The contents of Hassan Sharif’s studio—on show in a retrospective of the late Dubai-born polymath’s works at the Sharjah Art Foundation (I am the Single Work Artist, until 3 February 2018)—throw new light on the personal and professional aspects of the artist’s life. The materials used by the man dubbed the godfather of conceptual art in the Gulf, as well as documents and unfinished works, all come from the atelier in his house in Al Barsha, Dubai. The items were donated to Sharjah Art Foundation by the Sharif’s estate after he died in September last year.
Sharif’s career began in the late 1970s as a satirical caricaturist, drawing cartoons for the Akhbar Dubai newspaper, but his vision and practice were transformed after studying at the Byam Shaw School of Art in London from 1979 to 1984. He returned to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) with the aim of building an audience for contemporary art in the Gulf. His bold, Fluxus-like performance pieces made waves, especially in the conservative UAE.
“This recreation of Sharif’s last studio provides insight into the manifold influences that captured his attention. In the corner, lie a stack of books, magazines and journals on art, part of his personal collection. This includes My Name is Red by [Turkish novelist] Orhan Pamuk, the last book he read which lies on his table; alongside this title is an Arabic-English dictionary, a volume the artist habitually referenced throughout his career,” says a statement from Sharjah Art Foundation.
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