In a new, larger location to
accommodate the growth of its mission as a creative space dedicated to the
development of contemporary art and ideas, Middle East art destination Traffic
opened today in Al Quoz.
Created by UAE national collector and art patron Rami Farook, Traffic now offers
two gallery spaces - one for exhibitions from emerging talents and a second for
carefully-curated highlights from the Farook collection as well as other private
and corporate collections. Other aspects of the new Traffic include workshop
space for resident artists such as James Clar, recently exhibited by Traffic at
Abu Dhabi Art, as well as a retail outlet for arts and design publications and a
café.
Traffic has relaunched with two exhibitions, Iranian artist Hesam Rahmanian's
Hit Me with Your War Tune, his inaugural show at the gallery (additional news
release available), as well as The State, which includes 16 artists from the
Farook Collection, including Sama Alshaibi, Ramin Haerizadeh, and Mona Hatoum.
"Traffic is a place to learn about contemporary art, for emerging artists to
experiment, and for our community to discuss and highlight the boundaries and
opportunities in how and where we live today - our focus is on stimulating
discussion through compelling exhibitions while also fostering a platform for
education," said Rami Farook, Traffic's founder.
"Our new space enables Traffic to support a new, wider range of artists while
also encouraging art patronage - finding new voices in contemporary art while
celebrating the best of our collection and others in the region so people always
have a place to go and see thought-provoking art," he added.
Traffic 's design flows across a number of spaces: Gallery 1, the non-profit
collector's space that highlights patronage of the arts and different collecting
approaches, and Gallery 2, which includes contemporary works from fine art,
photography, sculpture, installation, new media and urban art through a focus on
emerging artists. Additional spaces at Traffic include Print, a dedicated art
bookstore also offering limited edition art prints alongside great coffee, a pop-
up education space to facilitate dialogue, and studios for resident artists.
Hit Me With Your War Tune, the inaugural show at Traffic by Hesam Rahmanian --
Nov 10, 2010 - Dec 30, 2010
The State, regional and international works from the Farook Collection -- Nov
10, 2010 - Jan 22, 2011
