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Third Space: Hiwar: 7iwar

East / West Global North / South

Palestine / Israel Solid / Void

Jewish / Muslim Islam / Christianity

Time / Space Emplaced / Displaced

Contemporary culture, media and politics often represent global relations in a series of reductive dichotomies of opposition.

For a more useful dialogue to emerge, we must, believes Postcolonial theorist Homi Bhabha, focus instead on the space between. The space that opens up in the act of translation between two, often opposed cultures or languages, Bhabha describes, as The Third Space. It is, he says, a critical site for forging ‘new signs of identity and [re]negotiating cultural values’.

In order to help us explore and negotiate our way into this Third Space, curator Helen Angell-Preece brings together Palestinian-Scottish artist Leena Nammari, Saudi Arabian sculptor Lujain Jamal, and Palestinian cultural translator Dr Rana Abu-Mounes, to engage in an artistic, cross-cultural, translational and transnational dialogue, or Hiwar.

Beginning with an exhibition of artwork by Nammari and Jamal, this is a spatial and material exploration of the ruptures of time and place experienced by both artists. The value in experiencing multiple angles-of-vision emerges at the edges, the ruptures and repairs, the shifts between permanency and contingency within the artworks.

Dr Rana Abu-Mounes, director of Dundee-based translation company Al-Mushkah, and expert in comparative religions and cultural diversity, will respond to the exhibition and discuss with the artists how their identities inform their creative choices and practices.

The week of creative dialogue and translation will culminate on Sunday 16th December with a Cultural Diversity Workshop run by Abu-Mounes. This course will address vital areas such as the importance of cultural awareness, etiquette, communication, relationship building and traditions, as well as more complex topics such as religion, cross cultural attitudes, and language.

‘By exploring this Third Space, we may elude the politics of polarity and emerge as the others of our selves’. (Bhabha, 1994)

Gallery 1, 4th Floor WASPS, Meadowmill, West Hendersons Wynd. Dundee DD1 5BY

Exhibition Preview: Friday 7th December 2018, 6-9pm

Artists talk and cross-cultural dialogue: Sunday 9th December 2018, 2-4pm with Arabic coffee and Ma’amoul

Cultural Diversity Workshop Sunday 16th December 2018. Free, booking essential.

With thanks to artists Leena Nammari, Lujain Jamal, Cultural Translator Dr Rana Abu-Mounes @ Al Mushkah for participating and Alan Richardson @ www.pix-ar.co.uk for kindly documenting the event:

Pic Alan Richardson www.pix-ar.co.uk
Third Space Exhibition WASPS

Pic Alan Richardson www.pix-ar.co.uk
Third Space Exhibition WASPS

Pic Alan Richardson www.pix-ar.co.uk
Third Space Exhibition WASPS

There’s no place like ‘Home’?

1^st July 2017 marked the 20^th anniversary of the return of Hong Kong to China from British administration.

14^th, 15^th, 16^th August 2017 mark the 70^th anniversary of the dates of Independence from British rule of India, Pakistan and Partition of the country.

This is a vital time to open up discussion about ideas of Home and Displacement, the importance of incorporating post-colonial dialogues in opening up new angles of vision and of thinking about our own identities and ‘Place’ in the world.

Please join us for an informal discussion and exhibition tour led by Lecturer and specialist in African History Dr Matthew Graham and Reader in Humanities and Urban Theories Dr Lorens Holm with 5 artists of different nationalities exploring just such themes and ideas through materials, space, print, language, paint, humour and sculpture.

Helen Angell-Preece is a Welsh-born, Scottish-raised, London-educated artist with an English family. Continual movement and journeying up and down the length of the country, and the idea of ‘Home’ always being elsewhere inform her spatial and ‘displaced’ architectural installation practice. She believes strongly the threshold or in-between position, a space with multiple viewpoints that allows us to acknowledge the stranger or foreigner in ourselves, is one of power and value.

Hong Kong-born, Scottish artist Jacinda Chan explores the cultural differences, symbolism in Chinese culture, slippage in language and translation and play on words through her sculptural art objects and practice.

Clara Lang-Ezekiel is a dual French and U.S. citizen. Her own experience of belonging to two strong national identities have lead her into an in-depth study and research project on African Histories and their relationship to European and Western notions of Identity.

For Astrid Leeson home is where she was brought up in the isolated Scottish Highlands but she has spent many hours travelling the length of Britain to family in the crowded East End of London and a South East New town. These almost contradictory influences are another of the dualities that inform her spatial walking, drawing, painting and installation practice.

Rishi Srinivasan is a Californian citizen and former active member of the U.S. military, with a close family connection and cultural heritage in South India. His unique background and experience feed into strong graphic imagery and print works.

Thursday 24th August, 1 – 2.30pm

6th Floor Crawford Building

Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design

13 Perth Road

Dundee DD1 4HT