ARTIST | CURATOR TALK | THE THIRD LINE | DUBAI
Dubai, United Arab Emirates | 14 December 2024
On the Occasion of the Opening of ‘Neither Here ~ Nor Elsewhere’ Group Exhibition Curated by Sanaz Askari at The Third Line.
The Third Line hosted an engaging conversation between curator Sanaz Askari and exhibiting artist Sam Samiee.
The discussion coincided with the opening of the group exhibition ‘Neither Here ~ Nor Elsewhere,’ which delves into themes of identity, marginalization, censorship, and the intersection of personal and social narratives. The exhibition features works by artists including Sam Samiee, Faissal El-Malak, Hayv Kahraman, Mahsa Merci, Michael Ho, Omar Mismar, Sophia Al-Maria, Soufiane Ababri, Tahmineh Monzavi, and Yumna Al-Arashi
About Sam Samiee
Sam Samiee (b. 1988, Tehran) is a multidisciplinary Iranian-Dutch artist, painter, essayist, and researcher whose practice spans painting, installation, and curatorial projects. By blending European painting traditions with Persianate cultural references, Samiee bridges cultures and engages deeply with psychoanalysis, literature, and cultural memory. His art investigates the complexities of historical, philosophical, and personal narratives, emphasizing the "here-and-now" experience, where viewers actively reconstruct meaning.
Samiee studied at the University of Art in Tehran, AKI ArtEZ in the Netherlands, and the Rijksakademie van beeldende kunsten in Amsterdam. His work is known for its vibrant colors, dynamic brushwork, and layered textures.
His art has been showcased at the 10th Berlin Biennale, Kunstmuseum Den Haag, Manchester Art Gallery, and Parasol Unit, London. He has participated in Art Basel Hong Kong and Liste Art Fair Basel, with works included in collections such as Taylors Museum, Centraal Museum Utrecht, and the Kadist Art Foundation. Samiee is a recipient of the Royal Dutch Painting Prize and the Wolvecamp Prize, where he has also served as a jury member.
His curatorial projects include Farideh Lashai: Afloat Over Undulations (Abu Dhabi, 2022), reflecting his interest in the intersection of painting, literature, and digital media.
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About Sanaz Askari
Sanaz Askari is an independent curator, cultural consultant, and founder of The Mine, a Dubai-based platform (2013–2018) dedicated to supporting emerging artists through interdisciplinary exhibitions, performances, and public art.
Her recent curatorial projects include Another Birth (2023), inspired by Forough Farrokhzad’s poetry and supported by Alserkal Avenue in Dubai; Geopoetics of the UAE (2023), a UAE artist group show commissioned by the UAE Embassy in Brussels; and Echoed Vision (2024), which featured regional artists such as Ali Akbar Sadeghi, Farideh Lashai, Fereydoun Ave, and Abbas Akhavan.
Askari played a pivotal role in facilitating The Sea Suspended (2016), the Barjeel Foundation’s exhibition at the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art, marking the first-time presentation of modern Arab art alongside Iranian works. She has also curated pop-up exhibitions in Copenhagen (2016) and Paris (2019).
From 2016 to 2018, Askari consulted for the Government of Dubai through the Dubai Media Office. Now based between London and Dubai, she continues her curatorial and project-based initiatives through The Mine.
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About The Third Line
The Third Line is a leading contemporary art gallery in Dubai, representing artists locally, regionally, and internationally. The gallery plays a vital role in fostering dialogue and showcasing innovative practices that challenge narratives and explore new perspectives within contemporary art.
Since its inception, The Third Line has been at the forefront of the Middle Eastern art scene, highlighting a diverse range of emerging and established artists across various disciplines.
