Zion Young Curators

About four weeks ago I applied to Zion Arts Centre, (Manchester) http://www.zionarts.com/ for a chance to become a ‘Zion Young Curator’; I didn’t think I would get a place to work with them as it’s so competitive. However, two weeks ago I was very pleased to read an e-mail saying;

‘I am pleased to inform you that your application has been successful and you have been selected to be part of the Zion Young Curators!’

The first meeting is Friday 1^st April & I’m really looking forward to it. The initial meeting will introduce us to Zion Arts Centre & their programme of events. We will get to know each other and discuss the current plans for the group & get feedback about the kind of events and opportunities we would like to be involved with.

After the meeting will be the launch event of their latest exhibition;

Araam: Breathing Space

Friday 1^st April – Saturday 23^rd April

The Araam exhibition presents the work by two contemporary UK artists, Halima Cassell and Zarah Hussain created during residencies in Pakistan and the UK.

Araam was developed to enable “breathing space” for the artists to research, develop new ideas and experiment with their creative disciplines. During this process, both Cassell and Hussain explored their Pakistani roots, issues around identity and pushed the boundaries in their creative practices.

Cassell and Hussain use very different artistic mediums, but both are inspired by their ancestral heritage and Islamic influences through pattern and architecture resonate in their work.

More Information About The Artists;

Halima Cassell - http://www.halimacassell.co.uk/index.php

Halima Cassell has traditionally worked in clay, fusing together her Asian roots with Western and African pattern as well as architectural geometry. She chooses to celebrate each of these elements in their own right and from this, she is able to create a new and unique style, which absorbs and addresses the rich diversity of both pattern and geometry. Her pieces utilise lines and angles, capturing the universal language of pattern, number and form. Her recent work involves working with different types of materials such as stone and wood as well exploring new spaces in an urban architectural environment.

Zarah Hussain - http://www.zarahhussain.co.uk/

Zarah Hussain explores the use of geometric form and pattern inspired by the Islamic art tradition. In the past, her work has taken the form of both paintings and technologically advanced light installations. Her recent work operates on several different levels, devotional beauty through repetition and pattern, an esoteric or Sufi understanding of the Muslim faith in modern times, and a look at the 'trueness' and purity of number in an age where spiritual ideas are confused and there is no longer any belief in anything absolute.