Works by Jamal A Rahim, Omar Alrashid and Lulwa Al Khalifa

• Art exhibition of 15 Bahraini contemporary artists at Saatchi Gallery, entitled ‘Diversity’
• Panel discussion on the ‘Business of Art’ with Gallery, Auction House and Art Collector
• Celebratory book launch of Bahraini illustrator,Ahmed Baqer at Maison Assouline, Piccadilly
• Curator-led tours of the exhibition ‘Diversity’ at Saatchi Gallery
• Educational workshop led by Bahraini artist for art students at Saatchi Gallery

Under the patronage of Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka Bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, wife of the King of Bahrain and President of the Supreme Council for Women, Art Bahrain Across Borders announces the launch of Bahrain Art Week in London.

As a diverse global city, London has a rich history in cultural exchange and is always celebrating its cosmopolitan energy which thrives on creative activity. With the recent developments such as the new Louvre Museum opening in Abu Dhabi, cultural exchange has now also become a focal point in the wider Middle East.

Bahrain Art Week launches in London at Saatchi with an exhibition entitled ‘Diversity’ curated by Art Bahrain Fair Director, Kaneka Subberwal and London-based gallerist and curator, Janet Rady.

The focal point of the week will be the exhibition of paintings and installations representing the vibrancy of the Bahraini art scene. Produced using a variety of mediums, from landscapes to portraits, to abstract and conceptual art; the selected artworks reflect a diversity found within the Bahraini art community. The collection features 15 Bahraini contemporary artists who narrate their own stories anchored in Bahraini heritage.

The art works have come to Saatchi courtesy of ArtBAB – the International Art Fair in Bahrain that will be holding its third edition in March next year – and will serve as an exciting preview of what is to come next Spring.

As creative industries flourish within the Middle East, Bahrain Art Week will host a panel discussion focussing on art investment entitled The Business of Art. Distinguished panel members include Roxane Zand, the deputy chairman of the Middle East and the Gulf region at Sotheby’s, Kaneka Subberwal, Art Fair Director of Art Bahrain Across Borders, Reedah El-Saie, Gallery Director, Nyla Gallery, Anders Petterson, Founder and MD, ArtTactic chaired by Iain Robertson, Head, Art Business Studies, London Sotheby’s Institute.

As Bahrain boasts a long history of creative talent, from painters through to illustrators, Bahrain Art Week will pay tribute to an artistic master, and celebrate the illustrations of Ahmed Baqer’s Bahrain Authentic Arab Horses with a celebratory book launch of Bahraini Illustrator, Ahmed Baqer on Friday 8th December at Maison Assouline, Piccadilly, London.

Saatchi’s educational outreach departments will be running workshops led by Bahraini artist and exhibitor, Amani Al Hajeri, on ‘Creativity in Contemporary Art.’ The workshop will be aimed at art students – broadening their understanding of contemporary art and craft in the Middle East.

Offering a deeper appreciation of the Bahraini talent on display at Saatchi Gallery, curator Janet Rady, an expert in Middle Eastern art will be delivering a curator-led tour open to the public, taking the audience through the mediums and craft of the works as well as the artists behind them.

Co-curator of ‘Diversity’ and Art Fair Director, KanekaSubberwal says:

‘As Art Bahrain Across Borders expands and grows, it is exciting to see the cultural exchanges that takes place, through the international artist programme between the global art community and Bahraini artists ‘

For interview requests with any of the artists or curators or for high res images please contact:

Francesca Caller
[email protected]
Tel: +44 203 6374830

Bahrain Art Week Events Calendar

Wednesday 6th December – Tuesday 12th December
‘Diversity’ Exhibition at Saatchi Gallery, London
Private View: Wednesday 6th December 7-9pm (Invitation Only)
Wednesday 6th – Tuesday 12th 10am – 6pm (Open to the Public)

Thursday 7th December
‘The Business of Art’ Panel Discussion at 12 Hay Hill, Mayfair, London 6-8pm
(Invitation Only)

Friday 8th December
Celebratory Book launch and tribute to of Ahmed Baqer’s ‘Bahrain Authentic Arab Horses’
Maison Assouline, Piccadilly 7pm-9pm
(Open to the public but registration needed)

Monday 11th December
Curator-led tour with Janet Rady of the exhibition ‘Diversity’
11am -12pm
Saatchi Gallery, London
(Open to the Public)

Tuesday 12th December
Educational workshop for art students with Bahraini artist Aman Alhajeri : Creativity in Contemporary Art
11am -12pm Saatchi Gallery
(Invitation Only)

ArtBAB 2018

ArtBAB, Art Bahrain Across Borders, is Bahrain’s foremost contemporary art fair with a mission to attract leading international galleries to the Kingdom, so powering the expansion of the art market in the country whilst facilitating the development of local Bahraini artists. It will take place at the Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre from 14-18 March 2018.
The ArtBAB (Art Bahrain Across Borders) curated artist programme launched last year at the Victoria & Albert museum, this lead to a pilot project called Bahrain Art Week in 2016. This was followed by 18 artists showcasing their work in India earlier this year and now returning with the very first edition of the Bahrain Art Week in London December 6th – 12th 2017.

Website: www.artbab.com
Twitter: @ArtBAB_bh
Instagram: Artbab.bh
Facebook: @ArtBAB.bh
Hashtag: #BahrainArt2018

Kaneka Subberwal

Co-Curator of ‘Diversity’ and Art Bahrain Fair Director

Kaneka Subberwal has many firsts to her credit and she has built on this pioneering spirit to make her vision her mission and persisted despite all odds to make what seemed like an impossible dream then to put Bahrain in the reckoning as far as art was concerned. Her initiative is to make Bahrain a focal point for art in the West Asian region and establish a forward thinking platform to promote the growth of art in the country. She takes this many steps forward with BAAB – Bahrain Art Across Borders – an initiative powered by Tamkeen to take the art of the artists of Bahrain across borders globally, establishing it as an umbrella to unite all local art initiatives such as the 2 nd edition of Bahrain’s international art fair ‘Art Bahrain Across Borders 2017’ (ArtBAB 2017) and the more recent Be Bahrain art week hosted in London.
She arrived in Bahrain in 2008 with her company Art Select and set up Bahrain’s first art lounge then expanded to art consultation to include artists, collectors, families and corporate offices within the ambit of the arts. She organized a number of art shows across the country – with ArtBahrain being a culmination of sorts, considering the commendable impact it has had in the region, especially since art fairs are a relatively new phenomenon in the region.
She hopes to create a common space for galleries and artists from around the globe to connect with collectors and art aficionados, whilst hoping that neighbouring Arab States will be more proactive in investing in and promoting their contemporary artists to the world. Her portfolio of organizing art exhibitions is impressive by any standards: 57 and counting. She began in 2005 with shows in Dubai, London, Oman and Doha and the outreach of the expositions was such that she was able to bring in many new buyers and collectors within the ambit of the arts. As an art investment expert, she not only learnt to wear different hats, but also carry them with great responsibility and aplomb.