Hoor Al-Qasimi
Hoor Al Qasimi (Arabic: هور القاسمي) (b. 1980) is an Emirati Sheikha, president and director of the Sharjah Art Foundation and public figure in the art world. Al Qasimi globally represents Middle Eastern art and artists through the Sharjah Biennial.[1][2][3]
Early life and education
[edit]Sheikha Hoor Al Qasimi was born in 1980 into the ruling family of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates and is the daughter of Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammad Al-Qasimi.[4][5] At the age of fourteen, she wanted to be a chef and as she grew up her interests shifted to designing furniture.[6] In 2002 she completed her undergraduate studies at the Slade School of Fine Art in London,[7] where she originally thought she wanted to be a painter.[6] She then completed postgraduate studies at the Royal Academy of Arts in 2005,[8] and she earned an M.A. in curating contemporary art from the Royal College of Art, London, in 2008.
Career
[edit]In 2009, Hoor Al Qasimi founded the Sharjah Art Foundation which organizes international exhibitions, artist, and curator residencies, commissions, publications, festivals, architectural research, restoration projects, and educational programs.[7][6] Al Qasimi has been involved with the Sharjah Biennial since 2003,[5] co-curating its sixth edition at the age of 22.[7] Al Qasimi served as the curator for the United Arab Emirates' pavilion at the 56th Venice Biennale in 2015.[9] She was the curator of the 15th Sharjah Biennial in 2023, titled "Thinking Historically in the Present" which was originally to be curated by the late Okwui Enwezor.[10][4] In 2024 it was announced that she will be the artistic director for the 2026 Biennale of Sydney,[11] she will also serve as the lead for the 205 Aichi Triennale to be held in Japan.[12]
In June 2024 she presented a clothing collection in London,[13] which built upon her late brother's work in the fashion industry.[14]
Honors and awards
[edit]In 2023 Al Qasimi was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from the University for the Creative Arts, Farnham, United Kingdom.[15]
Al Qasimi was named the most influential person in the contemporary art world in 2024, according to ArtReview’s Power 100 list.[16]
Personal life
[edit]Her twin brother, Khalid bin Sultan Al Qasimi, was a fashion designer.[17]
References
[edit]- ^ Mirgani, Suzi (2019). Art and Cultural Production in the Gulf Cooperation Council. Taylor & Francis (published October 23, 2019). p. 36. ISBN 9781351142182.
- ^ DeTruk, Sabrina (2022). Women and Contemporary Art in the Gulf: Identity, Institutions and Representation. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 9781000810677.
- ^ Du Cros, Hillary (2014). The Arts and Events. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 9781135041403.
- ^ a b "Hoor Al-Qasimi". artreview.com. Retrieved 2024-01-06.
- ^ a b Turner, Grady T. (2003-05-04). "ART/ARCHITECTURE; Regime Change Takes Effect At a Persian Gulf Biennial". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-07-11.
- ^ a b c Rathe, Adam (2019-03-26). "How a Sheika From the UAE Turned Dubai's Unassuming Neighbor Into an Art World Destination". Town & Country. Retrieved 2024-07-11.
- ^ a b c Kino, Carol (2015-02-09). "In Sharjah, a Local International Art Scene". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-01-06.
- ^ Batty, David (2012-04-16). "The Rise of the Gulf Art Scene". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-01-06.
- ^ Hoor Al Quasimi; Marta, Karen, eds. (2015). 1980-today: exhibitions in the United Arab Emirates (First published by the National Pavilion United Arab Imirates, la Biennale di Venezia, Abu Dhabi ed.). Venezia: National Pavilion United Arab Imirates, la Biennale di Venezia. ISBN 978-9948-18-191-0.
- ^ Farago, Jason (2019-11-03). "Final Exhibition by Okwui Enwezor Will Open in 2021 in Middle East". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-07-11.
- ^ Fortescue, Elizabeth (2024-05-15). "Hoor Al Qasimi named artistic director of the next Biennale of Sydney". The Art Newspaper - International art news and events. Retrieved 2024-07-11.
- ^ Noor, Saleha (2023-07-06). "Sheikha Hoor Al-Qasimi Becomes the First Foreign Artistic Director of Japan's Aichi Triennale". Vogue Arabia. Retrieved 2024-07-11.
- ^ Mohammed, Hikmat (2024-06-10). "Hoor Al Qasimi's Runway Debut Was Personal, Emotional and Somewhat Political". WWD. Retrieved 2024-07-11.
- ^ Fearon, Francesca. "Sheikha Hoor Al Qasimi on upholding legacies: 'Khalid knows that I would go to the ends of the world for him'". The National. Retrieved 2024-07-11.
- ^ "Hoor Al Qasimi". www.artnet.com. Retrieved 2024-01-06.
- ^ gulftoday (2024-12-05). "Hoor Al Qasimi tops 'ArtReview Power 100' list for most influential person". gulftoday. Retrieved 2024-12-12.
- ^ Kino, Carol (2015-02-09). "In Sharjah, a Local International Art Scene". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-07-11.