Fully Booked premieres in 2017 as the only art book fair in the United Arab Emirates
Fully Booked premieres in 2017 as the only art book fair in the United Arab Emirates. As part of UK/UAE 2017 and in collaboration with Crossway Foundation, we are celebrating 15 years of cross-cultural journeys.
Fully Booked aims to foster meaningful cultural exchanges between regional and international artists, designers and publishers, as well as the cultural practitioners and visitors present in Dubai during Art Week at Alserkal Avenue (10-18 March 2017).
We will consider the medium of the artist book as a “multi-site”- a tactile, portable, and accessible form, which allows for the creative and democratic dissemination of information across borders, while simultaneously enabling intimacy with content.
Participating artists:
With a special focus on collaborations between the UK and UAE, Fully Booked will have a 'Border Crossing' programme including an artwork exhibition, film screenings, workshops and talks, which will focus on the intersection of art, travel and cultural exchange.
Participating UAE And UK artists (subject to change) include: Georgie Weedon (UK), Lujain Abulfaraj (UAE), Tulip Hazbar (UAE), Nasser Alzayani (UAE), Al Braithwaite (UK), Henry Hemming (UK), Stephen Stapleton (UK), Booth-Clibborn Editions (UK), Sarah Alfarhan (UAE), Moaza Matar (UAE), Jaffat El Aqlam (UAE), Eman AlHashemi (UAE), Tom Baggaley (UAE), Eman AlEghfeli (UAE), Areej Kaoud (UAE).
When:
- 13 March, 10:00–22:00 - The warehouse space opens to the public as an art book fair and exhibition. The opening reception will take place between 18:00–22:00.
- 14-18 March, 10:00–19:00 - The fair continues throughout the weekend.
- 19-27 March, 10:00–19:00 - The space remains open solely as an art book exhibition with normal gallery hours (no vendors).
The Offscreen Collages (UK)
For the first time, all 120 collages will be displayed from the original artists journey that took place between 2002-2003 for Offscreen, the award-winning book: Offscreen, Four Young artists in the Middle East (published by Booth Clibborn Editions in 2004).
The Road Tapes (UK)
Video work of road footage from across the Middle East by Al Braithewaite.
Zine-Making Workshop with Tulip Hazbar (UAE)
In this workshop, participants will draw inspiration from their surrounding environment, Al Serkal Avenue, and will be asked to collaborate to create fictional scenarios and narratives.
These explorations will manifest in the form of a printed zine.
- Date: Thursday 16 March
- Time: 12:00-15:00
- Price: Free of charge
- Age: 16+
'Everyone Can Draw': Blind Drawing with Nasser Alzayani (UAE)
When Nasser embarks on any journey, he is always accompanied by his sketchbook. More than a companion, the pages of these sketchbooks hold a record of every place he visits. They serve as a tool of documentation as well as a process of crossing borders, bridging his senses with the world around him.
One of the most direct forms of drawing found in his sketchbooks are his blind portraits. This workshop will attempt to change people’s perceptions of what is considered a ‘beautiful’ drawing.
Participants will be teamed up, regardless of their artistic background or skill, and asked to draw their partner. The twist is that they will not be able to look down at their paper.
- Date: Saturday 18 March
- Time: 12:00-14:00
- Price: Free of charge
About the Crossway Foundation
The Crossway Foundation is a UK-based charitable foundation delivering arts and education initiatives for young people in the Middle East and the UK. The Foundation focuses on delivering international creative journeys for young people, as well as running a public programme that is free and open to all.
