March Meeting 2016: Day Four – From the Desert to the Metropolis

There is truth to the saying, “time flies when you’re having fun.” My four-day visit to Sharjah has come to a close—just when I could finally confidently navigate my way through the streets from my hotel to Sharjah’s district of art spaces and offices.

Looking back, the first day of the trip, before the March Meeting had begun, was both eventful and exotic. The day started out as many press trips do: with several exhibition visits. We were given a guided tour of the Sharjah Art Museum, followed by a stop at the Flying Saucer, a heritage building recently refitted as an exhibition venue by the Sharjah Art Foundation (SAF). On view, inside the light-filled space, was the exhibition “1980–Today: Exhibitions in the United Arab Emirates,” which was originally presented at the United Arab Emirates Pavilion of the 2015 Venice Biennale. Already maximizing my time on day one, I was then taken on a quick trip to Bait al-Shamsi to see the first “Do It” exhibition—an international art project curated by Hans Ulrich Obrist—to take place in the Arab region.

It was the evening event that day that truly took the idea of experiencing art to a new level. Our group piled into four-wheel-drive vehicles—fitted with roll cages—and trekked out to Sharjah’s Mleiha desert. Amidst the soft, red sand and clear night-sky, Japanese artist Taro Shinoda and electro musician Uriel Barthélémi’s Lunar Reflection Transmission Technique was projected on a nine-by-twelve-meter screen, accompanied by live music by the incredibly talented Barthélémi. Did I mention a three-course dinner was served in temporary tents among the sand dunes?

Intoxicated by the beauty of the desert, the next few days flew by quickly, and I soon found myself trying to madly squeeze in as much art as possible on my last day in Sharjah. Tuesday morning started with a tour of “The Time is Out of Joint,” led by the exhibition’s curator Tarek Abou El Fetouh, followed by a quick stop to see SAF’s solo exhibition of Damascus-born artist Simone Fattal.

As a special addition to our visit, we were given passes to attend the vernissage of Art Dubai. The majestic Madinat Jumeirah was a fitting venue for the Gulf region’s biggest art fair. While the halls were filled with art, it was the outdoor terrace that made Art Dubai impressive. There was an endless amount of food and a free-flow of drinks to match. As the hours trickled by, the terrace turned into a glamorous party.

If I were allowed only one experience to take away with me from this trip, it would indisputably be the film screening in the desert, underneath the stars, which was most memorable. And I still have traces of sand in my shoes to prove it.

Denise Tsui is assistant editor at ArtAsiaPacific.