaningfully contributing to the regional cultural and academic landscape,” says Anna Vetoshkina, Inloco Curator.
Program:
Session 1: Visual Codes and Imagery in Arabic Arts & Culture
11:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Salwa Mikdadi (NYUAD)
Professor of the practice of art history at NYU Abu Dhabi, Founder and principal investigator of al Mawrid Arab Center for the Study of Art at NYU Abu Dhabi
Khalil Abdulwahid
Emirati visual artist, Visual Arts Manager at Dubai Culture & Arts Authority.
Nasser Abdullah
Emirati curator and art professional, former Chairman of the Emirates Fine Art Society (EFAS), 2014–2018.
Session 2: Arabic Languages, Literature and Typography
1:00 PM – 2:30 PM
Huda Smitshuijzen AbiFares (Khatt Foundation)
Founding Director of the Khatt Foundation, Khatt Books Publishers in Amsterdam specializing in Arabic/multilingual typographic design and Arab design history.
Maurice Pomerantz (NYUAD)
Professor and Executive Director of the NYUAD Institute specializing in Abbasid literature.
Karim Jabbari
Calligraphy and light artist.
Session 3: Regional Social & Historical Context
3:30 PM – 5:00 PM
Laure Salma Assaf (NYUAD)
Assistant Professor at NYUAD. Anthropologist focused on youth, urbanity, and migration in contemporary Emirati society and the Gulf region
Nelida Fuccaro (NYUAD)
Historian and Professor of modern Middle Eastern History at NYUAD with a specialized focus on the history of the Gulf region.
Mariam Al-Attar (AUS)
PhD, Arabic and Middle Eastern Studies Department, University of Leeds, United Kingdom.
Public Talk: “Why We Return: Unpacking the Power of Place”
5:30 PM – 6:30 PM
Hessa Alghandi (Hessa Archives)
Designer and artist, Founder of Hessa Archives.
Aida Balaš (100architects)
Director of Business Development at 100architects, Civil Engineer.
Sofiane Si Merabet (The Confused Arab)
French-Algerian artist and author living and working in Dubai.
Abu Dhabi Streets
A popular Instagram platform celebrating the city’s hidden urban gems.
Academic advisors of the conference
Khaled Alawadi
Associate Professor of Sustainable Urbanism, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi
George Katodrytis
Professor of Architecture at American University of Sharjah, Sharjah.
