Latest news with #FirettiContemporary
Gulf Today
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Gulf Today
Ihab Ahmad pauses to rewind at Firetti Contemporary exhibition
Firetti Contemporary is inaugurating I Put My Brain On Pause!, a solo exhibition by Lebanese artist Ihab Ahmad, on June 20. The body of work to be displayed marks a bold turning point in the artist's career — a shift toward emotional freedom, instinctive creation, and joyful surrender. For the first time in his practice, Ihab introduces smiling faces into his paintings — representations of moments, people and memories, that have left an unforgettable imprint on his life. They are not just aesthetic choices to fill up a space, but deeply personal portraits of human connection. The artist explores the emotional terrain through a new approach, working with oil on linen and spray paint, to blur the lines between abstraction and figuration. He has also gone so far as to paint several works using his non-dominant left hand, thus releasing control and allowing instinct to take over. The result is a series of vibrant, unfiltered compositions — raw, playful, and somehow, intimate. 'Creating this show was a way for me to understand and express myself more honestly,' Ihab says. 'I let go of technical perfection and gave in to what I was feeling. Each work is an emotional record of my experience with people — real or imagined.' Abracadabra, in acrylic and oil on linen. Alongside the paintings, a series of totem-like wooden sculptures brings his cast of surreal characters into three-dimensional space. The sculptural forms extend Ihab's whimsical universe beyond the canvas, transforming the gallery into a living, breathing expression of his inner world. As part of an ongoing collaboration between Firetti Contemporary and Lamborghini Dubai, I Put My Brain On Pause! will feature the exclusive unveiling of a Lamborghini, transformed by Ihab Ahmad into a vibrant, mobile artwork. The artistic mediation marks an audacious interlink between contemporary art and iconic automotive design — where Ihab's emotionally charged visual language spills outside the canvas and onto the body of a Lamborghini. Inspired by the characters in his paintings and sculptures, the vehicle becomes a moving extension of the artist's universe — surreal, joyful, and unrestrained. The work challenges perceptions of luxury, performance and identity, asking: what happens when an object of speed and control becomes a vessel for spontaneity and emotional expression? 'The collaboration represents Firetti Contemporary's commitment to fostering cross-disciplinary dialogue between art, culture, and innovation — bringing the artist's vision into unexpected public realms, and continuing to redefine where and how contemporary art lives,' says Celine Azem, curator. 'I Put My Brain On Pause! is more than an exhibition — it is a moment of creative release. It is a space where intellect or rationality steps aside and emotion paves the way. Ihab Ahmad invites us not only to see, but to feel — to witness what happens when the artist hands the brush over to the heart.' Composition titled Inside a Blackhole. Born in Beirut in 1983, Ihab studied Visual Communication Art from the Lebanese University. He expanded his artistic journey by participating in various art workshops focusing on silkscreen printing, painting, and drawing. He enjoys exploring unconventional techniques and materials in his artistic practice, prompting him to go outside the canvas and explore the realm of metal and wood sculptures. In his paintings, Ihab transforms ordinary images into joyful shapes and vibrant patterns. He describes the majority of his pieces as exploring concepts relating to universal harmony, as well as the connection between nature and humanity. 'I draw what my imagination carries from childhood: memory and beauty. I hold a message of hope in my paintings,' he says. The vivid works often feature recurring symbols such as fish, eyes, and trees, which are interwoven with bold patterns and geometric forms. He has developed a symbiotic relationship with these familiar yet imaginary symbols, all of which emerge as intense and bright abstraction. In his art, Ihab invites viewers into an imaginative world, an escape from reality into a vibrant and mystical one, where each viewer becomes a storyteller, crafting and interpreting their own narratives. The artwork celebrates life — joyous, uplifting and energetic - with distinguishable abstract, contemporary, and pop-art elements. They characterise pristine childish joy, juxtaposed with the difficulties of youth. His subject matter is inspired by his childhood memories and his artworks feature creatures he plays with, by connecting various figures in a harmonised and vivid ambience, in a land free of fear, worry, or malice. Everything that is alive during childhood is grist for his art mill. Me by Ihab Ahmad. Ihab's message of hope in his artworks is a gift for the people of his generation, who want to move forward and live in a better Lebanon and, naturally, a better world. His formula is to use painting to marginalise frustrations and focus on dreaming. He believes if we do not have the resources to make change, we can all at least dream of it. He is influenced by Paul Klee and has exhibited his works in Beirut, Miami, China, Italy, the United Arab Emirates, France among other countries. Firetti Contemporary aligns art and creative concepts from the region and beyond. It encourages global engagement and strives to create sustainable collections. Representing both established and emerging artists from all over the world, the gallery is engaged in evolving a multidisciplinary art space, with a strong identity to an international platform. It supports a network of collaborations and has become an integral part of the local community. The gallery's mandate includes being a vehicle for sustainability and social change, reinforcing values through the inspirational power of art.
