Gallery of Light Artists in Residence prepare for their end of residency exhibition ‘Holding the Locust’
- Exhibition will take place at DUCTAC’s Gallery of Light from 1st –5th October
- Closing reception to take place at 7pm on Wednesday 5th October
DUCTAC’s first two artists in residence, Dubai-based British artist Simon Coates and Ethiopian artist Ephrem Solomon, are preparing to mark the end of their residency at the Gallery of Light with an exhibition of their work, entitled Holding the Locust.
The exhibition, which will run from Saturday 1st to Wednesday 5th October, will feature the work that Coates and Solomon have created during their month long residency. The pair have been working alongside one another at DUCTAC’s Gallery of Light since the beginning of September and their residency will officially end on Wednesday 5th October, when visitors are invited to join them in the Gallery for a closing reception from 7pm onwards.
Coates, who hails from London and has been resident in Dubai for 8 months, explains that the title of the show reflects how he and Solomon - who travelled to Dubai from Addis Ababa especially for the residency – have been influenced by the city:
“The name Dubai literally translates as 'baby locust' and Ephrem and I both agree that the work we've created during the residency reflects our experiences of Dubai. As we work, we're studying the city and the culture here, almost as if we're holding it in our hand.”
The Gallery of Light’s Artists in Residence programme is a continuation of the gallery’s mission to promote and develop opportunities for under-represented artists and curators. It is hoped that the programme will also help to sustain the gallery’s other aim - to provide a platform for dialogue between artists, both locally and across cultures.
The second phase of the programme will begin on 9th October when Emirati Painter and Sculptor Khawla Darwish will begin work alongside Dubai-based German-Egyptian artist Mona Fares, with their Residency continuing until 31st October. The work that they create will be exhibited in the Gallery of Light in early November.
The gallery has been open to the public throughout the Residency, with visitors being invited to interact with the artists and watch them at work. Colette Mol, Arts Manager at DUCTAC, said: "The idea behind the Residency is to enable these talented artists to consider their practice from new perspectives, out of the context of their regular studios. For the visiting public, we hope that open-studio access to the artists during the Residency will help to demystify contemporary art making and provide inspiration for their own creative ideas.”
The Gallery of Light Residency Programme is supported by Citymax Hotels. Russel Sharp, COO of Citymax Hotels said that their involvement demonstrated the group’s dedication to supporting the arts:
“Our partnership with DUCTAC is an example of our commitment to support local arts and culture within the UAE. We believe in celebrating the local arts in order to strengthen the surrounding community and its heritage.”
For further information, please see www.ductac.org or call 04 341 4777
Ephrem Solomon & Simon Coates: Holding the Locust
Dates: Saturday 1st October – Wednesday 5th October
Opening hours: 9am – 10pm
Closing Reception: Wednesday 5th October, 7pm
Location: Gallery of Light, DUCTAC, Level 2, Mall of the Emirates
Price: Free
Contact: 04 341 4777 / This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Website: www.ductac.org
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