Zayed University presents Emerge II - Radiating Ports

May 28, 2013

Emerge II: Radiating Ports is an exhibition of works by Zayed University (Dubai and Abu Dhabi) students and alumni, and collaborations with faculty. The collaborations in the exhibition explore thresholds dictated by urban cultural activity and the fluidity that exists in the environment – from the ships of the desert, the sea, and movements of sound through the UAE landscape.

The exhibition, taking place at Zayed University Abu Dhabi from May 22 to September 30, was originally on view in Venice, Italy in 2011, in conjunction with the Biennale.

The 71 artists (63 being students and alumni), in a variety of collaborations with faculty members and on their own present 17 artworks/installations, that explore thresholds dictated by urban cultural activity and the fluidity that exists in their own environment – from the ships of the desert, the sea, and movements of sound through the UAE landscape. A majority of the works presented are video and sound installations, and others include artworks of photography and mixed media.

In 2010-2011 Internationally acclaimed artist Fabrizio Plessi presented a lecture "Art and Technology" thanks to a collaboration between the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority and Louis Vuitton, at Zayed University in November 2011. He was exhibiting his work for the Louis Vuitton Trophy "MARIVERTICALI". Plessi later returned to conduct a workshop to discuss not only the development of his own work, but to exchange ideas with Zayed University Art and Design students and how they might approach their ideas using his own concepts as a spring board.

The Emerge II: Radiating Ports exhibition in Venice in 2011, was visited by a wide international audience along with several members of the UAE community. Fabrizio Plessi, along with many of his collectors and friends, were the first to visit the exhibition. He expressed a keen relationship to many of the works that were a result of the workshop and hopes that we can expand this dialog through further collaborate with students to develop work, in particular the relationship of technology and the world around us for ISEA 2014.

This exhibition in Venice Italy has allowed students and alumni to represent their country and Zayed University on an international level. We now would like to share this with the UAE community.

In conjunction with this exhibition, Canadian Artists Ian Carr-Harris and Yvonne Lammerich will be in attendance, and providing other lectures to students.

The book EMERGE II: Radiating Ports, published by Zayed Books, is due to be released later this spring. The book showcases the work of EMERGE II, but also a collection of artworks produced by students of the College of Arts and Creative Enterprises since 2009.

Director & Curator: Janet Bellotto (ZU); Co-Curators: Karen Oremus (ZU); and Sara Sist. The Concept Advisor is Yvonne Lammerich.
Faculty Supervisors: Elizabeth Monoian; Naz Shahrokh; Ayyub Russell Hamilton; Marco Sosa

The exhibition has been made possible through the collaboration and generous support of Zayed University and the Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Foundation.