SHARJAH.- Maraya Art Centre, an initiative of Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) and with the support of Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company (du) is hosting a unique exhibition titled “The Beginning of Thinking is Geometric”. A group show of 13 established and emerging artists as well as designers and architects, including both collectives and collaborations.

Curated by Sara Raza, London based Associate Curator for Maraya Art Centre; “The Beginning of Thinking is Geometric” references the activity of (re)thinking the science of geometry as a visual, cultural, textual and performative aesthetics. Highlighting a break away from the pragmatic towards more thinking sciences. This curatorial project explores cutting edge diverse practices within the works of visual artists and designers, whose practices exist at the cusp of multiple aesthetic, social and cultural concerns.

Giuseppe Moscatello, Maraya Art Centre Manager stated: “This exhibition aims to provide a myriad of visions into the transformative ways in which artists have explored mathematics and geometry to create strong messages about artistic agency. As part of our commitment to the community, this exhibition touches on Islamic art, which complements the Emirates of Sharjah being the Capital of Islamic Culture for 2014.“

Curator Sara Raza explains: “This is an experimental project that calls for a visual cultural reassessment into the origins of geometry and mathematics. It investigates the thought process that occur behind the actual making of works that derive from geometric forms, which are employed to explore issues pertaining to space and time.”

The exhibition showcases the works of the following artists: Sarah Al Abdali, Sarah Abu Abdallah Ebtisam Abdulaziz, Farhad Ahrarnia, Zeigam Azizov, Fayçal Baghriche, Ala Ebtekar, Basmah Felemban, Fatima Al Qadiri & Alex Gvojic, Mobius Design Studio & Faysal Tabbarah, Hayv Kahraman, Nasir Nasrallah and Jamal Tayara-Baroudy. Many of whom are commissioned specially for the exhibition. Projects presented within the exhibition are deployed within an array of different mediums ranging from drawings, sculpture, audio-visual installation, text and informal architecture.

Exhibition highlights include brand new site specific works by renowned San Francisco based artist Ala Ebtekar along with Jeddah based emerging artist Basmah Felemban. Furthermore, a special design focus will also explore and expand the curatorial theme through informal architectures with projects by UAE based, Mobius Design Studio with design architect Faysal Tabbarah and designer, Jamal Tayara-Baroudy who revisits the traditional Arabic majlis.

As part of the exhibition Maraya will be hosting a series of workshops inspired by the exhibition.