Star of the Indian Ocean holds the key to global art
SHARJAH: The Mauritius International Art Fair (MIAF) which is being held at Le Caudan Arts Centre, Port Louis (Aug. 8 – 11), Mauritius, with the theme ‘Fostering Unity, Celebrating Differences’, will introduce original artwork from local, regional and international artists and galleries.
Founded by Dubai-based artist activist and founder ZeeArts, Zaahirah Muthy, the multi-disciplinary contemporary art fair aims to position Mauritius as an internationally renowned art hub, generate increased levels of tourism both during the fest and year round, to educate Mauritians about the value of buying original artwork as an investment, to empower the younger generation by involving them in MIAF activities and to plug Mauritian artists into the global art network.
The art fair will bring together artists predominantly from neighbouring islands like Reunion, Madagascar and Seychelles and also from Europe, Middle East and Africa, besides Asia, Americas and Oceania.
Visitors will have the opportunity to view and purchase a range of art forms, including painting, sculpture, photography, installation, visual and sound media and assemblage. Emerging artists, pavilions, art installations and project spaces alongside art activities, workshops and live performances, will also be part of the fair.
“We have received incredible response from Mauritian artists, with over 80 applications”, Muthy said. “Our curating panel comprising of local and international curators have short listed 30 emerging and established artists”.
Three artists have been selected as Island Ambassadors from Reunion Island, Madagascar and Seychelles: Charly Lesquelin from Reunion Island; Clipse Teean from Madagascar and George Camille from Seychelles Islands.
Lesquelin is a French painter based in Reunion. Born in 1969, he has devoted his time to producing personal works, inspired by the history and culture of his native island.
Teean is a graffiti artist, writer, painter and designer. She started painting in 2000 and is still the only one who represents women in street art. She is the creator of an internationally known style of graffiti called ‘Echograffiti’.
Camille had his education at Goldsmiths College, London. In 1987, he established Sunstroke Studio in Seychelles, which provided an outlet for his design and craft activities. This was followed in 1997 by the restoration of an old wooden colonial house, Kaz Zanana, which he opened as his first gallery. Four years later in 2001, he opened the George Camille Gallery at Anse Gaulette on the island of La Digue. He has staged many group and solo shows all over the globe.
Panel discussions will be held on the subjects of ‘Art and the Cultural Ecosystem of Mauritius’ and ‘Art as a Catalyst for Social Change’. Among the panelists are Dr Didier Wong Chi Man, Theory and Science of Art, Diaspora – Mauritius; Amaryllis M Georges, Art and Engagement Educator, Louvre Abu Dhabi and Salim Currimjee, Director, Institute of Contemporary Art Indian Ocean, Mauritius; Christopher Babet, artist and researcher, Diaspora – Mauritius; Zia Gopee, art historian, Mauritius and Amro Mohammed Abu Kuhail, Operations Supervisor, Qasr Al Hosn, Abu Dhabi.
ZeeArts has launched a national campaign in Mauritius inviting students from primary and secondary schools, to submit a Mural Art project or an Art Installation project with the support of their art teachers. The National School Campaign for Mural Art and Installation Competition is an initiative in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Economic Development Board of Mauritius to encourage children explore their artistic selves. Atelier Little Picasso is another CSR initiative of ZeeArts to reach 100 children who live in the deprived regions of Port Louis and celebrate their artistic expression by involving them in activities with local and international artists. Atelier Little Picasso has had successful innings in the UAE and Lebanon and its 7th Edition is being celebrated in Mauritius.
Chosen artworks will be exhibited during MIAF and at the Sofitel Mauritius L’imperial Resort & Spa, which will exhibit the artworks after MIAF. All the proceeds from this event will go to NGOs.
An initiative to augument artists’ professional competencies will be attempted through the AEP or Artist Empowerment Program. It is a seminar to be conducted by art writer and journalist Ryan Mario of Singapore. The event will outline the appropriate measures to be taken during the compilation of artist portfolios, biographical profiles and the art of photographing artworks, along with potential features that are encountered when entering the art market, negotiating a contract, how to make effective use of online galleries and how to price a work of art.
Mario’s research is on the economic and cultural balance of the art business. He has aided both emerging artists and industry heavyweights by documenting their works and has published many articles on major art events and fairs.
A workshop will be conducted by renowned Indian watercolourist Bijay Biswaal. He has completed a one-month art residency in Penza, Russia, in 2015 and represented India at the international art symposium in Alanya, Turkey, in 2016.
Emirates based Egyptian artist Diaa Allam will deliver a live painting session and performance and Jerome Toq’r of France will host an interactive public art show. Body art painter Sebastien Echappe will illustrate how much patience and concentration is needed to make good in his genre and he will try to open doors to the artistic milieu of the Indian Ocean.
MIAF is being partnered by, among others, the Economic Development Board (EDB), Mauritius and the Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (MTPA). EDB, inter alia, provides institutional support for strategic economic planning and promoting Mauritius as an attractive investment and business centre as well as an International Financial Centre (IFC), while one of the roles of MTPA is to enhance the image of Mauritius as a prime holiday and up-market destination by consolidating traditional markets, penetrating emerging markets and exploiting niche segments in new markets.
Muhammad Yusuf, Features Writer
