This is an exhibition about visiting and revisiting, about being physically present in the space, with the traces left by artists who have been there, or hints of those who will be there. Watch for updates, here and elsewhere.

This exhibition emerged as a response to a sense of urgency around the real-time changes we are experiencing today. Perhaps art can offer something different from the news, from the scroll, and yet not distract us or make us forget. Artists have been invited, on very short notice. Some were unable to. Those who said yes are preparing work, or preparing to prepare work. As the show evolves, and history unfolds around us, my readings of the artworks themselves are changing.

Some artworks will appear first as a letter of intent. Others will evolve over the course of the exhibition. Some will arrive ready-made, but ask us to consider the space around us. Some artists will leave traces as if to say, ?the artist was here, and may be back.? Some dancers and performers will come and go, changing the work yet again. Some works might only last one day. I invited our curator, Duygu Demir, to offer a curatorial intervention: an artist will bring an entire scenography, and collaborate on a performance that brings certain ?choreographic objects? to life. The artist list will grow, if and when it seems right. Two of the works will be made entirely by the hands of the community. We will invite you to be one of those participants.

What do we need from a space for art in this particular moment, in this particular part of the world, in the UAE, in a university, in an academic gallery? I hope this exhibition allows for any number of responses.

?Maya Allison

More information here