Sharjah Museums Department announces printmaking exhibition from the Sub-continent

Sharjah Museums Department (SMD) announces the opening of Trajectories: 19th-21st Century Printmaking from India and Pakistan at the Sharjah Art Museum. Curated by Dr. Paula Sengupta and Camilla H. Chaudhary, the exhibition, which opens on 10th of September and is set to run through 20 November, will introduce to a UAE audience India and Pakistan’s shared cultural and artistic history.

The exhibition will highlight the various printmaking schools that have emerged in Pakistan and India since late 19th century s and   into the contemporary context.

The two guest curators for this unique exhibition are: Dr. Paula Sengupta is an artist, academic, art critic and curator based in Calcutta, India, and Camilla Hadi Chaudhary from Karachi, Pakistan, an independent curator residing in Dubai.

Relations between India and Pakistan have always been complex, and Trajectories seeks to create bridges of dialogue and understanding through shared culture and art. The medium of printmaking has been used by the artists represented as a vehicle for onceiving imaginative vocabularies s that probe the boundaries of society both historically and into the present.

The exhibition, which encompasses more than 120 works, and includes rare specimens  of prints from the colonial period and  important works  by prominent artists such as Mukul Dey, Zarina Hashmi ,Zahoor-ul-Akhlaq and Anwar Jelal Shemza, begins with a visual journey back through the pre-Partition era, with an emphasis on 19th and early 20th century bazaar prints. Moving into the post-Partition years,   printmakers  have taken bold, experimental steps to re-interpret the very definition of the medium, producing work that is both relevant and emotionally resonant.

Commenting on the upcoming exhibition, SMD Director General Manal Ataya said, “The United Arab Emirates is home to a large and thriving South Asian population, and we believe that Trajectories honors their cultural heritage. At its best, art can transcend political, linguistic, and historical borders, and we hope that this exhibition of truly thought-provoking prints from India and Pakistan will inspire dialogue between all those who visit.”

Ataya went on to remark, “Both India and Pakistan are distinguished with established printmaking schools, movements, and artists and this exhibition seeks to highlight that legacy while placing them in context within the overall timeline of art history worldwide.”

The various works that comprise the exhibition were sourced by way of generous loans from museums, galleries, and private collections in the UAE, UK, Pakistan, and India, including National College of Arts, Lahore Pakistan. Additional logistical support for the exhibition was provided by Akar Prakar (India) and ArtChowk (Pakistan).

A full catalogue commemorating Trajectories and including statements from the two curators and in-depth information about each print will be available to read or purchase at Sharjah Art Museum.

The general public is warmly invited to attend the official opening of Trajectories, to be held at Sharjah Art Museum from 6.30pm to 9pm., the evening of 10 September, 2014. Admission to both the opening and the exhibition are free of charge.

SMD will also be hosting two educational events in conjunction with Trajectories, a panel discussion and an academic day, apart from various workshops and activities offered to school children (pre-bookings required). The discussion is free and open to the public and will be held at Sharjah Art Museum on 13 September from 5-7pm. The panel will feature curators Paula Sengupta and Camilla Hadi Chaudhary as well as various artists and academics and will both shed light on the history behind the exhibition and provide a platform for debate and discussion. The SMD Education Division will also host a group of teachers from different schools for a special morning program on 15 September, which is set to include a guided tour, Q&A session, and an interactive workshop that will delve into printmaking technique and form.

There will also be a weekend workshop for families on 18 Oct. All events require prior booking.

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