ArtDayME: Art enthusiasts can head down to the Foundry in Downtown Dubai to experience four exhibitions. The space, which showcases the creations of established and emerging creatives both regionally and internationally, will be presenting new work by versatile and exciting artists.

In the following, we have taken a look at the four exhibitions that are currently being held in Foundry. These exhibitions will end on September 29.

Nafir - ETERNITY (Gallery 8)

Nafir was born in Tehran. The son of a carpet merchant working in the city’s main bazaar, his childhood and forming years were filled with the colours, patterns and textures of the artisanal and artistic heritage of his country, bringing him a joy he could never abondon.

The other main source of inspiration can be found on the earth – shattering display of feminine strength he witnessed being raised by a single mom; this made such a profound impact, that the carpet itself became the personification of a woman, and the final artwork an immortalization of that feminine soul that spoke to him, as an eternal act of gratitude.

It comes as no surprise then, that his pieces convey such a deep love for the beauty of Iranian culture – whether represented in the form of traditional objects or as a female figures, these two embodiments fuse into one another to create a new mysterious and alluring manifestation.

But it is not all about representing one own’s roots. His aim to shine a modern light on ancient value’s is fulfilled by his usage of modern art mediums, such as spray paint.

This is Nafir’s first solo exhibition in the Middle East.

Augustine Paredes - Light, Leaks (Gallery 5)

Augustine Paredes (b. 1994, Philippines) is a Filipino multi-disciplinary artist questioning what it means to desire in the light of migration, identity, and longing. He works with image-making via photography, painting, poetry, and installation.

In 2022, Gulf Photo Plus hosted Augustine’s first international solo exhibition, ‘PARADISE 4EVER’. His commissions include Alserkal Arts Foundation, Art Dubai, Warehouse 421, Goethe Institut, and the Royal Commission of AlUla. He is an alumna of AlUla Artist Residency, Salama Bint Hamdan Emerging Artist Fellowship, Campus Art Dubai, and International Summer School of Photography. He also exhibited internationally, most notably in the Philippines, Malaysia, Latvia, Australia, United States of America and the United Arab Emirates.

As an independent publisher, Augustine authored art books entitled Conversations at the end of the universe (2020), Long Night Stands With Lonely, Lonely Boys (2021), Happy to be here to be happy (2022), The Bitter Taste of Sweetness (2022).

He is a co-founder of Sa Tahanan Collective along with curator Anna Bernice, aiming to create a platform for Filipino art and creatives through exhibitions, art sales, and collaborations.

He is based between Dubai and Frankfurt.

Jason Ho – Line of Infinity (Gallery 4)

Jason Ho’s artistic journey is a harmonious blend of his esteemed career as a chartered architect and his passionate pursuit as an artist. His work transcends the boundaries of conventional art forms, Delving into the depths of thresholds, dimensions, and architectural forms, Jason’s art explores the intricate interplay of duality between dreams and tangible existance.

Jason Ho (b.1993, London) PG (Cantab), MArch (UCL), ARB, RIBA

Drawing inspiration from abstractionism and symbolism, Jason’s transform canvases into a space for dialogue and reflection – the use of light, texture, and colour transforms each piece into a tangible emotional journey, in which the audience can immerse themselves and discover the complexities of temporality and space, enabling them to observe the juncture where space, material, and time intertwine.

Ho conducts an orchestra that features his iconic fine lines and nuanced compositions to create dynamically complex, yet, perfect visual harmony on the canvases.

Dedicated to his artistic craft, Jason’s style emanates from his architectural background firmly rooted in the structured elegance of Bauhaus and the intricate details of Art Deco. He draws inspiration from his travels, infusing his pieces with the wonders of nature and the captivating essence of the places he has encountered. The profound influence of legendary minds of such as Le Corbusier and George Braque are reflected in his work what is an integration of artistic and architectural ideologies.

Orkhan Mammadov – Carpetdiem (Gallery 3)

Carpetdiem is a generative interpretation of Azerbaijan carpet designs. The traditional carpets are woven meticulously by artisans and the underlying code tries to emulate these intricacies through simple yet sophisticated algorithms.

At its core, the code uses fractals and recursion to generate unique designs on each execution of the code. The Carpetdiem is a representation of the magic in mathematics through a mesmerizing display of the fractal geometry that unfolds like blossoming flowers to infinity.

Spontaneously evolving designs captivate the viewer by a hypnotizing temptation and take them to an exquisite journey on a magic carpet. Indeed, revealing the unique beauty in mathematics is at the core of artist’s work.

The recursive fractal system that was derived from the Sierpiński carpet formula subdivides the shape of the equilateral squares consecutively while the algorithm generates a different configuration at each run and creates unique patterns autonomously.