On 16 November, the Italian Cultural Institute of Abu Dhabi opened the work ‘Older Than Love‘ by Martina Zanin to the public, which was among the 45 projects selected by Cantica21:Italian Contemporary Art Everywhere, an initiative by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation – Directorate General for Cultural and Economic Promotion and Innovation and the Ministry of Culture (MiC) – Directorate General for Contemporary Creativity, to promote Italian contemporary art around the world.
The piece, part of the permanent collection of the Modena Arti Visive Foundation in Modena, is a multimedia artistic installation that makes visitors think and invites them to take part in a cultural dialogue between Italy and the United Arab Emirates.
The work is based on memory, emotions and the artist’s personal archive, providing metaphorical and poetic expressions through the confrontation between man and falcon. Alongside this exhibition, works by Emirati artist Fatma Lootah are also on display, offering a unified narrative from a local perspective. Both pay direct homage to falconry, a key part of the UAE’s heritage and culture, with engaging audio, video and photography.
The exhibition will run from 16 November to 5 December 2021 at the Fann Á Porter gallery space atThe Workshop Dubai.
For more information, visit cantica21.it and iicabudhabi.esteri.it
Martina Zanin (born in 1994) is a visual artist born in San Daniele del Friuli. She graduated with honours in Photography from the Istituto Superiore di Fotografia in Rome and holds a Masters in Contemporary Photography from the European Institute of Design in Madrid. Her artistic practice, which is closely linked to her personal experiences, addresses several themes including memory, relationships and emotions. She uses photography often in combination with other media, such as text, archival material, video and sound, thus creating multi-layered narratives within which narrative spaces and perceptions are intertwined. A visual and photographic language characterized by an undeniable emphasis on lyricism. Zanin is the author of “I Made Them Run Away” (2021). In addition to Cantica21, Zanin was the winner of Camera Work 2021, Images Gibellina, and was nominated for the Foam Paul Huf Award 2019 and the C/O Berlin Talent Award 2020, and was finalist for Giovane Fotografia Italiana #8 (Young Italian Photography), the Luma Rencontres Dummy Book Award, and the Francesco Fabbri Prize 2020. Her work has been exhibited in solo and group exhibitions in institutions, galleries, festivals and non-profit spaces across Europe. In 2019, she was artist in residence at the SAM Residency Program. Zanin is represented by Studio Faganel, Gorizia.
Fann Á Porter is a contemporary art gallery representing a diverse selection of emerging international and regional artists. The gallery aims to nurture the thriving and dynamic contemporary art scene through quality exhibitions, non-profit events, auctions and an active community programme. Fann Á Porter has offices in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates and Amman, Jordan. The Dubai gallery is based in The Workshop, a unique interdisciplinary community space consisting of a café, an art gallery and sustainable shop and design space, offering visitors a diverse artistic and cultural experience. Bathed in natural sunlight with its own garden, The Workshop is located in the heart of Jumeirah in Dubai. Fann Á Porter Amman is located at Manara Arts & Culture, a creative hub and social space in the heart of Jabal Al Lweibdeh.