Here, There, Nowhere
OPENING April 15 6-8pm
Here, There, Nowhere presents works by artists Fazail Lutfi, Kareen Adam, and Manal - the first time a group of Maldivian artists are exhibiting works in Melbourne.
This exhibition evolved out of conversations Kareen was having with her Maldivian peers about her series of coral drawings and paintings, which began during 2013 while she was living in Maldives. The conversations reflected on contextualising the idea of home and connection to place, especially as our physical and emotional distance oscillated and shifted from our place of birth. In one conversation with Topy Saeed (a creative director and artist also from the Maldives) we found a connection between Fazail, Kareen and Manal’s works.
Each of us grew up in Male’ the capital of Maldives, and have lived away or are living away from our city. We all still hold strong connections and roots to our place of birth. In our lifetime, the once idyllic island village has transformed into a hectic city, shaped by the advances and troubles of rapid development and socio-political changes.
Our works contemplate the current state of our city Male’ against our memories, the transformations it is going through, and how we are connected to that place now. However, each of us are processing these experiences from different perspectives: while Kareen’s work delves into nostalgia and the past, Manal’s work responds to the present condition of living in the dense city, and Fazail’s work explores the location of his body and self in relation to our place of origin.
While we each have creative practices in different artistic mediums, collectively we present a visual discourse on (dis)connection to place, impermanence, fluidity, nostalgia and a yearning for stability and security. Juxtaposed and placed within shared boundaries of a gallery space - far away from where we come from - the stories, ideas and representations point to a space that one can never return to. Together we are Here, There, and Nowhere simultaneously.
Exhibiting Artists:
Kareen Adam
Kareen is a Maldivian-Australian visual artist based in Narrm/Melbourne. The experience of living between multiple cultures, particularly negotiating between the East and the West informs her practice. Ideas about transitions, cultural identity, and the juncture between 'local' and the 'visitor' emerge in Kareen’s work, which she explores using various mediums including printmaking, drawing, painting, digital media and video. Her current projects are focused on critiquing the white gaze on representations of tourist island destinations and its peoples.
Kareen has a background in psychology and has been building up a creative practice since 2009. She is committed to developing platforms for the Maldivian creative community through cross-country exchanges, education and advocacy. After completing a Master of Creative Industries at Melbourne Polytechnic (2020) Kareen is now a PhD candidate in Visual Arts at Womenjika Djeembana, Monash Art Design and Architecture Faculty.
@krunchykaree
www.kareenadam.com
Fazail Lutfi
Fazail Lutfi born in the Maldives, is an interdisciplinary artist. In his installations he usually uses the medium of video and sculptural elements to create a space where the affect, the experience and the sensations the work generates is central.
In 2001, Fazail received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Dramatic Arts from the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa. He went on to do his Master of Fine Arts degree in Interdisciplinary Studies (Visual Arts and Media Production & Studies) from the University of Regina (Canada) in 2007. For him, an important element of his process and his work is its unspecificity, and ambivalence, opening spaces for interpretation and ambiguity.
Fazail currently resides in Melbourne, Australia and continues to explore themes around his own identities, memories, place and imagination.
@fazaillutfi
www.fazaillutfi.com
Manal
Manal is a self-taught musician and artist from the Maldives.
He is passionate about creating electronic music and experimental visual arts.
Manal’s practice for creative expression is rooted in the spirit of the DIY and collaborations.
He has been part of many pioneering events contributing to encouraging and promoting the culture of sonic and visual artistry in the Maldivian community.
Manal is an Alumni (2015,2016) of the Border Movement - a cultural catalyst for merging electronic music and musicians of south asia and germany - initiated by the Goethe-Institut, a co-creator Sine Valley (2016 -2017) a grassroots A/V residency program for experimenting arts in Nepal and a part of the energetic team at Katti Hivvaru Festival (2014-2016), an urban youth gathering to celebrate culture, creativity, and entrepreneurship of young Maldivians.
His current works centers around being resourceful of circumstances to find a narrative within the cultural polarities of being a maldivian.
Manal lives in Male’, he is a DJ by profession, and is busy playing between different disciplines. He is active with curating events and collaborations together with music collectives @Ethos.mv and @project:isle.
@autonomotor
www.soundcloud.com/autonomotor
We would like to thank and acknowledge our friends and mentors whose support and guidance helped us realise this exhibition: Topy Saeed, Amani Naseem, Irene Adam, Thooha for the food, Hani Amir and Saath Rasheed for documenting.
Dr. Megan Evans and Dr. Brian Martin for their words and guidance
Siteworks for the space to produce some of the artworks
And of course Kimba Thompson for your ever generous vision and support, and the Blak Dot Gallery team for this incredible opportunity to share our work with others.
ARTIST TALK
Here, There, Nowhere - artists’ conversation and Q&A
Time: Apr 24, 2021 Saturday - 03:00 PM - Melbourne
10:00 AM Male’ Maldives
06:00 AM London, UK
This Saturday join us in the gallery - in person or via Zoom - as the artists share their thoughts and stories about the work in the exhibition, and talk about their art practices.
We’re excited to have Manal (in the Maldives) and special guest Topy (in the UK) join us via Zoom
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us04web.zoom.us/j/77674851551?pwd=Mi8yY1ZiVUU5QWMzUUdkYmhFMTBXQT09
Meeting ID: 776 7485 1551
Passcode: HereThere
