Sharjah Art Foundation : Retrospective

Hassan Sharif: I Am The Single Work Artist

Show Description: This landmark retrospective will include Hassan Sharif’s diverse body of work from the early 1970s to 2016. This retrospective is the culmination of Sharif’s long and storied history with the Emirate of Sharjah, where he first began staging interventions and exhibitions of contemporary art.

If you are in the area (Sharjah, UAE) from now until Feb. 3rd 2018, drop everything you are doing and go see this exhibition.  It’s a rare opportunity to see all of the work from the artist Hassan Sharif in one place. It is almost like the six galleries were made for his one man show. He was one step ahead of his time. Hassan Sharif worked in found object installations, sculpture, book art, painting, performance and multimedia. I can’t say enough positive exclamations about this retrospective.  I can’t help but feel like there won’t be another opportunity to see all of his work in one place.   I just reviewed the corresponding documentary at DIFF with equal excitement. The studio workspace pictured in the documentary was captured and moved in its entirety to the Sharjah Art Foundation.

For more information: http://www.sharjahart.org/sharjah-art-foundation/exhibitions/hassan-sharif-a-retrospective

5 out of 5 cheers.

Going International – U.A.E

I am returning to the Doc & a Drink blog as I travel to a new space.  I am working in the United Arab Emirates as a Visiting Assistant Professor at the American University of Sharjah.  I think this is a good opportunity to speak the word about art & media here.  There is a lot of growth in the arts in UAE. And you get to experience this growth with me.

Live it : A Year Traveling With the iPad

A Year Traveling With the iPad | Everything Everywhere: Around the World Travel Blog.

I found this article extremely helpful.  I will be using many of the author’s tips during my next documentary shoot in Europe during September.  I’ll let you know how that goes…

In the mean time, anyone else have iPad/iPhone traveling tips?

Live it: some Friday Inspiration

3 guys, 44 days, 11 countries, 18 flights, 38 thousand miles, an exploding volcano, 2 cameras and almost a terabyte of footage… 
= a trip of a lifetime & 3 shorts called “move”, “eat”, “learn”  MOVE on Vimeo on Vimeo

This is a great example of “just doing it”.  If you haven’t shot and edited a short lately … this is your inspiration.

Bb

Doc of the Week > Adventure is my Middle Name!

FILM: Keep the River on Your Right: A Modern Cannibal Tale

FILMMAKERS: David Shapiro &  Laurie Gwen Shapiro

REVIEWER: Becky Beamer

In 1955, while a Fulbright scholar, a Manhattan painter named Tobias Schneebaum spent seven months in the Amazon basin with the Harakambut. When he returned to the US, he could no longer paint. What happened? Nearly 45 years later, filmmakers want Tobias, now 78 and suffering from Parkinson’s, to return to Peru & New Guinea.

This documentary is an adventure.  It will whisk you away to far away lands and answer cannibalistic curiosity.  Tobias’ story is exciting and nostalgic.  It’s infused with primitive culture and extremes but it’s just plain humanity that shines through.

Tobias is a wonderful painter, explorer, and anthropologist.  My heart was touched when Tobias re-unites with his ex-Lover who he thought had passed. I appreciated Tobias’ interview candor.   He speaks from an acceptance of dying and with an open mind .  Tobias had the opportunity to explore many cultures before they were severely influenced by Western Culture.  I envy that.

Through out the documentary – Tobias expresses a mental battle regarding returning to the jungle in Peru where he witness and participated in murder and cannibalism.  In fact – I was so distracted by the story – I hardly noticed the constant soft focus and poor framing.  I just wasn’t impressed with the camerawork from any angle.  I guess that just goes to show that the most important thing is putting the story to tape and not fretting over “what you are shooting on”.

I really enjoyed the journey – being exposed to traditions passed down through generations.  The tribes display their dancing, sculpting, their sexuality and language.  I like that this documentary will keep some of these traditions “alive”.

AND Don’t worry – you won’t fall asleep for this adventure.  But, you may think about death, watching National Geographic, and taking a holiday to a far away land.

Verdict?

4 out of 5 Cheers

— b.b.