Sharjah continues to justify its status as the cultural capital of the Emirates. From April 6 to June 6, the Sharjah International Biennial 7 exhibition of contemporary art was presented to the public.
The very word biennial (biennale) suggests that such cultural events are organized once every two years. 70 artists from 36 countries of the world take part in the international exhibition. In parallel with press conferences, demonstrations and the sale of artwork, a symposium and master classes for young artists are held. During the program, three prizes will be awarded - Best Work, Second Work and Original Work.
On March 24, at the opening ceremony of Biennial 7, the curator of the event, Mr. Jacques Persikian, called the desire of the residents of the Emirates to understand contemporary art one of the main components of the biennale. To give them an opportunity to better understand everything, the exhibition will work in Sharjah for two whole months, with some paintings being put up for auction.
As part of the biennale, the Arab Art Festivals Forum has opened in the Sharjah Cultural Palace. Sheikh Sultan Ben Muhammad al-Kassimi, who opened it, urged artists to reflect in their work the depth and richness of the Arab cultural heritage. "Art helps humanity in its movement from the past to the future," - these words were addressed to those masters who were exhibited at the Sharjah Art Museum. According to Muhammad Kazim, the curator of this part of the exposition, he sees as his task not only the acquaintance of the Biennale visitors with the trends of Arabic art, but also the deepening of the dialogue between local artists and event organizers.
The main exhibition of the Biennale awaits visitors at the Sharjah Expocenter. And just a three to five minute drive from it, on the Al-Qasba Canal embankment, there is a new center of culture and recreation.
This channel now attracts evening walks not only residents of the surrounding high-rise buildings, but also guests from all over the emirate, and tourists staying in Sharjah. It has already been 10 days since an entertainment complex opened here with luminous fountains, a bright striped tent (which shows fabulous performances three times a day) and walking schooners-dows, skating the audience along the entire canal. And, of course, the Eye of the Emirates is the largest ferris wheel in this region (ticket price is 20 dirhams for an adult and 10 dirhams per child). Although at the same time more than 300 people can accommodate more than 300 people in 42 air-conditioned booths of the attraction, those who wish to enjoy the evening Sharjah are in a huge queue from a bird's eye view.
