The Ruya Foundation, or Ruya Foundation for Contemporary Culture in Iraq, is an Iraqi registered not-for-profit, non-governmental organization. Founded in 2012, Ruya Foundation's board is made up of Tamara Chalabi (chair), Reem Shather-Kubba, and Shwan Ibrahim Taha.
Exhibitions
editRuya Foundation's exhibition programme comprises work by Iraqi artists in a variety of media: sculpture, painting, installation, video and photography. The organisation does not have a permanent collection, but a revolving exhibition programme onsite at its Ruya Shop location on Mutanabbi Street, Baghdad.
| Date | Exhibition | Artists |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Welcome to Iraq, curated by Jonathan Watkins[1] | Abdul Raheem Yassir (b. 1951), Akeel Khreef (b. 1979), Ali Samiaa (b. 1980), Bassim Al-Shaker (b. 1986), Cheeman Ismaeel (b. 1966), Furat al Jamil (b. 1965), Hareth Alhomaam (b. 1987), Jamal Penjweny (b. 1981), Kadhim Nwir (b. 1967), Yaseen Wami (b. 1973), Hashim Taeeh[2][3] |
| 2015 | Invisible Beauty, curated by Philippe Van Cauteren[4] | Latif al-Ani, Akam Shex Hadi, Rabab Ghazoul, Salam Atta Sabri and Haider Jabbar.[5][6] |
| 2017 | Archaic, curated by Tamara Chalabi and Paolo Colombo | Sherko Abbas, Sadik Kwaish Alfraji, Francis Alÿs, Ali Arkady, Luary Fadhil, Shakir Hassan Al Said, Nadine Hattom, Jawad Saleem, Sakar Sleman[7][8] |
| 2019 | Fatherland: Serwan Baran, curated by Tamara Chalabi and Paolo Colombo | Serwan Baran (b. 1968)[9] |
Projects
editRuya Foundation maintains a database of Iraqi artists.[10]
The Foundation has published Ruya Notebooks since 2017. A monograph on the work of Iraqi photographer Latif al-Ani which they co-published won the Historical Book Award at Les Rencontres d’Arles in 2017.[11]
RUYA MAPS
editIn 2018, Ruya Foundation launched a sister organisation, RUYA MAPS. The UK registered charity was established to address specific needs, identified by the Ruya Foundation whilst carrying out its unique work in Iraq, that were found to be applicable internationally.[12] It is led by Tamara Chalabi and has a programme of exhibitions, commissions and publications.[13] RUYA MAPS hosted Venezuelan artist Pepe López's first solo in the UK, Crisálida, at Fitzrovia Chapel in 2017.[14] They held an unofficial collateral exhibition at the 58th Venice Biennale, 'Heartbreak,' which featured artists from areas of conflict around the Mediterranean.[15][16]
References
edit- ^ "Announcement: 11 Iraqi artists selected for Pavilion of Iraq at 55th Venice Biennale". Ruyafoundation.org. March 21, 2013. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
- ^ Higgins, Charlotte (2013-05-29). "Venice Biennale: Iraq's art world emerges from the ruins". The Guardian. Retrieved 2023-08-17.
- ^ Harris, Gareth (2013-05-24). "The view from Iraq". Financial Times. Retrieved 2023-08-17.
- ^ "Philippe Van Cauteren to curate Iraq Pavilion at Venice / ArtReview". Artreview.com. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
- ^ Dagen, Philippe (May 11, 2015). "Irak, Arménie : la mémoire des désastres à Venise". Le Monde. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
- ^ "What to see at the Venice Biennale". Apollo-magazine.com. May 2, 2015. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
- ^ Cotter, Holland (May 22, 2017). "Venice Biennale: Whose Reflection Do You See?". The New York Times.
- ^ "The Ruya Foundation Announces It's [sic] Lineup of Artists for The 57th Venice Biennale". Harpersbazaararabia.com. Archived from the original on 2020-08-10. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
- ^ Lucarelli, Niccolò (May 13, 2019). "Il Medio Oriente alla Biennale di Venezia in 5 progetti". Artribune.com. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
- ^ "New Database Connects Contemporary Iraqi Artists to the Rest of the World". Hyperallergic.com. April 14, 2016. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
- ^ "Latif Al Ani: chronicler of modernity in a now vanished Iraq". Thenational.ae. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
- ^ "New Ruya Maps Initiative Shines Light on Artists Working in Conflict Zones". Frieze.com. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
- ^ "The Woman Behind Iraq's Pavilion in Venice Launches a New Initiative to Champion Artists From Conflict Zones". News.artnet.com. July 18, 2018. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
- ^ "Pepe López: 'When it comes to exile, we keep all memories in the same place in the heart'". Studio International. 2018-11-12.
- ^ "The Art Newspaper's pick of the 2019 Venice Biennale". The Art Newspaper. 2019-04-30. Retrieved 2023-08-17.
- ^ "Heartbreak". e-flux.