DAR art fair shows ‘kaleidoscope of works’ from emerging talents

AMMAN — The DAR art fair opened its doors this week for the second year, offering the public a mosaic of works by emerging artists from the Arab World. 

Running until June 7 in Swefieh Village, the event aims to promote “the array of talent” found in the region with mediums ranging from NFTs (non-fungible tokens) to traditional forms such as sculptures, ceramics and paintings. 

Visitors are presented with a choice of visiting two sections in the fair: Galleries exhibiting the works of internationally acknowledged Arab artists, such as Hussein Madi, or being immersed in the anonymous experience of the independent artist section, which holds a “kaleidoscope of works from emerging and established artists”. 

From the use of modern art forms, such as NFTs, to the invitation of upcoming artists to display their talent, the fair’s “vision is ambitious” with 15 galleries and 128 independent artists partaking. 

Young art enthusiast Moumen Bilbeisi, from the participating Q0DE Gallery, noted that “events like this are a great opportunity for young people like me who love art to learn from and meet artists”. 

“When a piece has the power to tell you a story without you knowing anything about the artwork or the artist, that’s when you know it is meaningful,” he added, which encapsulates the independent artist section’s aim to anonymously weave the art pieces of well-known artists together with emerging talents. 

One of the few named artists is the Lebanese photographer Dia Mrad, who utilises his architectural background to depict his first impressions of Amman from the citadel to the modern apartments in stunning geometric formations. 

The “kaleidoscope of colours and cultures” at the fair sheds light on the “bustling art potential” in the Arab world, from the Palestinian refugee camps in Arroub, in the West Bank, to the skyscrapers in Dubai, the UAE.