BREATHING THE AIR BY MAJED SHALA

Organisation: The Arab British Centre | Arts Canteen

Time: 04 July 2011 12:00pm - 21 July 2011 6:00pm

Place: The Arab British Centre, 1 Gough Square, London EC4A 3DE

Part of the Mayor of London's Shubbak Festival; London’s first ever celebration of contemporary culture from across the Arab world.

4 – 8 JULY 2011 12:00 – 18:00

DRINKS RECEPTION | MONDAY 4 JULY 18:00 - 21:00 | NO NEED TO RSVP JUST COME ALONG

11 - 21 JULY 2011 | By appointment only | E: imogen@arabbritishcentre.org.uk or T: 020 78321310 to arrange a viewing.

THE ARAB BRITISH CENTRE | 1 GOUGH SQUARE | LONDON EC4A 3DE

Majed Shala is a contemporary Palestinian artist of compelling and beguiling talent, who is attracting a growing international reputation.

Shala’s exhibition Breathing the Air depicts human figures stripped of identity and weighed down by words in Arabic. This series of powerful paintings is his response to the conflict and confines which govern him but do not define him; a message which reaches out to the world well beyond Gaza.

Shala is a co-founder of Gaza’s Shababeek Gallery, which has been at the forefront of promoting the work of contemporary artists in the region, tackling political realities through creative responses.

Breathing the Air is a temporary exhibition organised by the Arab British Centre in conjunction with Arts Canteen, a new venture which explores artistic relationships between artists in the Middle East and European audiences.

Founded in 1977, The Arab British Centre works to improve the British public’s understanding of the Arab World. A visit will also allow you to view the Centre’s public library and its permanent collection of artwork. The Permanent Collection offers an unparalleled insight into the rich traditions of the region featuring works in a range of media, from stylised calligraphic compositions to conceptual photography.

For more information, please contact:

Imogen Ware imogen@arabbritishcentre.org.uk +44 (0) 207 832 1310
Aser El-Saqqa info@artscanteen.com +44 (0) 7903 606 026

www.arabbritishcentre.org.uk | www.artscanteen.com

Image: Majed Shala, Motherhood under siege, 2010

Part of the Arab British Centre's series of temporary exhibitions promoting artists, photographers and film makers from, working in, or inspired by the Arab world.  

Shubbak: A Window on Contemporary Arab Culture. Presented by the Mayor of London. Sponsored by HSBC. Shubbak will feature more than 70 events in over 30 key cultural venues across the capital, covering visual arts, film, music, theatre, dance, literature, architecture, lectures and discussion.