Presented by HSBC, London’s iconic Saatchi Gallery will welcome not one but two new art exhibitions this autumn: Beyond Emerging Artists, in partnership with Abu Dhabi Art, and Different Perspectives.
Since 1923, HSBC has been building an impressive art collection, which has grown over the course of the past century to encompass almost 3000 works, bringing together authentic voices, offering inclusive and international narratives as well as a wide variety of differing perspectives. Through its support for programmes such as Abu Dhabi Art’s Beyond Emerging Artists, HSBC is leveraging the power of its connections across the international cultural community to create new opportunities for emerging artists to break into new markets. They are then able to build their own presences within the global artistic scene, gaining vital exposure and meeting with international curators, collectors and other creatives. “Connecting ideas and opportunities across borders is what HSBC does best,” HSBC UAE CEO Mohamed Al Marzooqi tells Canvas. “We see art as a form of dialogue across cultures. By creating opportunities for international exposure for regional artists, we’re not just showcasing art. We’re building lasting bridges between communities and markets.”
An annual initiative by Abu Dhabi Art, Beyond Emerging Artists offers three emerging artists in the UAE a platform on which to cultivate their practice and realise their most ambitious artistic projects in a yearlong programme, created by a guest curator. Critical feedback and dialogue – alongside financial support in covering production fees, material costs, time, travel and research – enable each selected artist to reach their full potential. Dyala Nusseibeh, Director of Abu Dhabi Art, adds: “It’s incredibly rewarding to witness the global growth of The Beyond Emerging Artists programme, made possible through our partnership with HSBC.”
This latest edition brings together three interdisciplinary practices, engaging on themes of history, ecology and identity. Emirati multidisciplinary artist Fatma Al Ali’s work Once Upon a Pirate Coast re-examines obscured colonial histories of the Arabian Gulf, utilising sculpture, text, sound and archival materials to explore how narratives are built, interrogating accepted histories by re-centring local memory and material traces. Meanwhile, Indian artist Simrin Mehra Agarwal’s Precarious Place draws inspiration from her own expertise as a technical diver, in particular her personal experiences of documenting underwater archaeological sites. Her work invites viewers to witness the transformation of abandoned war machines long submerged beneath the ocean’s surface.
Finally, Dina Nazmi Khorchid’s Land, Untitled confronts ecological grief, mourning not only personal loss, but also the erosion of cultural and natural identities as well as themes of nature, migration and displacement. These emerge and intertwine, creating a haunting visual commentary on her own experiences as a third-generation Palestinian refugee.
Showing in parallel, Different Perspectives will present a journey of reflection through the distinctive works of nine artists selected from HSBC’s art collection, embodying the geographical and cultural breadth of the bank’s international communities. Each unique creative voice explores the complexities of the human experience and the surrounding world, challenging audiences to examine their own pre-existing outlooks while also inspiring viewers to see the world in new and unexpected ways. “Different Perspectives celebrates the many perspectives of our people, our customers and the communities we serve,” says Daniel Lancaster, Global Art Manager for HSBC. “It champions inclusivity by showcasing a range of artists and their experiences in the world, allowing the viewer to engage with different viewpoints on life, society and the world around us.”
Renowned as a pioneer of contemporary art within the United Arab Emirates, Mohammed Kazem’s Sound of the Desert captures the movement of light and sound, representing it in space through his own personal technique of ‘scratching’. Fellow Emirati Mohamed Ahmed Ibrahim’s My Garden Details, from a series in which the potted plants in the artist’s garden form a central motif, references his iconic sculptural work Between Sunrise and Sunset in two-dimensional form. British artist Phoebe Unwin’s Pregnant Landscape blurs the boundary between figuration and abstraction, simultaneously evoking the traditions of portraiture and landscape painting.
Cherry Blossoms at Night by South Korean artist Jin Han Lee depicts experiences and sensations whose depth and complexities are lost in the failure of language, capturing the magic of seasonal transition as we leave winter and enter spring as the cherry trees begin to blossom. The artist Vivien Zhang presents Latent Heat, part of her ‘algorithmic’ series in which she explores the intersection of art and technology. Ghanaian artist Emmanuel Awuni’s Make Love Not War and Bethesda are influenced by Afro-diasporic traditions, including oral history, hip-hop, jazz and Afrobeats, exploring themes of identity, culture, faith, healing and social justice.
Malaysian artist Alya Hatta draws on personal experiences and memories in 100 Kilos Uphill, Hour One and 100 Kilos Uphill, Hour Two, using colour, form and space to explore her own Southeast Asian identity, portraying the vibrant intimacy of the diasporic human condition. Portrait, October by China’s Xiao Wang captures feelings of uncertainty through depictions of uneasy figures, distorted colours and uncanny landscapes, bringing attention to the mental burdens and anxieties of living in today’s uncertain world, while Alvaro Barrington reflects upon his own experiences of migrating from the Grenadian countryside to the USA in Sea and Waves BY, 2022.
These exhibitions represent more than just a collaboration between HSBC and Abu Dhabi Art. They are a celebration of the power of art to connect people across borders, inspiring an international dialogue that champions inclusivity and new ideas. Through these projects, HSBC is not only seeking to support the growth of individual artists but also to foster a deeper understanding between communities around the world.
Beyond Emerging Artists and Different Perspectives run until 11 October
