Women Art Photographers Spotlight Injustice in the Upcoming Exhibition by MIA Art Collection
MIA Art Collection launches an ambitious exhibition on 22 November as part of Abu Dhabi Art 2023. The curators bring together more than 14 women art photographers’ work in a show titled ‘What A Wonderful World’, spotlighting injustice and conflict around the world.
“Women have been excluded for many years from the artistic field, and photography is no exception,” explains MIA Art Collection founder and director, and global art collector and philanthropist, Mrs Alejandra Castro Rioseco. “However, historically we have had great female photographers who have reflected the conflicts that society and especially its women and families are experiencing.”
Mrs Alejandra Castro Rioseco, founder and director of MIA Art Collection (photo courtesy of MIA Art Collection)
In this ambitious exhibition, the MIA Art Collection team including the curators Virtues of Ollo, Pepe Baena and Hana Sammak, together with Mrs Rioseco, aim to showcase the works of more than 14 women art photographers from 8 countries around the world in an art show titled ‘What A Wonderful World’. The opening will take place on 22 November at Diba Art Gallery at Avenue at Etihad Towers in Abu Dhabi as part of Abu Dhabi Art annual fair.
I spoke with Mrs Rioseco, and asked her, “What added value does a woman bring to the field of fine art photography?” Her answer struck me, “The gaze of a woman behind the lens is very different from the gaze of a man. We can discover and see things that we do not usually see on social networks or in the press, since the eye of art always seeks to go deeper into matters. And women have the ability to delve into images, showing many details.”
Photography by Rania Matar from Lebanon (photo courtesy of MIA Art Collection)
Photography by Carolina Paz Zúñiga from Spain (photo courtesy of MIA Art Collection)
Photography by Asareh Ebrahimpour from Iran (photo courtesy of MIA Art Collection)
Photography by Alyona Fedorchenko from Ukraine (photo courtesy of MIA Art Collection)
Indeed, the artists included in the exhibition share their views of conflicts and social issues around the world. Additionally, the project aims to bring artists together. “Art makes it possible,” Mrs Rioseco states reassuringly. Amongst the crop of artists are the historic Iranian artist Shirin Neshat, from Barbados the artist Annalee Davis, from Afghanistan the artist Fatimah Hossaini and from Lebanon the exceptional artist Rania Matar. Also participating are Carolina Paz Zúñiga from Spain, Yuliia Chumak from Ukraine, Alyona Fedorchenko from Ukraine, Yuliia Korienkova from Ukraine, Rania Tabbara from Lebanon, Magdalena Correa from Chile, Anna D’Castro from Portugal, Asareh Ebrahimpour from Iran, Maxi Cohen from USA, and Dulce Pinzón from Mexico. In addition to the artists and curators, the collector Mana Jalalian and the gallery owner Leyla Heller collaborated with Mrs Rioseco and the team to realize this exhibition.
“I have always been struck by the way in which women look at history, the way in which we look at wars, how we see conflicts and life itself.” Mrs Alejandra Castro Rioseco
The exhibition take place at an apposite time. With conflicts arising and amidst regional and sometimes global instability, this is a project that looks closely at conflicts and tragedies with a more discerning eye. Mrs Rioseco affirms this, “We are experiencing very important and at the same time very disconcerting historical moments, and art has not been left out of all these problems. Because of this, I have always been struck by the way in which women look at history, the way in which we look at wars, how we see conflicts and life itself.”
Photography from the Exhibition, courtesy of MIA Art Collection
Photography from the Exhibition, courtesy of MIA Art Collection
Abu Dhabi Art is a year-long program that culminates in the Abu Dhabi Art event annually in November. It is a diverse public engagement program and includes art, installations and public talks. “Abu Dhabi Art is a Fair that brings together people from all over the world, so for me, it is a perfect time [to showcase this exhibition],” Mrs Rioseco confirms. “This exhibition gains strength because it tries to make the audience understand that Art can elevate us, and can make us change our view of certain situations.”
“The role of MIA Art Collection is always to seek to capture the gaze of women.”
Mrs Alejandra Castro Rioseco
And what of the role of MIA Art Collection, and the main message of this exhibition? “The role of MIA Art Collection is always to seek to capture the gaze of women. The message [of this exhibition] will be to try to show a different way of looking at the world; ‘looking at the world with women’s eyes.’”
It is truly inspiring to see this wonderful effort on behalf of Mrs Rioseco and the team at MIA Art Collection, and I am eagerly anticipating the upcoming opening.
MIA Art Collection’s upcoming exhibition ‘What a Wonderful World’ will open at Diba Art Gallery, Avenue at Etihad Towers, Abu Dhabi on 22 November 2023, as part of Abu Dhabi Art. If you’re in Abu Dhabi, make sure to pass by and see the show!
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