POSTLUDE VOL. I: THE POST ORIENTAL ODYSSEY
11 FEB - 8 MAR 2015
The Mine presented Postlude Volume 1: The Post Oriental Odyssey, an unprecedented GCC-based artists group exhibition. A selection of GCC-born artists will explore the influence of cultural identity in West Asian contemporary art in an attempt to elucidate what remains an enigmatic movement.
For this series, curated by Mohamed Reda, the artists researched the effect of "Orientalization," the re-orienting, and the neo-orientalizing framework that dictates the movement of the West Asian art scene. Whether or not such an effect is a direct or indirect influence on the production and reproduction of their works, ideas, and identities as artists was studied in the identification of post-colonialism, the legacy of the Orient, and the commercial art market’s penchant for oriental exoticism.
The occidental contemporary art world has benefited from the cultural and intellectual support of the gallery in recognizing the value of art, which defies the norm in the 20th century. It has since been witness to an undisturbed stream of art movements. This show identified spaces for experimentation and dialogue where artists could express their need to revolt against the mainstream in order to secure an authentic artistic signature. It also asked whether or not the local art spaces can become a playground for experimentation, dialogue, and critical discourse, free of any prerequisites. Artists explored the internalized identification of post-colonialism and the established image of the oriental legacy, with the commercial art market favoring the so-called exotic.
The exhibition welcomed emerging artists from Bahrain, Kuwait, UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar and showcased various installations, works on canvas, new media, photography, and sculptures.