Gulf Today
16-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Gulf Today
Firetti Contemporary features works of Reynier Llanes in ‘Reverie' show
Firetti Contemporary, the gallery where art and creative concepts align from the region and beyond, is hosting Reverie, the Middle Eastern debut of acclaimed Cuban-American artist Reynier Llanes (Apr. 14 – June 14). Curated by Celine Azem, the exhibition showcases works from Llanes's celebrated series, The Poet, where themes of self-reflection, memory and storytelling, unfold through pictorial representation. The show draws inspiration – and gets its title - from the philosophy of 'reverie', as articulated by French philosopher Gaston Bachelard in The Poetics of Reverie. Bachelard insisted that reverie is not a mental vacuum, but actually indicated an abundance of spirit. For Bachelard, reverie was a state of contemplation where imagination and memory merged to reveal truths about the self and the world. Llanes embodies this vision, creating works that act as gateways to introspection, with reality and reflection playing major roles. Emotions and memories surface in his works, with the compositions sharing personal and universal qualities. Reverie, according to the artist, is not about escaping life's struggles but about reinterpreting them, in a space where emotions, memories and aspirations, interlink. Harvest of war in gouache, crayon and paper. At the heart of Reverie is The Poet, an enigmatic figure observing the fleeting yet profound moments of life — self-discovery, nostalgia, love, and loss. Suspended between memory and imagination, The Poet exists in a state of perpetual contemplation. Through delicate line-work and atmospheric compositions, Llanes invites viewers into a zone of reflection and thought, where the boundaries between past and present, real and imagined, what was and what is, are blurred. He has the ability to balance melancholy and beauty, hardship and hope, loss and gain, which creates a tragic yet rewarding experience. Some of the works in The Poet series bridge ancient echoes and contemporary realities, projecting both personal and generic human experiences. 'There is a perspective in storytelling that I love: the more personal a story is, the more it connects with people,' Llanes has said. He presents a poignant piece titled Place dedicated to the wars and conflicts around the world, endowing their stark realities with poetic sensitivity. Solar is a luminous composition with a brighter palette, symbolising renewal and the pursuit of beauty amid adversity. A radiant figure emerges from an ocean of gold, dissolving into the surrounding texture. The canvas radiates warmth as if The Poet has merged with the sun itself, introducing a transcendental element. Holiday Tree on a windy day. In Stellar, The Poet is suspended in the vastness of the cosmos, surrounded by an expanse of celestial fragments. The golden hues of the figure is surrounded by cosmic dust, evoking humanity's search for meaning among the stars. Telephone juxtaposes time past and present, depicting a millennial woman leaning against an old telephone booth, while The Poet — ghostly and translucent — stands alert on the opposite side. The contrast between their worlds is palpable; the work explores connection, distance, and the silent conversations between past and present. Other works further examine solitude, nostalgia and transformation. In The Portal, a spectral figure steps through a rainbow entering the sea, crossing from one realm into another, dissolving in light and colour, suggesting the beauty of the unknown. Thoughts sees The Poet in deep contemplation, reminiscent of Rodin's The Thinker, yet rendered in wavy translucency. The figure merges with its surroundings, as though thinking itself was eroding the boundaries of the physical world. Reynier Llanes and an artwork detail. Another work, Eve, is set against a Cuban porch, where The Poets appear as ethereal figures caught in an intimate, fleeting moment. The painting is a tie-up of reality and memory, since it depicts Llanes's personal connection to Cuba. The piece incorporates familiar imagery — weathered facades, warm streetlights and everyday architecture — grounding dreamlike storytelling in tangible reality. Beyond personal and cultural narratives, Llanes also engages with contemporary discussions on artificial intelligence, consciousness and immortality. As technology advances and raises questions about the legacy of human memory beyond physical existence, The Poet serves as a metaphor for the soul — an eternal essence that infinitely accumulates knowledge and experience, beyond time and space. Just as Reverie allows the mind to journey the past, present, and imagined futures, The Poet becomes a keeper of collective memory and the continuously evolving human experience. 'Time present and time past/Are both perhaps present in time future,/And time future contained in time past.' – T. S. Eliot. Reynier Llanes (b. 1985, Pinar del Rio, Cuba) uses his art to delve into topics steeped in folklore, organically linked to the Cuban landscape. He often portrays this landscape with a magical lens, offering new interpretations. Conceptually, his works craft fables and allegories. He has relocated to the United States, to its South, where he has been hailed as one of the 'New Superstars of Southern Art'. Llanes's art is deeply influenced by the Southern culture of the USA. In addition to his artistic pursuits, he is an avid art collector, focusing on works by Cuban artists, particularly those hailing from his native province of Pinar del Rio. The Ashley Gibson Barnett Museum of Art, Florida, has noted that his 'symbolist narrative paintings and mixed media works underline not merely his immense talents as a realist, but also his ability to conjure alternate yet convincing realities of his own imagination', adding that the artist's 'memories of his roots in Cuba intertwine with his mystical, audience-engaging visions of the present and future.' Llanes's art has found permanent homes in many reputed museums in the United States.
