The Sharjah Art Foundation (SAF) has announced the launch of Dialogues, an ambitious new talks series dedicated to exploring the development and history of visual arts across the United Arab Emirates and the broader Arab world. By exploring the collective roles of art institutions, museums, galleries, and the art market, Dialogues aims to trace collaborations and cultural developments that have profoundly shaped contemporary artistic discourse across the wider region.
SAF’s iconic venue, The Flying Saucer in Dasman, Sharjah, will host the inaugural session scheduled for July 18, 2026, from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM. Open to participants aged 15 and older, the platform offers to reflect on the histories and institutions that continue to shape regional art today in the session conducted in Arabic.
The four-decade practice of pioneering Emirati conceptual artist Mohammed Kazem will be the centre of the first talk. Born in Dubai in 1969, Kazem is widely renowned for his multidisciplinary work spanning video, photography, performance, and installation, which reflects the deep social and geographical transformations the region witnessed. Kazem has previously represented UAE at the 55th Venice Biennale in 2013 and served as curator of the eighth Sharjah Biennial in 2007. The discussion will examine his extensive contributions including mentoring emerging practitioners, supporting new generations, and creating landmark site-specific installations.
Artist and writer Ismail Al Rifai, SAF’s Head of Translation and Arabic Content will serve as the moderator of the discussion. Born in Syria in 1967, Al Rifai holds a BA in Fine Arts from Damascus University and has authored several critical and literary publications, including Narrating Place: A Critical Reading of Sharjah’s Cultural Project (2022). His combined creative and institutional experience will guide this exploration into Kazem’s practice and the broader growth of the UAE’s cultural scene.
Established in 2009 and led by President and Director Hoor Al Qasimi, the Sharjah Art Foundation is a key public resource that develops experiential and wide-ranging contemporary art programs. The world renowned Sharjah Biennial and March Meeting, two of its core initiatives, foster crucial international dialogue while preserving the unique local culture of the Emirate.
