ART021 2024

The booth, part of the invited Detour section of the fair, curated by Danielle Shang, will feature artworks by Hamra Abbas (b. 1976, Kuwait), Shaikha Al Mazrou (b. 1988, UAE), Mandy El-Sayegh (b. 1985, Malaysia), Asad Faulwell (b. Idaho, 1982), Driss Ouadahi (b. 1959, Morocco) and Nathaniel Rackowe (b. 1975, UK).

Uniting the works of these six disparate artists is a shared an interest in materials and materiality.

Hamra Abbas and Shaikha Al Mazrou explore the physical properties and cultural significance of their chosen materials—Abbas through her intricate marble inlays, which highlight the geographical origins and historical importance of lapis lazuli, whilst Al Mazrou’s sculptures express materiality through an intuitive understanding of physical properties, blending ideas from contemporary art movements focused on formal and material elements.

Meanwhile, painters Mandy El-Sayegh and Asad Faulwell engage with materials through collage, with El-Sayegh incorporating newsprint and found objects, and Faulwell using replicated archival images.

Driss Ouadahi’s paintings reflect urban alienation through geometric abstraction, utilising a palette that evokes natural light to comment on the built environment. Conversely, Nathaniel Rackowe’s exploration of themes of space and movement is through innovative use of materials, often designed to recreate the experience of navigating the city around us.