Khaleej Times
28-03-2025
- Automotive
- Khaleej Times
The Majlis at Lamborghini returns: A fusion of art, heritage, and automotive mastery
Lamborghini Dubai proudly hosted the second edition of The Majlis at Lamborghini, once again transforming its Sheikh Zayed Road showroom into an immersive space where art, heritage, and innovation converged. This year's edition, curated in collaboration with Firetti Contemporary, elevated the experience by bridging tradition with modernity, celebrating the intersection of high-performance automotive excellence and artistic expression. At the heart of the event, renowned Lebanese artist Ihab Ahmad embarked on a live painting performance, reimagining a Lamborghini Huracán Spyder EVO as a canvas for creativity and storytelling. Over 90 hours, he meticulously infused the supercar with bold geometric motifs and symbolic patterns, using eight Lamborghini paint colours to bring his vision to life. Across seven nights, guests gathered to witness his artistic process, capturing the essence of youth, joy, and speed - qualities that are synonymous with Lamborghini. Ahmad's artwork was a reflection of Lamborghini's core values - Brave, Unexpected, and Authentic - blending contemporary energy with artistic heritage. His vibrant colour choices, playful yet meticulously crafted, echoed the spirit of Lamborghini's Ad Personam programme, which offers clients over 400 bespoke colour options to personalise their supercars in line with their own individuality. Designed for those who seek exclusivity, Ad Personam allows every Lamborghini to become a unique expression of its owner's personality - just as Ihab's art transformed the Huracán into a one-of-a-kind masterpiece. The event culminated in a grand unveiling, revealing a creation that seamlessly blended heritage with innovation. The atmosphere, steeped in cultural tradition, offered guests an immersive experience, indulging in gourmet delicacies, engaging in traditional board games, and enjoying a mesmerising oud performance. A skilled calligrapher added a personal touch by customising Lamborghini-branded cups with live Arabic calligraphy, celebrating the beauty of cultural craftsmanship. In addition to the live art performance, the showroom featured a curated exhibition by Firetti Contemporary, showcasing works by internationally acclaimed sculptors Rachel K, Paolo Nicolai, Laurent Perbos, and Helidon Xhixha. This exclusive gathering reinforced Lamborghini's role as a cultural tastemaker, fostering artistic dialogue and meaningful connections. The showroom-turned-Majlis became a sanctuary of cross-cultural expression, where precision engineering met the evocative power of art. It was a testament to Lamborghini's philosophy - where design and performance are more than engineering; they are forms of artistic mastery. "At Lamborghini Abu Dhabi and Dubai, we are passionate about creating experiences that transcend automotive excellence," commented Rakan Turki, CEO of Lamborghini Abu Dhabi and Dubai. "The Majlis reflects our commitment to honouring the traditions of Ramadan while embracing innovation and bringing together art, culture, and gastronomy in a way that resonates with our diverse community. Collaborating with creatives allows us to celebrate craftsmanship in all its forms, embodying the spirit of Ramadan in a truly unique way." "We are honoured to collaborate with Lamborghini Abu Dhabi and Dubai once again, bringing together art, innovation, and cultural heritage in a truly immersive experience," added Mara Firetti, founder and managing partner of Firetti Contemporary. 'This year's Suhoor Majlis reflects the powerful intersection of tradition and modernity, where creativity knows no boundaries.' As Lamborghini continues to push the boundaries of innovation and design, The Majlis at Lamborghini stands as a testament to its dedication to crafting experiences that inspire and connect. More than just a gathering, it was a tribute to the UAE's rich cultural fabric - a symbol of unity, artistic vision, and the seamless synergy between luxury, performance, and tradition.
