Sultan Al Qasimi opens 13th Sharjah Biennial

WAM -- H.H. Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, opened on Friday the 13th edition of Sharjah Biennial, Tamawuj (SB13) at Al Mureijah Square.

Sharjah Biennial is organised by Sharjah Art Foundation, which brings a broad range of contemporary art and cultural programmes to the communities of Sharjah, the UAE and the region.

Upon arrival, Sheikh Sultan was received by Sheikh Khaled bin Abdullah bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Department of Seaports and Customs, Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, Chairman of Sharjah Media Centre (SMC), Sheikh Khalid bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairman of Sharjah Urban Planning Council (SUPC), Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq), Sheikha Hoor Al Qasimi, President and Director of the Sharjah Art Foundation, Prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, the President and Chairman of the Board of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage (SCTH), and a number of Sheikhs, top officials, and diplomats.

Curated by Christine Tohme, curator and the founding director of the Lebanese Association for Plastic Arts, the five-day cultural event includes a public programme in two acts, one in Sharjah (10 March - 12 June 2017) and one in Beirut (19 October 2017 - 19 January 2018), as well as the SB13 School education programme in Sharjah.

Sharjah Ruler toured the exhibition which includes a selection of films related to the SB13 keywords: water, earth, crops and culinary. He was also briefed by Christine Tohme about performances, films, lectures, and the annual March Meeting, featuring presentations by artists, art professionals and institutions focused around the main curatorial framework of SB13.

Sheikh Sultan, accompanied by Sheikha Hoor bin Sultan Al Qasimi, honoured winners of 13th edition of Sharjah Biennial. The jury also awarded the Appreciation Award for the late artist Ali Jabri.

He also honoured sponsors and supporters of the event.

Since 1993, Sharjah Biennial has commissioned, produced and presented large-scale public installations, performances and films, offering artists from the region and beyond an internationally recognised platform for exhibition and experimentation.