It is a solo-exhibition presented by Chinese artist Yu Bellini Guys Tse. It is an installation and the latest work that she researches on her topic “LEFT” concerning people excluded by the society.  She likes to challenge the definition of normality and perfection.  In her paintings, she makes a parallelism between roots of trees and the human body; in fact, both can be born with different forms and shape. 

For more information:
FRONT / SIDE Gallery
L5-05 Tang’s Studio, JCCAC, 30 Pak Tin Street, Shek Kip Mei, Kowloon
Hong Kong, China
front-side-gallery.blogspot.com

In his first solo exhibition, Syrian artist Ammar Abd Rabbo presents a serie of life’s events, from poverty to nobility and celebrity. By exposing a simple silhouette with a rich colored backdrop creates a modern approach to portraits. Standing there, the sifter sex represent a strong symbol of contemporary femininity and sexuality, directly referencing age-old fertility goddesses. We can detect a mixture of traditional symbolism and today’s realism present in all of his photographic works.

For more information:

Ayyam Gallery, Beirut Tower, Ground Floor, Zeitoune Street, Solidere
Beirut, Lebanon
T. +961 1 374 450
www.ayyamgallery.com

This exhibition will feature five fresh emerging talents from India. It explores different aspects such as; societal changes, expectations to urbanization, religion, culture and violence.The Indian artists featured are; Jimmy Chishi, Nabanita Guha, Jundan Mondal, Gopal Samantray and Parag Sonarghare. Jimmy Chishi incorporates traditional folklore, storytelling and theology of North-East India with a contemporary twist. Nabanite Guha employs dark humor to critique the insular and hypocritical values of the middle class society. Kundan Mondal uses the metaphor of the cosmic mythical churning of lord Vishnu. Gopal Samatray philosophizes on the destructive relationship between humans and nature. Parag Sonarghare questions identity during this age of technological advancement, where relations between people have become impersonal and distant.

For more information:
33 Neil Road, Singapore 088820
T. +65 6372 1719
www.indigoblueart.com

Palestinian artist Hazem Harb shares his experience of having lived his entire childhood within the conflict in Gaza. In this exhibition, he shares his anger through monochrome photographs, videos, light box and installation. The works depicts the actual situation in Gaza, which is surrounded by ruins, abandoned beds, and empty shells of houses.

For more information:

Gallery Etemad
Unit 12, Alserkal Avenue, Street 8, Exit 43 SZR, Al Quoz 1,
Dubai, UAE
T. +971 04 346 8649
www.galleryetemad.com

In this exhibition, the curator Rami Farook explores sensible subjects such as master and slave relations.  This show uses a panopticon, a concept design to allow an observer to observe all, to try to understand the mechanisms of power. This exhibition explores the power mechanism through the writings of great thinkers such as; Jean Baudrillard and Michel Foucault. The show features various multi-cultural artists such as; Ahmed Bouholaigah, Manal Al Dowayan, Reem Al Faisal, Ramin and Rokni Haerizadeh, Jeffar Khaldi, and Raja’a Khalid.

For more information: 

Traffic
179 Umm Suqeim Rd
PO Box 6716 Dubai, UAE
T: +9714 347 0209
www.viatraffic.org
 

Vahid Sharifian, Accidentally Angel, 2011, 90x150cm, Courtesy XVA Gallery

This exhibition reflects the many depictions of the sea. Each artist explores the poetic relationship between human nature and that of the ocean, which is both revered and compelling. Iranian and well-respected curator Vahid Sharifian gathers 10 talented artists such as: Shahriar Ahmadi, Mahmoud Bakhshi, Ala Dehghan, Mehdi Farhadian, Anahita Ghasemkhani, Omid Hallaj, Ghasem Mohammadi, Shantia Zaker Ameli, Amirhossein Zanjani.

For more information:

XVA Gallery
Building 7 DIFC Gate Village, Dubai
T. +971 4 358 5117
www.xvagallery.com

This exhibition brings to light the memory of 200,000 young women, known as “comfort women”. They were exploited as sex slaves in Asia during World War II, and increases awareness of sexual violence against women during war time. This representation is based on the work of artist and curator Chang Jin-Lee’s research since 2007 in Asia, meeting “comfort women survivors” and a former Japanese soldier from W.W.II. Added to the photos, are involved ad-like prints and multichannel video installation. The project’s goal is to encourage women’s power and independence, and to launch hope for a future without oppression.

For more information:
1a space
Unit 14, Cattle Depot Artist Village, 63 Ma Tau Kok Road,
To Kwa Wan, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
T. (852) 2529 0087
F. (852) 2529 0072
info@oneaspace.org.hk
www.oneaspace.org.hk

In this exhibition, Lebanese artist Rima Jabbur paints realistic portraits that tell stories. Those stories are not necessarily those of the figures in her paintings. When she has an idea in mind, she searches for her models as a filmmaker seeks his actor.

The exhibition “Portraits and Hikayat” is the expression of the affection she bears to her native Lebanon and American life. In fact, the goal of the artist is to reconnect with her country by immersing in her family and Lebanese friends, which is the theme of this exhibition.

For more information:
Galerie JANINE RUBEIZ
1st Avenue, Charles de Gaulle, Majdalani Building (Bank Audi), Raoucheh
Beirut, Lebanon
+961 1 868 290
gjr@inco.com.lb
www.galeriejaninerubeiz.com

Ala Ebtekar, Coelestis, 2011, Acrylic and digital chine-collé on book pages mounted on canvas, 83.8 x 120 cm, Courtesy The Third Line Gallery

Iranian artist Ala Ebtekar with his cultural background and what it means to be a part of a diasporic community in the 21st Century, presents his meticulous paintings, drawings, and installations where she has imagined what the present day could look like if it collided with history and mythology.

Challenged by an increasing desire to look towards the future and how to manifest this palpable impulse into a new series of work, he began researching the narratives and concepts of the literary genre of science fiction, where depictions of the future, space flight, and time travel set the stage for narratives of realistic speculation about possible future events.

For more information:
The Third Line Gallery, Al Quoz 3, Po Box 72036, Dubai, UAE
T. +9714 341 1367
http://www.thethirdline.com/

The Upper Station will be closing at the end of February after two years working for the flied to keep promoting contemporary photography in Hong Kong. They will be having their last exhibition about new photography by 9 young Asian artists Man Yiu Kwok, Tsui Yuen Tan, Tam Hing Kai, Chan Agum, Yip Tse Shan, Ip Hiu Yin, Poon Kan Chi, Kenneth Ng and Yiu Kwun Ho.

For more information:
The Upper Station Photo Gallery
N°22, Upper Station Street, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong, China
T. +852 3486 2474
http://theupperstation.com/