Mid East Info
25-03-2025
- Automotive
- Mid East Info
The Majlis at Lamborghini Returns: A Fusion of Art, Heritage and Automotive Mastery
A Ramadan celebration of cultural heritage and innovation, featuring live art on the Lamborghini Huracán Spyder EVO Lamborghini Dubai proudly hosted the second edition of The Majlis at Lamborghini , once again transforming its Sheikh Zayed Road showroom into an immersive space where art, heritage and innovation converge. This year's edition, curated in collaboration with the art gallery Firetti Contemporary, elevated the experience by bridging tradition with modernity, celebrating the intersection of high-performance automotive excellence and artistic expression. At the heart of the event, renowned Lebanese artist Ihab Ahmad embarked on a live painting performance, reimagining a Lamborghini Huracán Spyder EVO as a canvas for creativity and storytelling. Over 90 hours, he meticulously infused the supercar with bold geometric motifs and symbolic patterns, using 8 Lamborghini paint colours to bring his vision to life. Across seven nights, guests gathered to witness his artistic process, capturing the essence of youth, joy, and speed—qualities that are synonymous with Lamborghini. His work reflects the brand's core values—Brave, Unexpected, and Authentic—while blending contemporary energy with artistic heritage. His vibrant colour choices, playful yet meticulously crafted, echoed the spirit of Lamborghini's Ad Personam program, which offers clients over 400 bespoke colour options to personalise their supercars in line with their own individuality. Designed for those who seek exclusivity, Ad Personam allows every Lamborghini to become a unique expression of its owner's personality—just as Ihab's art transformed the Huracán into a one-of-a-kind masterpiece. The event culminated in a grand unveiling, revealing a creation that seamlessly blended heritage with innovation. In an atmosphere steeped in cultural tradition, guests indulged in gourmet delicacies, engaged in traditional board games, and enjoyed a mesmerising oud performance . A skilled calligrapher added a personal touch by customising Lamborghini-branded cups with live Arabic calligraphy , celebrating the beauty of cultural craftsmanship. The showroom also featured a curated exhibition by Firetti Contemporary, showcasing works by internationally acclaimed sculptors Rachel K, Paolo Nicolai, Laurent Perbos, and Helidon Xhixha. This exclusive gathering reinforced Lamborghini's role as a cultural tastemaker, fostering artistic dialogue and meaningful connections. The showroom-turned-Majlis became a sanctuary of cross-cultural expression, where precision engineering met the evocative power of art. It was a testament to Lamborghini's philosophy—where design and performance are more than engineering; they are forms of artistic mastery. 'At Lamborghini Abu Dhabi and Dubai, we are passionate about creating experiences that transcend automotive excellence. The Majlis reflects our commitment to honouring the traditions of Ramadan while embracing innovation and bringing together art, culture, and gastronomy in a way that resonates with our diverse community. Collaborating with creatives allows us to celebrate craftsmanship in all its forms, embodying the spirit of Ramadan in a truly unique way,' commented Mr. Rakan Turki, CEO of Lamborghini Abu Dhabi and Dubai. 'We are honoured to collaborate with Lamborghini Abu Dhabi and Dubai once again, bringing together art, innovation, and cultural heritage in a truly immersive experience. This year's Suhoor Majlis reflects the powerful intersection of tradition and modernity, where creativity knows no boundaries,' added Ms. Mara Firetti, Founder and Managing Partner of Firetti Contemporary. As Lamborghini continues to push the boundaries of innovation and design, The Majlis at Lamborghini stands as a testament to its dedication to crafting experiences that inspire and connect. More than just a gathering, it was a tribute to the UAE's rich cultural fabric—a symbol of unity, artistic vision, and the seamless synergy between luxury, performance, and tradition.
