Sponsored: It’s your chance to catch up on some extremely well-known local and international artists…

Sharjah has a reputation as one of the UAE’s art and culture hubs, and the latest season of exhibitions from Sharjah Art Foundation goes to show why it’s deserving of this status.

The Autumn 2018 programme, which runs until 19 January, features solo exhibitions from celebrated artists such as Frank Bowling and Ala Younis, as well as a special exhibition to highlight book design in Japan.

Take a look at what’s on the calendar as we head into the new year. The best part? They’re all absolutely free and open to the public.

Frank Bowling: Mappa Mundi

You may recognise Frank Bowling’s distinctive work. The Guyana-born British artist’s massive map paintings represent his perception of history, migration, and childhood memories. He often uses bold colours and abstract shapes to create impact. Frank Bowling: Mappa Mundi (Map of the World) includes some rarely-shown works, along with material from the artist’s archive and films featuring interviews.

Until: 12 January 2019

March Project 2018

The annual educational residency programme is back again, allowing young artists to carry out a research project and then display their resulting site-specific works at Sharjah Art Foundation. The fifth edition of March Project sees artists study the impact of urban development on the culture and traditions of the Gulf.

Until: 10 January 2019

Amal Kenawy: Frozen Memory

This is the first retrospective exhibition featuring Egyptian artist Amal Kenawy’s work since her passing in 2012. The contemporary visual artist’s work mainly looks at the political and social landscape of Egypt, with a strong emphasis on womanhood. This comprehensive display incorporates animation, painting, drawing, sketches, journals, video works, installations, performance documentation and archival material.

Until: 19 January 2019

Sharjapan: The Poetics of Space

This exhibition kicks off a three-year collaboration with curator Yuko Hasegawa, Artistic Director of the Museum of Contemporary Art in Tokyo, Japan. It explores the relationship between art and book design in Japan, from the modernist era to the present, through photography, performance, architecture and books from key artists.

Until: 15 January 2019

Visit sharjahart.org for full details.

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