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Baachy/Dhona @ NAG + Op-ed

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Lots of things have happened. Personally, I wrote a hit piece on Iphpha and decided not to upload it, which then sent me into a spiral that stopped me from writing. This is after I boldly proclaimed that this blog is not for anyone besides myself.  But here I am again. Trying to mark what I think is important.  UPDATE  Since my last post: The fall of MAC happened. Shimha, Yaani, Baachy had their solos at NAG (2024). Zuha Bari had her solo exhibition in some place near Lavista (2024). Some group exhibition at the same place as Zuha Bari (2024). G350 moved next to Meraki and we saw Samah and the return of Mary Omar (2025). Art Gallery Male' had some Japanese exhibition (2024) and the solo of some Monica? (2025).  You can find the timeline (with pictures), from Angel Shuja out at Dhauru, who, I am glad keeps the timeline going for us. Her no-personality-objective-voice is perfect to put everyone on the same pedestal. It gives us a report and timeline of the art exhibite...
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Though The Eyes of Picasso - A group exhibition organised by MUSE @ NAG (1st - 10th Oct 2024)

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Last time it was Van Gogh and I heard it was incredible/shit-show - depending on who you asked.  This time it's Picasso. It's ticketed (MVR 20 for locals, USD5 for tourists). It's sponsored (7 sponsors).  Its " Through the Eyes of Picasso" . A HANDFUL..  There were about 96 artworks altogether, a handful of them memorable.  Like the lamp! I really loved it. It was adorable and not in a tacky way. It was a paper machie of a person in a libaas. Sure we could argue whether it was "Fine Art" and if it belonged at the National Gallery - but thats a whole other conversation. The lamp was nice, it was refreshing, cute and had quirky lil cubist fingers. It also won the "Emerging Picasso Award"  (good lord ol mighty...). The lil ceramic sculptures were also very cute. I especially liked the ones with the long necks. They were all wearing libaas. I don't know if it's worth getting the "Grand Prize" - although I dont really know what els...
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DISSCLAIMER: From now on, this is all for me.

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Ive decided that Im gonna stop tagging people. I don't care if they know or not. It not for them anymore.  I initially started this based on the naive thought that artists that exhibited publicly, might appreciate knowing how a person from the public feels about their exhibition.  But I think Maldivians are (unfortunately) generally untrustworthy, take things too personally, over dramatic and can't take and refuse to take any criticisms constructively.  I mean - none of this is surprising but I was hoping that I could not give a fuck. Not care what people would think about me for saying the things I say - but unfortunately, I do have to give a fuck.  So the option I had was either tone down what I had to say and make it more digestible or I suppose stop doing it all together. I decided to do neither. I decided that I will no longer tag the artists and do it behind their back - like all Maldivians.  I decided that this will be my personal blog now. Just me keepin...
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Things I missed - Afu (@NAG), Nazimbe (@NAG), Fabulous Art Show (@NAG), Azleena (@G350)

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I'm back - for better or for worse.  I figured before the next exhibition, I would quickly sum up the ones I missed out on - Anthony Fantano-style.  Apologies in advance if it sounds crude -  I should have spent the time that each artist deserves, and cus I didn't, I didn't even tag them on my instagram post. But then again who out here is taking anything seriously anyways?  Nafs - Afu Shaafiu's solo exhibition @ NAG (11th - 24th Dec 2023)  A stranger I met, a child, of maybe 16ish years old,  told me what he thought about Afu's work.  "It looked like he was on one page on the last exhibition, and then he jumped like five chapters ahead!"  If someone lined up a piece each from all the series from this exhibition and the last, and asked me which one is Afu's, I wouldn't say all of them. I would say what's up with the Monet rip-offs?  I don't know enough about art to make a definitive statement about what it says about the artist and his grow...
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*Notes: $$$

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I think the price of the art should only matter to the artist and no one else. Any price above what the artist names, is just capitalism in all its ugly glory.  I think true artists will create regardless of price and capitalism.  I think the valuation of art - unless that is the statement, only distracts from the art itself. If someone resonates with a piece of art, and are able to afford it,  they will buy it.  If it resonates with them enough, they will pay more.  Of course, not everyone can afford to pay big prices for art.  Which means, you can't afford what the artist took to make the piece,       and/or               what they think it is worth        and                                                                ...
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hold - Aishath Huda's solo exhibition @ Gallery350 (1st - 20th Dec)

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If you are reading this between 4pm - 10pm (except Sunday), stop reading and go to Gallery350. Hurry.  GALLERY350 IS BACK? FOR HOW LONG? Gallery350 does not disappoint with their exhibitions. From the exhibitions they’ve had so far, Gallery350 has shown us ( me ) where the bar for contemporary fine art in Maldives should be. With that being said, the long breaks and somewhat unreliable timings, make it believable that this is in fact an artist-run space. Something that they humbly yet valiantly proclaim at the entrance of the gallery.  Gallery350, unlike other galleries in Male’, is hard to find. It's annoying. But I used google maps.  Maybe this is what they mean when they say fine art is not accessible.  WHAT’S WITH THE BELL? The gallery is on the first floor of a residential apartment. There is a little sign below the name of the apartment that says the gallery is on the first floor, with instructions to... ring a bell?  Lil' weird... isn’t it insane to have ...
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