Gulf Today
10-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Gulf Today
Firetti Contemporary show connects winter of despair with spring of hope
Muhammad Yusuf, Features Writer Firetti Contemporary @ Alserkal Avenue is presenting The Unseen Presence, a collective exhibition featuring the works of Ahmad Tallaa, Bassam Kyrillos, Besher Koushaji, Eyad Jouda, Hikmat Naeem, Ibrahim Hamid, Kamal Al Zoubi, Mahmood Al Daoud and Suheil Baddor (Feb. 12 – Apr. 12). Through painting, sculpture, and mixed media, the show examines the invisible forces that shape history and identity by exploring themes of memory, migration, resilience, and cultural transformation. Inspired by Nizar Qabbani's poem Balqis, it interrogates subjects such as exile, war, and the irreversible shifts wrought by displacement. Qabbani's verses, which mourn not only a loved one but also a homeland, sets the mood: 'The sweetest homeland,/One can't stand,/Living in such a homeland./One can't stand,/Dying in such a homeland.' The words indicate the paradox of memory — how displacement coexists with longing and how a place remains deeply cherished, though terribly transformed. But The Unseen Presence explores the idea further, not content just to portray individual experiences. It moves beyond personal mourning and nostalgia to look at larger histories existing as fractured realities, shifting identities, and evolving landscapes. Some works embrace nostalgia, while others question its fragility. Some reconstruct the remnants of a vanished past, while others examine the tension between survival and erasure. Ahmad Tallaa and Suheil Baddor investigate the landscapes of migration and the caravan of emotions it generates. Tallaa captures the unseen presence of comfort even in dire circumstances, depicting sanctuary as a cherished place, though delicate and fleeting, where existence is lived in spaces between nostalgia for the past and the uncertainty of the future. The muffled palette reflects the emotional burden of displacement, while moments of warmth even in that condition, suggest hope. In contrast, Baddor explores the unseen presence of waiting, portraying figures suspended in time, their identities in flux between what was and what is to be. The layered, abstracted compositions evoke exile as an unresolved state — where bodies are dispersed, and the search for belonging never ends. Similarly, Ibrahim Hamid and Baddor focus on the experiences of displaced women. Baddor's figures mirror the shifting nature of identity and memory, while Hamid preserves figuration, using bold brushstrokes to emphasise the emotional toll of displacement. Eyes in both cases serve as portals to silent narratives, revealing grief and the will to overcome it. While Baddor leans to abstraction, Hamid balances it with realism, emphasising the endurance of those who carry not just personal loss, but the load of collective displacement. The instability of memory — both individual and collective — forms the foundation of Besher Koushaji and Hikmat Naeem's works. Koushaji examines the unseen presence of memory, constructing portraits where faces appear and dissolve, representing the way memories swing between clarity and fade-out. The compositions speak of the fragility of identity in times of turmoil. Naeem expands the theme, taking it beyond the human figure, exploring the unseen presence of lost cities, where architecture dissolves into abstraction. His compositions depict urban spaces on the verge of disappearance, with fading structures that evoke painful stories of war, migration, and elimination. While Koushaji focuses on how individuals carry history within them, Naeem reveals how cities too, are affected by the passage of time and loss. Eyad Jouda and Bassam Kyrillos examine physical and psychological endurance. Jouda's wire-bound sculptures embody the presence of a silence which screams. His precariously poised figures, living or dying in worlds falling between vulnerability and safety, speak of the price of migration, where survival is a brittle equilibrium between resistance and surrender. Kyrillos delves into the unseen presence of sacrifice, merging human forms and architectural decay. His haunting imagery presents figures that appear to emerge from — and disband into — eroded buildings, embodying suffering and survival. While Jouda's sculptures symbolise dissent through balance and motion, Kyrillos's works depict destruction, displacement and transformation through decay and fragmentation. Mahmood Al Daoud also engages with loss and renewal with his work reflecting the unseen presence of transfiguration, depicting cycles of death and rebirth. He reimagines memory as something that both disintegrates and yet lives in different forms; ruination is not absolute, but rather an essential part of remaking. While Kyrillos anchors his work in the decay of built environments, Al Daoud evokes the movement of time through abstraction, revealing how history leaves imprints long after physical markers have faded. Unlike the other artists, Kamal Al Zoubi approaches nostalgia playfully, engaging with it in a way that bridges past and present. His LEGO-Inspired Arabic Tower transforms childhood memories and linguistic traditions into sculptural forms, reinterpreting Arabic calligraphy through a contemporary lens. Where other artists explore remembrances through decay, exile and struggle, Al Zoubi captures it through joyful abstraction. He maintains a connection to the past, where heritage is not something mourned, but is something continuously reimagined. Through these different yet interconnected perspectives, The Unseen Presence invites audiences to engage with broken realities, the detritus of identity, and histories that refuse to fade – now very common occurrences. It asks: What does it mean to face ruination and rebuild from ruins? How do we carry the unseen weight of history? Can a homeland be reconstructed — not just physically, but with the original content of cultural and emotional memory? The exhibition is not just about loss — it is about resilience too. Even in destruction, something remains - a trace, a shadow or an unseen presence, that shapes the way we live in this world.
