The Baltimore Museum of Art is currently hosting an exhibition called Preoccupied, which features contemporary Native American and First Nations art from leading practitioners such as Dana Claxton, Dyani White Hawk, Laura Ortman, Nicholas Galanin, and others. The exhibition includes a solo presentation by each artist, with works displayed in various galleries throughout the museum, including a video program that is particularly notable for its immersive quality.
https://hyperallergic.com/974112/top-50-exhibitions-around-the-world-2024/A Pilbara scarf was presented to Gisèle Pelicot as a gesture of solidarity. The presentation is related to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-12-20/gisele-pelicot-rape-drugging-trial-dominique-pelicot/104692012The Ramallah Art Fair (RAF) is hosting its annual event, featuring a diverse collection of artworks by Palestinian artists. The fair has three distinct sections: Photography, Contemporary art, and Rare artworks. Notable artists participating in the Contemporary section include Alaa Albaba, Bashar Khalaf, and Karim Abu Shakra, while the Rare artworks section showcases iconic Palestinian artists such as Fathi Ghaben and Ismail Shammout.
https://www.gulftoday.ae/culture/2024/12/19/face-of-art-in-place-of-war-ramallah-art-fair-flashes-palestinian-resilienceSheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice-President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has recognized the contributions of artist Dia Al Azzawi to contemporary Arab art on X. Al Azzawi's work combines visual art, Arabic calligraphy, and sculpture to highlight pressing issues in the Arab world, making it a global message. His innovative approach blends text and imagery, integrating Arabic letters and poetry into modern artistic expressions.
https://www.khaleejtimes.com/uae/inspired-generations-dubai-ruler-recognises-artist-who-uses-art-to-highlight-arab-issuesCamille Claudel, a French sculptor, faced significant challenges in her career due to societal attitudes towards women artists and mental health issues. Despite these obstacles, she continued to create art that was highly regarded by critics and collectors. Her work is now considered an important part of the history of modern sculpture.
https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2024/12/18/camille-claudel-sculpture-discovered-in-abandoned-paris-apartmentLibyan multidisciplinary artist Malak Elghuel reflects on the work of Reem R., who presents a world suspended between reality and illusion in her art pieces. In these works, fragments are transformed into artifacts that reflect her desire to preserve what might otherwise be lost. The use of illusion is not just playful but a deliberate effort to peel back the constructed facades of reality. R.'s work has been exhibited at various locations including LA, Paris, Qatar, and Dubai, and she has received commissions from several organizations in Qatar. Her art often incorporates recurring themes such as oranges, which symbolize nostalgia and a home held close to one's heart.
https://www.gulftoday.ae/culture/2024/12/16/palestinian-artist-reem-rs-lilies-droop-with-loss-bloom-with-resistanceA panel discussion was held in Pakistan featuring notable artists and intellectuals, including Professor Salima Hashmi, Quddus Mirza, Nazish Ata, and others. The event was moderated by Rabeya Jalil and focused on the work of artist Resham Syed, who explores themes such as social, political, economic, and cultural issues through her art.
https://www.brecorder.com/news/40337736/artist-talk-organisedA collection of artwork created by young artists from the Kharkiv-based studio Aza Nizi Maza is on display through next December at an exhibition that symbolizes resilience and hope amidst the ongoing war in Ukraine. The artworks reflect the experiences of families who were forced to seek refuge in metro stations during the Russian invasion in 2022, where they found solace in art as a means to cope with their challenging circumstances.
https://www.expats.cz/czech-news/article/prague-metro-displays-art-by-children-who-sheltering-in-ukraine-s-undergroundThe nativity scene has been reimagined by artists throughout history to reflect the social and political contexts of their time. In World War I, artists depicted Jesus as a soldier in military uniform, while in World War II, Polish artist Stanisław Przespolewski created a nativity scene with Mary dressed in traditional folk patterns and a winged hussar protecting the family. More recently, artists have used the nativity scene to comment on contemporary issues such as war, genocide, and displacement. For example, in 2019, Banksy unveiled a crèche depicting the Holy Family beside Israel's West Bank separation barrier, pierced by a star-shaped bullet hole. In 2022, artist Kelly Latimore created a nativity scene featuring Jesus, Mary, and Joseph inside an unhoused tent community, barred from the city behind them by a metal fence. The Vatican displayed a nativity scene with bomb shrapnel embedded in the statue last Christmas, while Pope Francis has called for an end to the war on Gaza, highlighting the connection between the nativity scene and contemporary conflicts.
https://hyperallergic.com/973586/nativity-scenes-have-never-been-neutral/