Recently, Meridian International Center and the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) unveiled Past Forward: Contemporary Art from the Emirates, a unique new cultural diplomacy program and art exhibition.
This is the first-ever major touring exhibition of Emirati contemporary art to be shown in the United States. The exhibit, comprised of over 50 artworks from 25 notable Emirati artists, will travel across the US for the next 18 months, allowing American communities the opportunity to learn more about the UAE’s rich cultural heritage and increasing cultural engagement between the UAE and US.
Just last week, three of the featured Emirati artists Zeinab Al Hashemi, Khalid Mezaina, Maitha Al Mehairbi and Noor Al Suwaidi, the Emirati co-curator joined us in Washington, DC to help unveil the exhibition. During their time in DC, the group had the opportunity to build new friendships, meet students, fellow artists, and prominent art figures and create new pieces of art with patients at Children’s National Medical Center.
As you walk through the Past Forward exhibition, you will notice many pieces incorporate traditional Emirati culture and heritage, while complementing the UAE’s steps towards development and modernity.
We encourage you all to visit Past Forward, which will be on display at the Meridian International Center through July 13, 2014.
Stay tuned to this blog for more updates on the exhibition.
See you there!
